asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has initiated a review of the free fuel scheme in order to co-ordinate and improve it on a national scale and to eliminate the possibility of the type of dispute which occurred in the autumn of last year.

I have initiated a review of the free fuel schemes with a view to introducing desirable improvements and avoiding any difficulties in the 1982-83 scheme.

Is the Minister aware that in a number of urban areas superior schemes were in operation before the national schemes was introduced? Certain categories of social welfare beneficiaries were excluded from the national scheme. Would the Minister ensure that where a superior scheme is in operation it will get financial benefit from the Department and not be downgraded?

When I introduced the national scheme there were a number of anomalies. However, I brought it in to cover areas which had no scheme. It was based on the trial pilot schemes which had been carried out in the Eastern Health Board area. Urban schemes still have some benefits which are greater than those in the other scheme. The only question in relation to the anomalies is the cost of removing them. That is one of the areas that will have to be considered by the review group for next winter's fuel scheme.

Is the Minister meeting the community welfare officers or has he sought their experience of the scheme? Is he aware of the dissatisfaction among them at the operation of the scheme and their feeling that their valuable information in this area is being ignored? Is he aware of the urgency for such a review?

I am aware of the urgency of the review to ensure that there are as few problems as possible when the scheme begins in the autumn. I will ensure that the views of the welfare officers are taken into consideration.

Is the Minister aware that a requirement of the scheme is that persons be living alone and that this has caused hardship? I refer to cases where there are two members of a family living together, one an income earner and the other not, where communication between them is very bad and they may not be getting along together. Frequently one of the couple is deprived from benefitting under the scheme because of this regulation, which local community welfare officers and health officials do not agree with. Will the Minister review that aspect?

I will have it considered.

Has the Minister had meetings with the community welfare officers or has he arranged such meetings?

I have not had meetings with the community welfare officers in relation to this, but when I was here previously as Minister we had meetings well in advance of the implementation of the scheme. Discussions have been undertaken by the Department at this stage.

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