asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has made or if he plans any changes to the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations, S.I. No. 49 of 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The regulations referred to prescribed the conditions for the payment of fuel allowances by the health boards. Further regulations entitled the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1985 — S.I. No. 334 of 1985 — made on 3 October 1985 amended the earlier regulations to provide that persons who are not in the categories specifically provided for in those regulations but who received a fuel allowance under the arrangements which existed prior to those regulations, may, if their circumstances have not changed, continue to be entitled to an allowance.

The amending regulations provide also for an increase from £4 to £5 in the weekly value of the allowance with effect from the commencement of the heating season in October 1985. No further amendments are contemplated at present.

Why was it considered necessary to amend the earlier regulations which had been made only some time previously? Also, can the Minister indicate how many people will be affected by the new regulations and how many will qualify for the fuel allowance under the new regulation?

The short answer to the first part of the question is that the amendment was made to provide against any hardship because prior to the present heating season discussions were held with the Eastern Health Board concerning the implementation of the regulations. It emerged in the course of these discussions that while persons on short-term payments had not been provided for under the previous arrangement, many such persons had been granted fuel allowances by the health board who felt they had the flexibility to do this under the guidelines where they considered it was warranted. They considered that under the regulations they would have no such flexibility and that the persons concerned would have to be disallowed. That is why the further amendment was brought in.

Have any arrangements been made to inform the people who have already been refused the fuel allowance under the existing regulations but who may possibly qualify under the new regulations of this? If I was unaware that these new regulations existed, it is highly unlikely that most of the people who are entitled do not know about them.

I am sure the health boards and the community welfare officers are aware of the position and I cannot see any major administrative difficulty in this area because there would be a record of those who received the allowance last year. If their circumstances have not changed since then, they will be eligibly for the scheme this year.

May I pursue this point——

Let us make a little progress. We have spent almost 15 minutes on two questions.

I appreciate that, but I am trying to clarify a point. How are the people who were refused the fuel grant before 3 October to know that they now qualify? Will the Minister ask the community officers to write to these people or to notify people generally that they should apply for this fuel allowance?

I will arrange that that aspect of the matter be further investigated to ensure that people who are entitled to this free fuel are made aware of the situation.

I will be very brief.

At the rate we are going we will do about six questions. Then there will be a row because no progress has been made. Things are becoming impossible.

I will not have a row.

No, but some members of your party will come in and start objecting about the lack of progress.

In view of these changes, would the Minister advise the health boards to engage in a programme of advertising in local newspapers to make people aware of the changes?

We will look into this and if it is found to be necessary we will take the necesary steps.