Withdrawal of fuel allowance criticised

More than 200 elderly residents in Dublin City Council sheltered housing schemes have had their fuel allowance withdrawn, it has emerged.

The decision to stop the allowance, worth €12.90 per week for 29 weeks a year to 237 elderly tenants, was taken as part of "on-going claim management by the Department [of Social and Family Affairs]", according to a spokesman.

According to the department these residents get low-cost heating (for which they are charged €6 per week) and are therefore ineligible for the allowance, despite the fact some have been receiving it for over 10 years with no questions raised.

Among those affected is Des Byrne (70), a resident in the Charlemont Court sheltered housing scheme in Rathmines, for nine years. A widower and former panel-beater, his income is €193.70 a week - comprising €166 State pension, €7.70 Living Alone Allowance and €20 a week from a personal pension. He has been getting the fuel allowance for nine years. He first heard he would no longer be getting it at the end of September when he got a letter from the department telling him he had been receiving the allowance "in error".

"I was doing my nut when I got it. It's not a lot of money to someone in a job maybe but it's a big blow when you've got used to getting it. You kind of budget your year around it.

"I just think it's so mean because when you think of all the waste that's going on with the Government and then they're trying to cut down on a pittance for the old age pensioners."

His neighbour, Sadie Gradwell (64), has been getting the allowance for four years. Her income is €154 widow's pension plus €12 a fortnight from her late husband's pension. She is angry about losing the allowance "more because of the principle of it than the money, though it did boost my income".

She pays €25 a week rent. She rarely goes out, she says, apart from a visit to the local Barge pub "once every few months of a Sunday for lunch. They give us small portions for €5 and they're terrible nice".

She hasn't been on holiday "in years" and like her neighbour - who does not wish to be named - buys all her clothes in second-hand shops such as those run by St Vincent de Paul, Barnardo's and the Dublin Simon Community.

"We're not poverty stricken and we get by. But you would be waiting for your money every Friday to get the veggies. And it just seems so mean when you think it's only €12. To Brian Cowen that would be a tip in a restaurant. To us it's the difference between getting groceries one day or not."

Local Labour Party TD Ruairí Quinn says he has been "inundated with calls from distressed and angry older people".

"To drop this bombshell on these people is a disgrace." Describing the move as "miserly" he points out the cut will save the Government €3,057 a week, or €88,661 a year.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan said he was aware of the matter and was examining "how best I can deal with the issue".