Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
748. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a second band, paid at half the current rate of fuel allowance, for those on fixed incomes where their weekly means threshold is between €200 and €500; how many would be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36764/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
Providing an estimate of the cost of the measure suggested by the Deputy is not readily available. Qualification for fuel allowance is based on a number of complex qualifying criteria such as household composition and a means test. Furthermore, my Department does not hold data on all households in receipt of a fixed income with a means threshold of between €200 and €500.
Any decision to adjust the rules of Fuel Allowance to allow the cohort of people outlined by the Deputy to qualify for Fuel Allowance would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
