Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
97. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make additional provision by way of the partial or whole restoration of the cuts made to the fuel allowance in view of the further price hikes approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation last month. [44559/12]
View answerThe fuel allowance is a means tested weekly payment of €20 available for people on long term welfare schemes, including State pension, disability allowance, one-parent family payment and jobseeker’s allowance (after 15 months). Between 2005 and 2011 the numbers in receipt of fuel allowance rose from 266,000 to 390,000, an increase of almost 50%. During this period the cost rose from €82 million to €250 million, an increase of over 200%. Given the increase in numbers and costs, changes had to be made to the scheme to make it sustainable.
While the scheme provides additional support for people on long-term welfare payments, it is not intended to meet energy costs in full. The current fuel season currently lasts for six months of the year, commencing on Monday 8 October this year and finishing on Friday 5 April 2013, a total of 26 weeks.
I am not in a position to reverse the changes to the fuel allowance scheme agreed by Government last year. In the current economic climate every scheme in my Department must be kept under review, particularly payments that are additional to a primary weekly payment.
