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Fuel Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020

Thursday, 3 December 2020

Questions (82)

Alan Dillon

Question:

82. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increase to the fuel allowance payment will take effect; the number of persons in County Mayo who will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39721/20]

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Written answers

The fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year. As part of Budget 2021, I was delighted to announce a €3.50 increase to the weekly rate of fuel allowance at an overall estimated cost of €36.8m in 2021. This will increase the weekly rate payable to €28 and will take effect from January 2021. Fuel allowance is a household payment and approximately 13,900 households in Mayo will benefit from the increase in the fuel allowance payment. My Department does not retain figures on the number of persons present in each of these households. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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