Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
52. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons availing of the fuel allowance per main qualifying payment in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48643/21]
View answerThe National Fuel Allowance season for 2021/2022 commenced on 27 September 2021. The aim of the means-tested scheme is to help qualified households in receipt of certain social welfare payments with their winter heating costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards their normal heating expenses; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one Fuel Allowance is paid per household.
The Fuel Allowance, valued at €784.00 per household, is paid at the weekly rate of €28.00 for 28 weeks across the winter season, or by way of two equal lump sum payments of €392.00, payable at the start of the season and in early January 2022.
The number of Fuel Allowance recipients, per main qualifying scheme, as requested by the Deputy, is set out in the table below.
|
Scheme Name |
Number of qualified recipients |
|
State Pension Contributory |
77,246 |
|
Disability Allowance |
75,394 |
|
State Pension Non-Contributory |
54,139 |
|
Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance & PRETA + Farm Assist |
47,643 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
41,168 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
38,174 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
16,130 |
|
Community Employment |
8,019 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
2,700 |
|
TUS |
1,818 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
1,274 |
|
National Fuel Allowance |
1,037 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
899 |
|
Widow(er)'s Non-Contributory Pension |
865 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
596 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
430 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
419 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
89 |
|
Deserted Wives Allowance |
46 |
|
Guardians Payment Non-Contributory |
9 |
|
Guardians Payment Contributory |
8 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
