Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
404. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons availing of the fuel allowance by main social welfare payment in County Carlow; her plans to extend eligibility for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2923/22]
View answerAs part of Budget 2022 I was pleased to announce that we are supporting those most vulnerable who are facing higher energy costs by:
- Increasing the fuel allowance rate of payment by €5 per week with effect from Budget week;
- Increasing the means threshold by €20 to enable more households to qualify for fuel allowance; and
- Reducing the period required to qualify for jobseekers and people on supplementary welfare allowance from 15 months to 12 months.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of County Carlow is detailed in the table below.
|
Scheme |
Persons |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
10 |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
11 |
|
Deserted Wifes Benefit |
34 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,349 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
384 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
805 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
10 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
557 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
1,313 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
735 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
27 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
646 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
6 |
