Joan Collins
Question:104. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the further targeted interventions that she is planning to support social welfare recipients facing serious increases in energy bills. [5093/22]
View answerThursday, 3 February 2022
Questions (104)
Written answers
My Department provides a range of schemes to assist low-income households with energy costs. These include regular payments like fuel allowance and discretionary payments made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.
An Electricity or Gas allowance is available under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost in 2022 of €203 million. This will benefit over 476,000 households.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks paid to 375,000 low-income households at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may also be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health who cannot meet those costs. There are over 970 persons receiving this supplement.
My Department provides discretionary Exceptional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. In 2021, over 2,300 exceptional needs payments of almost €735,000 were made to assist with electricity, heating, and gas costs.
The recently announced Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment is a key measure developed by the Government to mitigate the effects of rising electricity prices. The scheme, supported by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, will be paid to approximately 2.1m households at a rate of €100 each.
The provision of income supports is only one aspect of addressing energy costs. It is also important to improve energy
efficiency through proper building and household insulation. This is the combined responsibility of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.