Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1235. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in a full year of paying current fuel allowance payments to all those in receipt of any social assistance payment regardless of time on that payment or living alone rules, etc., and of paying the fuel allowance to all those in receipt of any social insurance payment. [40592/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. 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.
The cost of extending the fuel allowance payment to all those in receipt of a social assistance type payment is estimated to be in the region of €361million in a full year, based on current payment rates and a 28-week fuel season.
The cost of extending the fuel allowance payment to all those in receipt of a social insurance type payment is estimated to be in the region of €594 million in a full year, based on current payment rates and a 28-week fuel season.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
