Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
464. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2024 if the fuel allowance increased to €40 per week, based on the 2022-2023 figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34228/23]
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, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
By the end of the 2022/23 fuel season, there were circa 404,250 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance.
Based on this estimate of 404,250 recipients of the Fuel Allowance payment, the estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance payment to €40 a week for the duration of the 2023/24 period is as follows: -
|
Weekly Increase to the Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Number of weeks payable |
Estimated Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€7 |
28 |
404,250 |
€79.233 M |
Accordingly, in this context, the total cost of paying the Fuel Allowance at a rate of €40 per week would be approximately €452.76 million. The actual cost would obviously vary depending on the actual number of recipients per week and over the duration of the fuel season.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance or to increase the weekly rate payable would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
