Danny Healy-Rae
Question:626. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39821/23]
View answerWednesday, 20 September 2023
Questions (626)
Written answers
The 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.
The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. People on long term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that my Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources such as Fuel Allowance to this cohort of claimants.
I have already reduced the qualifying period for Fuel Allowance for those on Jobseekers Allowance from 15 months to 12 months for the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 624.