Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1478. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families in receipt of assistance payments for fuel in their home; her views on the prevalence of fuel poverty here as outlined by a charity (details supplied); the steps she is taking to work with other agencies and Departments to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35044/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low-income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. 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. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. At the end of the 2016/17 fuel allowance season 376,123 households were in receipt of the fuel allowance payment.
I was pleased to announce last week that from October, when the new Fuel Season begins, our customers who receive the Fuel Allowance will have the option to receive their payment in two lump sums – one at the start of the fuel season in October and the second in January. The value of the lump sums will be €292.50 each. This will enable people to buy fuel in bulk and potentially avail of special offers or discounts on the purchase of the particular fuel that meets their specific needs.
My Department also pays the household benefits package at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017. €177 million of this cost relates to the electricity or gas allowance element of the household benefits package. As of the end of June this year 424,393 households were in receipt of the electricity or gas allowance element of the household benefits package.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a weekly or monthly supplement may be paid to assist people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs in certain circumstances.
A Fuel Supplement may be paid in lieu of the National Fuel Scheme in cases where people have entitlement but are not receiving payment from any other source. Expenditure on SWA Fuel Supplement during the period of the national fuel scheme (from 3 October 2016 to 31 March 2017) is estimated at €68,450 based on an average of 117 households receiving the payment.
Under the SWA scheme a heating supplement may be paid to a person who lives alone or only with a qualified adult or child(ren) and who has exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement and each payment is awarded taking into account the individual circumstances of the case. There are currently (end June 2017) 1,510 recipients of the payment. Expenditure on SWA Heating Supplement during the period of the national fuel scheme (from 3 October 2016 to 31 March 2017) is estimated at some €585,000 based on an average of 1,650 households receiving the payment.
Exceptional needs payments (ENPs) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which a person is unable to meet from their own resources. For the period of the national fuel scheme, some 1,900 ENPs totalling €495,700 were made under the ENP category of heating.
The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy. In that regard, the Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades.
The Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme which is led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Health Services Executive (HSE), aims to make homes warmer and healthier to live in. It does this by providing extensive energy efficiency upgrades to those in energy poverty who are living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma. My Department is actively assisting that Department in identifying the people who can benefit from this scheme.
Any decision to increase the fuel allowance payment would have to be considered in the overall budgetary and policy context. In this regard, my Department hosted its annual Pre-Budget Forum in Dublin Castle on 21 of July, where I listened to the views of representatives from some 45 NGOs, advocacy and representative organisations, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
