Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1456. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the action she is taking through her Department or through the Citizens Information Board to ensure there is greater uptake of the UK's winter fuel payment by eligible persons resident here and to raise awareness of the availability of the scheme and the hard and soft criteria applying to the scheme. [16291/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of my Department, has statutory responsibility for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services.
CIB’s website www.citizensinformation.ie provides information on my Department’s Fuel Allowance and includes a link to the relevant webpage on Gov.UK https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment which provides full details on eligibility and application procedure for the Winter Fuel Payment.
The information and associated links on the website (citizensinformation.ie) is used by information providers in the Citizens Information Services in all 268 locations around the country to ensure that clients are fully informed of their entitlements. Where enquiries are received from UK pensioners living in Ireland, in person or by way of telephone enquiry, regarding eligibility for the winter fuel payment, they are directed to the specific UK government website.
In addition, CIB distributes information and raises awareness of issues via fortnightly newsletters, monthly Know Your Rights columns in local newspapers, the Relate Journal and on the citizensinformation.ie website ‘What’s New’ page. CIB also distributes information by way of social media channel Twitter.
CIB will continue to raise awareness of the UK winter fuel payment during the 2018/19 winter season through the communications channels outlined above.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
