Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1458. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the fuel allowance payment for an additional three weeks in view of recent poor and cold weather; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16299/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to over 338,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €227 million in 2018. 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.
In Budget 2018 the duration of the Fuel Allowance season was extended by one week to 27 weeks, i.e., over half the year. This is clearly longer than the winter period in Ireland, and provides assistance during what are largely colder weeks, when heating costs are expected to be at their highest. Therefore, the 2017/18 Fuel Allowance season ran to the first week in April.
Given the severity of the weather at the start of March, I paid all people in receipt of the Fuel Allowance an extra payment of €22.50 at that time. The additional payment was paid automatically during the week commencing 12th March and brought the Fuel Allowance payment to €45 that week.
I have no plans to extend the fuel season at this time. Any decision to do so would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet essential, once-off costs which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources and this may include exceptional heating costs.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
