Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2577. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance scheme by an extra week in 2018; the projected cost for same in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35234/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on 2018 average recipient numbers, the estimated cost of extending fuel allowance by one week is €8.4 million. Based on current 2019 projections, the estimated cost of an additional week of fuel allowance in 2019 is €8.6 million.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019. Any extension of the Fuel Allowance season would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
