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Social Welfare Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Ceisteanna (170)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

170. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times that the fuel allowance has been increased since her Department was established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38778/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.

The weekly rate of the Fuel Allowance payment has increased 8 times since its inception in 1988. This figure does not include temporary rate increases due to exceptional events such as adverse weather or Covid 19. The rate changes are as follows: -

Year

Rate

1988 - January 2001

£5

January 2002 - December 2005

€9

January 2006 - April 2007

€14

January 2007 - December 2008

€18

January 2009 - December 2015

€20

January 2016 - December 2019

€22.50

January 2020 - December 2020

€24.50

January 2021 - Oct 2021

€28.00

11th October 2021 - to date

€33.00

The duration of the scheme has increased 6 times since the establishment of the scheme (although the duration was reduced by six weeks in 2012). This figure does not include temporary duration increases due to exceptional events such as adverse weather or Covid 19.

Year

Duration

1988 - December 2000

26 weeks

January 2001 - December 2001

28 weeks

January 2002 - December 2007

29 weeks

January 2008 - December 2008

30 weeks

January 2009 to December 2011

32 weeks

January 2012 to December 2017

Duration reduced to 26 weeks

January 2018 to December 2018

27 weeks

January 2019 to Date

28 weeks

While the Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any further expansions to the Fuel Allowance scheme would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 171 answered with Question No. 121.
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