Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1178. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider creating a new band of the fuel allowance scheme to allow working families and persons on modest incomes to access emergency support this winter as part of Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
All options, including the suggestion in the question, will be kept under review, together with trends in prices, to inform preparations for the budget. We will, however, have to take account, as always, of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources. The Government will finalise its consideration of the Budget in the coming weeks having regard to all of its commitments. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.
The Government is acutely aware of recent price increases and their impact on households who are dependent on social welfare. For this reason, this Government did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges but acted early. Overall, the tax and spending measures we have introduced to ease the burden and provide support to those most in need have amounted to €2.4 billion.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
