Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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355. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how many people received the fuel allowance in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; the cost of this scheme to the State in each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19036/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments, and is paid over the winter season. During 2022, recognising the increasing energy costs, I secured a number of additional payments for households in receipt of Fuel Allowance including: an extra €125 payment in March 2022, a second extra payment of €100 in May 2022, and a third extra payment of €400 in November 2022.

Fuel Allowance Expenditure and Recipient Numbers for years 2020 - 2022

The number of Fuel Allowance recipients fluctuates as people enter and leave the scheme as their circumstances change.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.