Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Budget 2023 expanded the fuel allowance to the over 70s. That was something I was keen to address because the last thing we want to see is old people who are more vulnerable to the cold afraid to turn on the heating. We wanted to increase the number of people who benefited from the fuel allowance. A single person over 70 who earns up to €500 and a couple who earns up to €1,000 are now eligible, if they qualify. That means test has been broadened considerably. People who meet that test should qualify for the fuel allowance. As it is means tested, we have to take savings into account. I am also going to increase the capital disregard on the fuel allowance for the over 70s up to €50,000 because, let us face it, €20,000 is not an awful lot these days. I wanted to do that. I increased the capital allowance to €50,000 for carers last year. It is in line with some of the other payments. We are hoping that measure will bring another 81,000 people into the net by allowing them to access the fuel allowance. I am also arranging it so that people do not have to be in receipt of a social welfare payment to qualify for the fuel allowance. That will be a welcome measure. Many retired civil servants who were not on enormous incomes were unable to apply for the fuel allowance because they were not receiving social welfare payments. They will be able to benefit now. I wanted to mirror the more relaxed criteria that apply for the medical card. A person who is older is more liable to be sick. As far as I am concerned, a person who is older is also liable to be cold. I wanted to target this measure and I was keen for us to do that. It is a part of the budget. I will be announcing the application system at the beginning of December and once application forms have been submitted, payments will come into effect from 1 January. We must give the IT people time to develop the programme to extend the fuel allowance and that is why the payment will not kick in until 1 January. People can apply early and have their applications processed. If they qualify for the payment, it will be backdated to 1 January, once their applications are received.

The carer's support grant will see 115,000 carers benefit this week. The payment will issue tomorrow, which will be welcome news for carers. The Deputy previously raised at committee the issue of support for carers. Last year, I increased the income limits. I also increased the capital disregard on savings. Carers will get the €12 increase on 1 January, like everybody else. I am also conscious that carers have increased costs associated with the wonderful work they do. They are going to get €500 this week.

We have scheduled payments totalling €1.2 billion to be allocated before Christmas. Only the Christmas bonus remains to be paid. We have paid out the fuel allowance lump sum payment of €400, the living alone allowance of €200, the disability support grant of €500 and the working family payment of €500. The double childcare payment has issued and the autumn bonus has also been paid. All of those payments have been made and only the Christmas bonus remains to issue before Christmas.