Mr. R?n?n Hession:

If they are both getting pensions, that is the case but I will clarify that. I do not know that scheme that well and I do not want to improvise.

The Deputy asked about the €35 per month for gas and electricity. We will have a look at it. I think there are indexes around energy prices. I think that rate was struck in 2013, which makes it ten years old now. While there have been changes to other underlying rates in the meantime, the fuel allowance has not changed. We will see if we can use whatever is the index of energy prices to give a sense of the purchasing power these days.

At 950, the numbers for the heating supplement are low but they have never been high for that scheme. Given that we have other schemes in play, it is really used for people who are at the SWA level of income or supports. It is the safety level of support within the social welfare system. Where people have additional health needs, a disability or an infirmity, they will get a supplement. The figures range from €2.50 to €200. I am not sure of the intervals and if that is per week or per month. They tend to be small numbers and small amounts. It is really an extra for people in that situation. A community welfare officer might propose an additional needs payment, or ANP, because someone is filling a tank of oil or may have ongoing payments with a bill. It is for people who are in the CWO space.

With ANPs for bills, even when the prices were going up a lot, we did not have a huge spike in bills. We were in this room previously talking about ANPs. The bulk of the ANPs we pay out are on housing or clothing, particularly in the case of the Ukrainians, or for help with bills. It might be €5,800. It has gone up and down but it would not have gone much beyond €10,000, I would say. We provide a lot of small support. We might have to help somebody with arrears. There are good interventions now, better than they used to be, in terms of vulnerable customers and prepay meters. There are other supports. We obviously have the energy credit. The number is not high at the moment but for the people concerned, it is very important.

From a messaging point of view, we have put a lot of work into communicating. Among the general public, there may be a perception that supplementary welfare allowance is only for people who are already on a social welfare payment. Something we have tried to address in our communications is that there are people who are working who might need our help and they should contact us if they think they are entitled. The Minister has certainly been very clear on that, and it speaks to the presentation this morning by the Irish Cancer Society. As far as she is concerned there is no reason for a person to be cold for financial reasons. If people need the help, we will give it. She does not want people turning off the heating because they cannot afford to turn it on. That is what we are there for.

The Deputy asked a specific question on how the capital disregard works and what proportionate means. I will ask Mr. Shevlin to respond to that.