Ms Gráinne Loughran:

I thank Deputy Wall for his question. The ESRI published research this year on low-income households. It found that a lack of awareness of supports available was a key driver behind households not using the supports they are eligible for. It highlighted that only 6% of those potentially eligible use the living alone allowance. For older people, that is obviously a vital support. It recommended that simplifying the welfare system, such as by introducing a single point of application, could significantly improve access to supports, and that is something we have called for in the past.

On energy poverty, and building on Deputy Guirke’s question, the fuel allowance has never been fully reinstated after the 2012 cut that reduced the season from 32 weeks to 26 weeks. At the moment, it is paid for 28 weeks. What we have seen over the past number of years has been one-off cost-of-living payments. Last year, for example, fuel allowance recipients received €250 in the form of energy credits and a €300 one-off payment. What we are hearing is that this year none of that will come through. To match the level of support provided last year would require an increase to the fuel allowance of €20 per week. We would welcome the fuel allowance season being extended, in particular for it to be reinstated to that 2012 level where it was paid for 32 weeks.