John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The one point I wish to make today is borne out of my experience in my offices over 12 or 13 years. My secretary has been doing the job for 25 years and would be the expert. She sees that the big problem is to stop people going down this road from the get-go. Everyone is thinking about how to deal with this and about better reviews and systems within the Department. My view is that we must inform people about what is out there and increase the level of deterrence from the initial stage.

According to a headline on Sunday, 130,000 pensioners could be entitled to a British fuel allowance. More than 130,000 pensioners in Ireland who receive a British state pension have until the end of the current month to claim a winter fuel allowance worth up to €350 per annum. This follows a European Court of Justice ruling that pensioners who lived and worked in the UK and who are residing permanently in Ireland will qualify for this annual payment. It is a significant amount of money. It is obviously a significant number of pensioners. In the case of an individual, the minimum entitlement will be £100 and the maximum £300. For pensioners, it is very significant. A rough calculation suggests there would be 3,000 or 4,000 people who potentially qualify for the allowance in respect of my constituency in Waterford. I do not believe many of them know they can avail of it if they apply before the end of the month.

I realise completely that this is not the Department's bailiwick. I do not expect the UK Department for Work and Pensions to issue a press release stating it owes £20 million or £30 million. Is there some way the Department of Social Protection could facilitate the passing on of information to the pensioners who might be able to avail of it? It would be significant money for somebody during the winter. In some cases, it could amount to €350.