Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the explanation that the fuel allowance is targeted at people who are long-term financially dependent on the State and means-tested for the benefits they receive.

This issue was brought to my attention by a number of my constituents over the past months. It seems unfair that a person who is in need of fuel allowance does not qualify because he or she receives one of the social protection payments I have listed. This is especially true in the cases of those who receive illness benefit, enhanced illness benefit, occupational injuries benefit or the disablement benefit.

It is great that the Minister has committed to doing a review of the disablement benefit scheme and how it can interact with the fuel allowance. That review will throw up some interesting facts, and hopefully it will help to expand the scheme to include these groups. These payments are mostly spent by the recipients on treatment, medication and perhaps special equipment. When these costs are accounted for there is often little left to help people with heating their homes, regardless of having a low income.

I welcome the Minister's review of the scheme. Will she consider expanding the fuel allowance criteria in the context of the budgetary negotiations ahead of budget 2023?

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