Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In response to those questions about the people who are outside thresholds by a small amount, or in payments that do not qualify, the mantra we will keep putting out, which we cannot do too often because people are not aware of it, is about the additional needs payment and the community welfare officers.

All those people the Deputy mentioned can go to a community welfare officer and explain their current situation. There are an increasing number of people in this situation. The Minister outlined how the applications for additional needs payments have increased compared with the five-month period last year. That is the short-term answer. For the longer-term and for the budget, we will have to take all the cases into account, and all the options will be assessed for the fuel allowance in budget 2023. For those in need now and who are outside eligibility, the immediate answer is the community welfare officer and the additional needs payment.

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