Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

More than 17,000 people who are on illness benefit will now qualify for the Christmas bonus. That is a good move and is an acknowledgement of the financial pressure they are under. I acknowledge that. They should also be able to access the means tested fuel allowance. Up until now they have been precluded from the means tested allowance on the basis that they are on a short-term payment. Really, people just want to recover their health and get back to work and a somewhat normal life. In the meantime, however, when they are off work with their health condition, they still have financial commitments: the mortgage must be paid, the car loan must be paid and so many commitments. Unless the employer is giving them a top up they are in a difficult financial position. Given that the acknowledgement is there now for the Christmas bonus, and given the pressure that people are under, can this be taken a step further so people who are receiving illness benefit for more than 12 months will get the means tested fuel allowance?

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