Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he is aware, the fuel allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season from September to April at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two lump-sum instalments, one in September and one in January. Only one fuel allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

While we had made some improvements to the scheme in previous budgets, it was a key priority of mine and of the Government to expand the reach of the fuel allowance payment this year. In budget 2023, a more generous means test was introduced for those aged over 70, with a higher means threshold of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. Applicants aged over 70 no longer need to be receiving a qualifying social protection payment and the threshold for the capital disregard increased from €20,000 to €50,000. For those aged under 70, the means threshold was increased by €80 and is now €200 above the appropriate rate of State pension contributory for the household.

In relation to the number of individuals who are in receipt of fuel allowance, the Department generally collates these data on an annual basis. Over the past five years, at the end of December each year, the number of households supported by the fuel allowance scheme was as follows: 380,463 households in 2018; 369,255 households in 2019; 375,269 households in 2020; 374,861 households in 2021; and 393,767 households in 2022. Some 32,500 additional households have been awarded fuel allowance since the budget. Of these, over 24,000 are aged 70 or over. It should be noted that the number of recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme, as their circumstances change. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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