Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Our focus in this year's budget was on the fuel allowance, in terms of energy support, and on making permanent changes to it and extending it to people on the working-family payment. There are 55,000 families on that payment. We have also made changes in order that those on disability allowance who move from that to work will keep their fuel allowance for five years. That addresses some of the cliff-edge concerns to which the Deputy referred.

I will certainly discuss Deputy Heneghan's proposals around EnergyCloud and energy costs with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. The exact costs he referred to are going to be the focus of how we ensure the cost-of-disability payment will be permanent. It also has to be relevant in the context of the costs people incur as a consequence of their disability in order to ensure they will have the support they need. I want to make sure we get it right and that we get some sort of agreement around what it might look like in terms of the level of the payment, but also who should be eligible for it. There is a lot of work to be done, and I am very focused on getting it done in advance of next year's budget.

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