Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Senator raised these questions on Second Stage last Thursday. I assure her that time spent in receipt of the one-parent family payment will count in satisfying requirements for continued payment of qualified child increases where the child is in full-time education up to the age of 22 years. I agree with her that the fuel allowance is of great importance to many welfare recipients, particularly families. The aim of the scheme is to provide additional support for those on long-term welfare payments during the winter. I can confirm that persons who are exiting the one-parent family payment will retain entitlement to the allowance if they access another social welfare payment such as jobseeker's allowance.