Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 6, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following::

“Report on extension of eligibility for Fuel Allowance 11. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the potential extension of eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment, including an analysis of the impact of such a measure on poverty rates, particularly of lone parent households.”.

My amendment seeks a report on the potential extension of eligibility for the fuel allowance to those in receipt of the working family payment and an analysis of the potential impact of such a measure on poverty rates, including those who are in lone parent households but receive the working family payment.

Households that are struggling at this current time.There are certain targeted measures from the State in respect of them, but they are largely blanket measures. This would enable one of our targeted measures - fuel allowance - to reach families that are known to be under pressure to the point where they are qualifying for the working family payment. Has this possibility been examined? Could it be looked at? There is a big difference between families on low incomes and those on higher incomes. This would allow us to add to the general provisions in legislation a layer of provision that is more targeted to the households that need it most.