John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of fuel subvention allowances in 2004. [16872/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or certain types of Health Service Executive payments with meeting the cost of their extra heating needs during the winter season.

Under the scheme an allowance of €9.00 per week, or €12.90 per week in designated smokeless fuel areas, is paid to eligible households during the 29 week period from the end of September to mid-April each year.

In 2004 some 272,000 households benefited from the fuel allowance scheme at a cost of €84.7 million. Approximately 274,000 households will receive fuel allowances during 2005 at an estimated cost of €85.4 million.