Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 219: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the changes to the qualifying criteria for fuel allowance as a result of budget 2006. [39793/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A fuel allowance of €9.00 per week is payable to eligible households during a 29 week winter heating period from the end of September to the middle of April each year. An additional €3.90 per week is payable in the designated urban smokeless fuel zones.

As announced in the recent budget, the rate of fuel allowance will be increased by €5 with effect from January 2006. That increase will bring the basic fuel allowance up to €14 per week, while the rate for recipients in designated smokeless areas will increase to €17.90.

Under existing rules, the fuel allowance is not payable in cases where a person is benefiting from a communal heating service in certain flat complexes provided by Dublin City Council and other local authorities throughout the country. With effect from January 2006, tenants residing in local authority complexes with communal heating arrangements will qualify for fuel allowance from a current date, if they satisfy the other conditions of the scheme.