Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of support to people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment to return to education is addressed through the education system, I understand that the Department of Education and Science has a range of programmes for people wishing to return to education and provides supports for people participating in certain education programmes funded by VECs.

This Department administers a range of back to education programmes, to encourage and facilitate people on long-term social welfare payments to return to work through the acquisition and improvement of skills and academic qualifications which will enable them to compete more successfully for employment. One of these programmes is the back to education allowance scheme, which covers full-time second and third level courses.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are arrangements for recipients of the fuel allowance of €18 a week to receive the money in bulk in order to pay for oil refills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34687/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the cost of their additional heating needs during the winter season. Fuel allowances are paid from end-September to mid-April. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses.

A detailed review of the fuel allowance was carried out in 1998. This review looked at alternatives to the weekly payment method including a single lump sum payment. A survey of recipients with the allowance on a customer panel showed that the majority (58%) preferred weekly payment, 22% wanted a once-off lump sum payment, 12% favoured direct debit to a supplier while 8% would rather have two lump sum payments during the fuel season. The review recommended continuing with the weekly payment method.

I will keep all aspects of the fuel allowance scheme, including the issue of a lump sum payment, under review. Any significant changes to the scheme that would require additional expenditure could only be considered within a budgetary context and in the light of resources available to me for improvements in social welfare generally.