Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [21920/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department will spend over €530 million in 2011 on the fuel scheme and the telephone, gas and electricity elements of the household benefits package which will benefit over 630,000 people. Difficult decisions have had to be made in light of commitments made by the previous Government. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to reconsider the changes to the fuel allowance and household benefits package which were announced last week.

Under the Department's supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs because of ill health or infirmity. In addition, exceptional needs payments (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his or her own resources.

From September 2011 the fuel allowance is to be standardised at €20 per week, the rate currently received by the majority of customers who receive no additional allowance for living in a smokeless area. The cost of the telephone allowance will be reduced following negotiations with Eircom which will ensure that customers receive €26.86 of value on their bills, at a cost to the State of €22.22 per month. The number of free units provided under the electricity and gas allowance will be reduced to the level at the start of 2007 (from 2,400 to 1,800). These three measures will generate savings of €17 million in 2011 and €65 million annually.

While of course we want to protect the basic social welfare payments which have very positive economic and social effects, regrettably there is an ongoing necessity to achieve savings due to our commitments with the IMF/EU/ECB Troika. There will be an ongoing necessity to curtail overall expenditure in 2012 and in later years.

Energy poverty is a factor of income, energy prices and the thermal efficiency of the home. The most cost-effective means of protecting households from energy poverty is to reduce their consumption of energy through improving the thermal efficiency of the home. Sustainable Energy Ireland has administered an energy efficiency programme for privately owned low income households (Warmer Homes) since 2001. Over 65,000 such households have benefited to date, with a further 15,000 expected to receive energy efficiency upgrades this year. A similar upgrade programme is also in place for local authority houses.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when a review will take place for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21924/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 20 December 2010. His application was disallowed as his weekly means exceeded the scheduled limit. He was advised of his right to appeal but no appeal was lodged.

It is open to the person concerned, if there is a change in his circumstances, to re-apply for jobseeker's allowance and to have his means re-assessed.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21949/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete an application form that is available for download from www.welfare.ie or by texting "Form BTSCFA", followed by their name and address to 51909.

Processing has begun on the manual applications already received and it will take 4-6 weeks to process applications. In all cases a letter will issue to applicants informing them of the decision and, where payment has been awarded, when and where they can collect the payment. In the case of refusal of the allowance the procedures for review of the decision will be outlined to customers. Due to the large volume of applications received, information regarding the receipt or progress of individual applications will not be available until such time as the applications have been examined and a decision taken.