Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reduction in the amount awarded under the winter fuel allowance for elderly and disabled persons in view of the fact that electricity and gas will increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23093/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The savings in the fuel allowance scheme and household benefits package were provided for last December in Budget 2011 but were not specified or announced by the Government at that time.

From September 2011 the fuel allowance is to be standardised at €20 per week, the rate currently received by the majority of customers, with no additional allowance for living in a smokeless area.

The rationale for paying the smokeless allowance to customers in smokeless areas cannot be maintained. The price differential between the types of coal is as low as 2% while the allowance represents an addition of 20% to the fuel allowance. Use of coal has dropped considerably, to about 3%. It is inequitable to continue paying this top-up allowance to some customers and not others when the purpose for which it was intended no longer applies.

The Department of Social Protection 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. Help will also continue to be available for people with special or additional heating needs through the Heating Supplement and Exceptional Needs Payment Scheme under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.