Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the qualifying conditions for fuel allowance eligibility, to allow persons who have been named dependants on a social welfare payment who had to leave the family home with their children and start a claim in their own name be eligible for fuel allowance; if she will confirm whether the time a person spent as dependant on a claim will qualify towards eligibility for fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39834/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department assists low income households with their energy costs through their basic payments and through the means tested fuel allowance scheme for those who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and are unable to provide for their own heating needs. The estimated cost of the fuel allowance in 2012 is €214 million. The conditions for fuel allowance require that an applicant be in receipt of a qualifying payment. In the case mentioned by the Deputy, the applicant must be in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for fifteen months to be eligible. A period of time in which the applicant was a qualified adult is not included.

Unfortunately in light of the existing economic situation I am not in a position to consider extending the fuel allowance scheme qualifying criteria. The number in receipt of the fuel allowance has increased greatly in recent years from 265,000 in 2005 to approximately 400,000 people in 2012. While of course we want to protect the basic social welfare payments which have very positive economic and social effects, regrettably there is a requirement 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.

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.