Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the rules of the fuel allowance scheme to ensure that payment is not lost by the qualified adult in the event of family breakdown. [50773/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Some 410,000 customers will receive the fuel allowance of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, at a cost of €223 million. The fuel allowance is paid to those in receipt of long-term jobseekers, one-parent family payment, disability allowance, invalidity pension and some people in receipt of the State pension. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details on the criteria for the scheme are available on the Department's website . All social welfare schemes, including the fuel allowance, are operated on the basis of publically available guidelines, which ensure fairness and consistency in determining eligibility. I have no plans to change the conditions of this scheme.

If a couple have separated and each member of the couple are now living separately then the qualified adult is entitled to claim a social welfare payment in his or her own right and this includes an application for fuel allowance subject to satisfying the criteria for the scheme.