Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending the fuel allowance season by one week. [30223/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €20 to low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April. The payment represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The allowance is paid to approximately 400,000 customers at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014.

Extending the allowance by one week would currently cost the Department €7.56 million. I have no plans to extend the allowance.