Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the impact of possible future water poverty on the social protection budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41681/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Responsibility for water policy including water affordability, water charges, the rates set and the question of exemptions and allowances lies with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.The Department of Social Protection will spend €230 million this year on the household benefits package for almost 415,000 customers. The fuel allowance is paid for 26 weeks from October to April to almost 415,000 households at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. From 2015 both the household benefits package and the fuel allowance will also include a quarterly water support payment of €25. The estimated impact of this new water support payment on the Social Protection budget will be in the region of €66 million in 2015.

The payment will be made to all of those currently in receipt of either household benefits or fuel allowance, with one payment per household. Customers will not need to apply for this payment. I am confident that the combination of both household benefits and fuel allowance as qualifying payments for water support will ensure that the payment is made to those most likely to be impacted by the charges, including the elderly, the disabled and those on long term social protection payments.