Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is 70 years of age or older is entitled to fuel allowance regardless of their means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5835/15]

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, at cost of approximately €195 million in 2015. 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 fuel allowance is a means tested payment, targeted at those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. Age is not a qualifying factor for this scheme.