Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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61. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for a fuel allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29704/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned is in receipt of Invalidity Pension (IP), including a Living Alone Allowance, at the maximum weekly personal rate. He is also in receipt of a Disablement Pension.

The National Fuel Scheme (FA) may be paid to persons in receipt of certain long term Social Welfare payments, including IP, who satisfy the other qualifying criteria. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website . In line with the guidelines for receipt of FA, the allowance is not payable to a person or a household in receipt of Disablement Pension.

Following a review of the entitlement of the person concerned to FA, it has been decided that he is not entitled to that allowance as he is also in receipt of Disablement Pension. He was notified on the 24 June 2015 of the decision and the reason for it. The person in question requested an appeal of the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. As FA is an administrative (non-statutory) scheme, there is no statutory right of appeal. However, his entitlement to FA was reviewed and it was decided that there were no grounds to change to the original decision. The person concerned was notified on 10 July 2015 of the outcome of the review.