Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there are groups which no longer qualify for the fuel allowance and the Christmas bonus in budget 2016. [39699/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Fuel Allowance scheme assists householders on long-term welfare with meeting the costs of their heating needs during the winter season. In order to qualify for the scheme a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department, live alone or only with one of a list of exempted persons and satisfy a means test. The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible.

In budget 2016, I announced an increase of €2.50 per week on the Fuel Allowance, increasing the payment to €22.50 per week from January 2016. This increase is expected to benefit 381,000 households including pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and jobseekers. There have been no changes to the qualifying criteria for fuel allowance as a result of the Budget.

A 75% Christmas Bonus will be paid this December to recipients of a long-term Social Welfare payment. It is expected that 1.23 million people will benefit from the Christmas bonus at a cost of €197 million. The Bonus this year will be paid to the beneficiaries of the same schemes to which the bonus previously applied, and on the same basis.

If a person who previously qualified for Fuel Allowance and/or a Christmas Bonus does not qualify for one this year, it is most likely a result of a change in their circumstances. If there has been no such change, they should contact my Department for clarification.