Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Social Protection

Fuel Allowance Data

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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297. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the fuel allowance by three weeks for 2017 in tabular form. [11505/16]

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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333. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to extend the duration of the fuel allowance scheme for the period 2016-2017 to the number of weeks it was previously. [11821/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 333 together.

The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 391,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2016. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance 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. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to approximately 418,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €228 million in 2016.

Any decision to extend the fuel allowance season would have to be considered in the overall budgetary negotiations.

The estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance duration by 3 weeks at the current rate would be in the region of €26 million per annum.

Cost of increasing the fuel allowance duration by 3 weeks in 2017€26 million

The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works closely with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy. In that regard, the Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades.

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