Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of extending the number of weeks the entitlement is paid under the fuel allowance scheme by one, two, three and four weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18497/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 419,000 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 one, two, three and four weeks at the current rate would be as follows -

*Figures are rounded to the nearest 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.