Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 27 September 2016, if he will consider extending the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance to include those in receipt of social protection payments over 70 years of age; if he will discuss this with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29040/16]

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 low income households. 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. Qualifying payments for fuel allowance include Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory or Non-Contributory) Pension, and State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory).

The fuel allowance payment is means tested to ensure it is 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. An applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory (€233.30) and qualify for a payment.

The weekly income limits are as follows:

1.-€333.30 for a single person under 80 years (€100 + €233.30);

2.-€488.80 for a couple where the qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant is under 66 years (€100 + €233.30 + €155.50 being the value of the increase for a qualified adult aged under 66);

3.-€542.30 for a couple where the qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant is over 66 years (€100 + €233.30 + €209.00 being the value of the increase for a qualified adult aged over 66).

In the case of applicants over 80 years of age, an extra allowance of €10.00 may be applied to the appropriate Social Welfare rate.

The maximum disregard available for any household is €542.30.

Any plans to change the eligibility for fuel allowance to allow all people aged over 70 to automatically qualify for fuel would have significant cost implications.

The appropriate levels of welfare support including eligibility for fuel allowance will be considered by the Government in the coming days, with due regard to the available resources. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.