Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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211. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to outline how his Department can justify the refusal of fuel allowance to a person (details supplied) in receipt of a State pension whereby the person is found to be over the means test limit by 11 cent (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32726/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the fuel allowance scheme is to assist people in need of financial support to meet their heating needs. Eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme is subject to a household means test and other qualifying conditions, such as household composition.

With regard to means, a person may have a combined household income of up to €100.00 per week over and above the maximum rate of state pension (contributory). In addition to his state pension (contributory), the person concerned is in receipt of a private pension which exceeds the permissible weekly means amount.

Regardless of every limit set there will always be individuals who will be marginally under or over; however, the limit needs to be applied consistently to be fair to all applicants. Where the household income exceeds €100.00, the application for fuel allowance will be disallowed; the Department cannot apply discretion in this matter. Since the means of the person concerned are in excess of this figure, his application for fuel allowance was disallowed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.