John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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578. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the fuel allowance payment by €3 and €5. [14039/17]

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 378,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. It represents a contribution towards those costs and is not intended to meet them 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 425,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017.

Given the 2017 estimated cost of fuel allowance is €229 million based on a weekly fuel allowance rate of €22.50, the estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance by €3 a week to €25.50 would be €30.5 million and of increasing it by €5 a week to €27.50 would be €50.9 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.