John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons resident here that are in receipt of a winter fuel payment from the UK. [19578/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The winter fuel payment is an annual tax-free payment made by the UK Department of Work and Pensions to qualified people to help towards their winter heating costs. There may be many UK pensioners resident here who receive no payment from my Department but who may receive this payment. However, information in relation to such persons would not be available to my Department as it would appear it has no legal basis, or purpose, for the collection of this data from such persons.

The Deputy should contact the UK Department for Work and Pensions which would be better positioned to provide him with such a breakdown.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.