Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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762. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has considered allowing the fuel allowance to be paid on a lump sum basis as opposed to a weekly basis; the estimated full year administrative cost of enabling flexibility in relation to the way this allowance is paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32905/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is paid over the winter season and in the 2016/17 season it was paid for 26 weeks at the rate of €22.50 per week amounting to €585 per annum. Expenditure for 2016/2017 is estimated at €229 million with approximately 376,000 households benefiting. It is a means tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Fuel allowance is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The lump sum approach to paying the fuel allowance has been raised in recent years by the voluntary sector in pre-Budget submissions. While there would be challenges for my Department in implementing a lump sum facility for fuel allowance customers wishing to avail of it, such a proposal would give fuel allowance customers the choice to receive the allowance in lump sums or continue to receive it weekly. It would enable customers who wish to avail of the lump sum payments to buy fuel in bulk, potentially securing special offers or discounts on the purchase of the particular fuel that meets their specific needs. I am currently examining options for its implementation.

The allowance is paid across a wide number of schemes and applications for the allowance are processed as part of the normal day to day work of staff administering these schemes. It is not possible at this stage to gauge the level of demand for this lump sum facility and in such circumstance to assess the administrative cost of implementation.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.