Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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1824. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will make free fuel payments available to social welfare recipients who are also in receipt of disability benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37529/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, 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, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. 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. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to approximately 429,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017.

The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Depending on their circumstances, disablement benefit can be paid to people in employment, as it is not means-tested, and it is based on a person’s PRSI record. However, people in receipt of disablement benefit and who are considered permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident can apply for Incapacity Supplement which is a qualifying payment for fuel allowance.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a recipient of a social welfare or health service executive payment who has exceptional essential heating costs due to ill health or infirmity and who cannot provide for such costs from within his or her own resources may qualify for a heating supplement. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement. Each case is examined on its merits and the Community Welfare Officer determines the amount to be paid taking account of the level of the expenses in question and the ability of the applicant to contribute towards his or her exceptional heating costs.

The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment 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.

Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance would have to be considered in the overall budgetary negotiations.