Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

259. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is eligible to receive fuel allowance. [45446/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware Section 1.6.5 Employment Support Schemes, of the Fuel Allowance Scheme Guidelines for the 2017/2018 Fuel Season Onwards, provides that“Participants on the following Department of Social Protection Employment Support Schemes and Revenue Job Assist can be paid Fuel Allowance where they had applied for or were awarded fuel allowance prior to commencing on the scheme and where they satisfy or continue to satisfy the conditions. "

- Back to Education Allowance

- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance/Short-term Enterprise Allowance

- Community Employment

- Gateway - the local authority social employment scheme

- National Internship Scheme (JobBridge)

- Rural Social Scheme

- Tús Community Work Placement Scheme

Section 1.6.5 further provides that “Claimants moving to an Employment Support Scheme cannot accrue entitlement to Fuel Allowance while on the scheme.”

The person concerned was not recently granted fuel allowance. He commenced on a community employment scheme on 02-05-2015 and has not previously received fuel allowance whilst on the scheme. Nor did he prior to his commencement whilst on jobseekers allowance, therefore he does not have an entitlement to fuel allowance per guidelines.

However, a letter issued to the person concerned, from their local Intreo Centre, which incorrectly stated that they did have an entitlement to fuel allowance. This error was noticed by the Community Services manager and the relevant staff notified. The Intreo Centre manager wishes to apologise for the error that was made and any inconvenience this may have caused the person concerned. This error does not, however, bestow an entitlement where none exists.

The Department are satisfied that the correct decision was made in this instance.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the rules governing the fuel allowance scheme to allow persons on a rural social scheme who hold an underlying entitlement to fuel allowance to apply for this payment after they have commenced on a RSS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45528/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The fuel allowance is a means tested payment, targeted at those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

Participants on the rural social scheme (RSS) can be paid Fuel Allowance where they had applied for - or were awarded the payment - prior to commencing on the scheme and where continue to satisfy the conditions.

For the 2016/17 fuel season, the eligibility criteria for the allowance was changed. As a result, a participant in an employment support scheme (which includes the RSS), who had an underlying entitlement to fuel allowance prior to participation on the scheme but was not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household was receiving it, could apply if these circumstances change (e.g. a social welfare fuel recipient is no longer residing at the address). The fuel allowance can be reviewed and awarded provided the employment support scheme participant satisfies all conditions for receipt of fuel allowance.

Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance to allow persons on the RSS to accrue entitlement to the allowance while on the scheme would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.