Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1678. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all employees on rural social schemes are entitled to fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1954/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April each year to low income households to assist them 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 and only one allowance is paid per household.

Participants on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) can be paid the fuel allowance where they applied for, and were awarded, the fuel allowance prior to commencing on the scheme and where they satisfy or continue to satisfy the conditions. Entitlement to the fuel allowance cannot be established after a person commences on the RSS. Not all participants on the RSS have an entitlement to the fuel allowance as they may not satisfy the fuel scheme conditions.

Where an RSS participant has an underlying entitlement to the fuel allowance - but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household is receiving it - and if there is a change in circumstances e.g. the fuel allowance recipient is no longer residing at the address, then it is open to the RSS participant to apply for the fuel allowance. In these circumstances, the fuel entitlement can be reviewed and awarded provided the participant satisfies all conditions for receipt of fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.