Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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547. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the heat supplementary welfare allowance on a temporary basis in view of an extreme cold weather event; if a more flexible scheme to provide a heat supplementary welfare allowance has considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10877/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that in view of the severity of the weather in recent days, I have announced that all people in receipt of the fuel allowance will receive an extra payment of €22.50. The fuel allowance is a payment payable at €22.50 per week for 27 weeks (a total of €607.50) from October to April, toover 365,000 low income households. I believe that increasing this allowance is the fairest and best way of ensuring that those in most need will receive this additional support.

In addition to the fuel allowance my Department can provide supports under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme which includes a heating supplement. This supplement may be paid to a person who lives alone or only with a qualified adult or child(ren) and who has exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement and each payment is awarded taking into account the individual circumstances of the case, therefore providing for flexibility in its administration. There are currently 1,500 recipients of this payment.

Any persons in receipt of a heating supplement who are unable to meet their fuel costs as a result of this cold weather should contact my Department’s Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo centre for assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.