Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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988. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial assistance that will be given to older persons who are not in receipt of fuel allowance to help towards the increase in fuel costs during the recent cold weather as a result of Storm Emma. [12693/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that in view of the recent severity weather conditions, I announced that all people in receipt of the fuel allowance would 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, to over 368,000 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.

In addition, under the SWA scheme, exceptional needs payments (ENPs) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources and this may include exceptional heating costs. My Department may also make an Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) to a person who may not normally qualify for social welfare support but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. In the two weeks ending 9 March 2018 there were 290 payments made at a cost of approximately €51,000 under the ENP/UNP schemes for assistance towards heating related costs, which includes fuel and essential repairs to equipment.

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

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.