Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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541. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46480/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 28 weeks per year (a total of €630 per annum) from October to April, to over 368,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €227 million in 2018. 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.

It has been and remains the case that any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance scheme, to include people on short term payment schemes, would require considerable extra funding for the scheme and would have to be considered in overall budgetary negotiations.

I would again highlight payments available under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Payments include a heating supplement payment, 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 this payment. 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.

An exceptional needs payment may also be made under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. This payment can 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.

If the Deputy or anyone else is aware of someone who does not qualify for Fuel Allowance as a result of short-term unemployment, but whose financial position is that they require such assistance, he should advise that person to contact their Community Welfare Officer.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.