Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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542. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are options available to a person (details supplied) to be able to claim fuel allowance here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4395/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, to 375,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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.

A person in receipt of a Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment) is eligible to apply for the fuel allowance payment on the same basis as Irish State pension recipients. As with all other recipients of the fuel allowance, the person must satisfy a means test as well as all other qualifying conditions. If a person is in receipt of a foreign pension other than a qualifying foreign pension as outlined above, then they will not be entitled to the fuel allowance payment.

With regards to the UK Winter Fuel Payment, receiving this payment does not debar a person from receiving the Irish Fuel Allowance. The amount of UK Winter Fuel payment received is included when assessing a person’s means for fuel allowance purposes and once the applicant satisfies all qualifying conditions the Irish Fuel Allowance can be paid.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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543. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding an application for the fuel allowance submitted in the name of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4399/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.

The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The threshold for the fuel allowance means test is €120.00 above the maximum weekly rate of State pension (contributory).

An application for fuel allowance from the person concerned was received on 10 January 2022. According to the records of my Department, the person has an occupational pension in excess of €120 per week, and exceeds the means limit for fuel allowance. Their application was disallowed and the person concerned was notified in writing on 25 January 2022.

If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to them to reapply for fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.