Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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31. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received and approved for fuel allowance in 2021 and to date in 2022. [5354/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2022, I was pleased to announce a number of reforms to the fuel allowance scheme including an increase in the weekly rate by €5 to €33, and a €20 increase in the weekly income means threshold with both measures implemented with effect from budget night. It is estimated that approx. 400,000 households will benefit from this payment in 2022.

The table below provides the number of new Fuel Allowance applications received and awarded in 2021 and in 2022 to date, as requested by the Deputy. Once awarded, there is no requirement for recipients to reapply for the allowance on an annual basis.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.