Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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367. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) for the fuel allowance will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12616/22]

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 winter heating needs. It is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one allowance is payable per household.

The main eligibility conditions for receipt of fuel allowance are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test and live alone or with other qualifying persons. The current threshold for the fuel allowance means test is €120 above the maximum weekly rate of State pension (contributory). This weekly income threshold increased from €100 to €120 with effect from 11 October 2021.

The person concerned re-applied for this allowance on 27 October 2021. According to the records of my Department, the person has an occupational pension in excess of €120 per week, which exceeds the means limit for fuel allowance. The person concerned was notified in writing on 13 January 2022 that they did not qualify for fuel allowance on the basis of their means.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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368. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of 16- and 17-year-olds living with cancer who applied for disability allowance from 2018 - 2021; the number of applications that were accepted and refused; the annual expenditure on accepted cases in tabular form. [12900/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance is a weekly payment payable to persons who have a disability, illness, or injury that is expected to last for more than one year, who are substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience, and qualifications. Persons must additionally be aged between 16 and 66 years, and satisfy a means test. Information in relation to persons aged 16 and 17 who applied for and received/did not receive Disability Allowance with a primary diagnostic code indicating cancer is set out below. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest hundred euro.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date from which recipients of the fuel allowance will receive the additional payment €125; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12937/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33.00; or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments; and is paid over the winter season. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

The Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government has announced additional expenditure measures of €505 million. As part of these measures, I announced an additional lump sum payment of €125 to households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. This additional lump sum payment is estimated to cost €46.5 million.

The additional payment of €125 will be made to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance in the week beginning 14^thMarch 2022. Those in receipt of weekly Fuel Allowance payments will be paid their weekly payment of €33.00 plus the additional payment of €125.00 and those who receive their payment by lump sum will receive their additional lump sum of €125.00.

The additional €125 payment will issue automatically to all Fuel Allowance recipients, they do not need to contact the Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.