Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of fuel allowance applications that were refused in each of the past three years nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22076/22]

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 over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

As at the end of December 2021, there were almost 375,000 Fuel Allowance recipients. At the end of 2020, the number of recipients was also of the order of 375,000 and at the end of 2019, the number was in excess of 369,000. Precise information on the total number of refusals in each of these years is not readily available. Where an application for fuel allowance is disallowed, it is open to the person to re-apply if there is a change in their circumstances.

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 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 was paid in March 2022 at an estimated cost of €49 million.

The National Energy Security Framework includes provision for a further additional lump sum payment of €100 to be paid to all households in receipt of fuel allowance in the last week of the (2021/22) fuel allowance season – a payment equivalent to over 3 weeks additional fuel allowance. It is planned to make this additional €100 fuel allowance payment in mid-May.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity who cannot meet those costs. My Department also provides discretionary Exceptional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.