Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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488. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for fuel allowance; the number of refusals for fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24274/22]

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 374,861 Fuel Allowance recipients. At the end of 2020, the number of recipients was 375,269 and at the end of 2019, it was 369,255. Precise information on the number of fuel allowance applications received or disallowed is not readily available. Common disallowance reasons include where the means of the customer or household exceeds the permissible threshold; the applicant resides with a non-qualified person (for example, someone in employment); or the applicant resides with another person who is already in receipt of fuel allowance. Where an application 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 expected that this additional €100 fuel allowance payment will commence to customers over the coming days.

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 their fuel bills.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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489. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the price substitute between bituminous smoky coal and smokeless coal; if the fuel allowance will be increased to take into account any prohibition of the sale of bituminous smoky coal, wet wood and sod turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24275/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Matters relating to the sale of fuels are the remit of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.

I am informed that, according to the most recent SEAI Fuel cost comparison (available on the SEAI web site), the difference between the cost of Premium bituminous coal and smokeless coal is approximately €0.06 per 40kg bag and the difference between the cost of a standard bituminous coal and smokeless coal is approximately €2.52 per 40kg bag.

I am further informed that, in order to improve our air quality, we must reduce our reliance upon the burning of solid fossil fuel. The Government is committed to supporting households with their energy costs through energy efficiency measures. A total of €267 million (of which €202 million is funded from carbon tax receipts) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. This investment will support almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2 (a near doubling of B2 output over 2021) and 4,800 free energy upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty.

Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates both Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.