James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will consider the criteria for the fuel allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27042/22]

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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022.  The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying 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.

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.

Home improvement grants under the SEAI and the qualifying conditions for these grants are under the remit of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communication and any concerns around the qualifying condition for these grants should be directed to that Department.

As part of the overall welfare budget package of €600m in increases secured for 2022, I was pleased to be able to increase the Fuel Allowance payment by €5 per week effective from Budget night.  I also increased the weekly income threshold for Fuel Allowance by €20.  Furthermore, with effect from the start of the next fuel season, the qualifying period for Jobseeker’s and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients to access the Fuel Allowance payment will be reduced from 15 to 12 months.

The Government has, therefore, implemented significant expansions in relation to Fuel Allowance through Budget 2022.

While the Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, the provision of any further additional supports such as widening the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.