Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of times that the fuel allowance has been increased since her Department was established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38778/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.

The weekly rate of the Fuel Allowance payment has increased 8 times since its inception in 1988. This figure does not include temporary rate increases due to exceptional events such as adverse weather or Covid 19. The rate changes are as follows: -

The duration of the scheme has increased 6 times since the establishment of the scheme (although the duration was reduced by six weeks in 2012). This figure does not include temporary duration increases due to exceptional events such as adverse weather or Covid 19.

While the Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any further expansions to the Fuel Allowance scheme 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.