Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to providing fuel allowance payment rates dependent on household size; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47888/22]

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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.  Only one allowance is paid per household.

While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Department's schemes, any decision to introduce different rates of Fuel allowance, dependent on household size, would be a fundamental change 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.

The Department provides for the additional expense of dependent household members through the payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult rate and an Increase for a Qualified Child rate on many of its primary payments. Other household members may be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in their own right.  

Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional 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.