Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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287. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered a small tax credit for qualifying families who may have children with complex special needs in relation to the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49362/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, matters relating to the introduction of a tax credit for families who have children with complex special needs is not under the remit of the Department of Social Protection and should be referred to the Department of Finance.

With regards to the Fuel Allowance payment, the criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. To receive the Fuel Allowance payment, a household must satisfy all relevant qualifying criteria.

My Department provides additional support to families who have children with complex special needs in the form of the Domiciliary Care Allowance. The Domiciliary Care allowance is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child. From January 2023, the payment will increase to €330 per month.

A person caring for children with complex special needs may, subject to satisfying the relevant qualifying conditions, qualify for Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit. These schemes provide financial support to people who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.