Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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479. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those pensioners who may qualify for the fuel allowance under the new threshold limits will be automatically granted the payment; if not, if they must apply; if so, if they must apply in advance of 1 January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49488/22]

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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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.

As part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of almost €2.2 Billion, I was pleased to have secured a major expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme, which will benefit up to 81,000 new households for the first time.

One of the reforms that I was pleased to announce is that, from January 2023, a new means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold will be €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. This is a significant expansion of the means threshold for those aged 70 or over. In addition, the standard means test threshold for those under 70 is being increased from €120 to €200 over the maximum State Pension Contributory rate.

My Department’s immediate priority is to issue 8 separate cost of living lump sum payments worth €1.2 Billion between now and Christmas and the Deputy will appreciate that each of these payments involves significant IT development work and resources.

The new means test thresholds for Fuel Allowance will take effect from January 2023. I can confirm that there will be an application process involved and further details in relation to the application process will be advertised once the operational and IT requirements for the new measure have been finalised.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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480. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the additional €400 one off payment for recipients of the fuel allowance that will be paid in 2022 will be made available to those who will be granted the allowance in January 2023 under the new threshold limits given the cost-of-energy-crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49489/22]

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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, I announced that, in November 2022, a further lump sum payment of €400 will be paid to Fuel Allowance recipients, to alleviate the burden of rising energy prices and inflation.

This further lump sum payment will only be available to households that have an entitlement to the Fuel Allowance payment on the week that the lumpsum payment is paid.

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This will also benefit households to whom access to Fuel Allowance is extended from January. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills before Christmas.

My Department’s immediate priority is to issue 8 separate cost of living lump sum payments worth €1.2 Billion between now and Christmas and the Deputy will appreciate that each of these payments involves significant IT development work and resources.

The new means test thresholds for Fuel Allowance will take effect from January 2023. Further details in relation to the application process will be advertised once the operational and IT requirements for the new measure have been finalised.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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481. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that are available to persons from her Department in the context of the recent adoption of the Dublin Declaration (details supplied) [49497/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Dublin Declaration is a joint effort within Europe to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Primary responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of housing authorities nationwide and the support of the Department of Social Protection through the provision of rent supplement.

My Department provides access to rent supplement on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla-funded service providers for victims of domestic violence. This provides a fast-track approval and screening process with a simplified means test to get immediate access to rent supplement so that they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns.

Under this protocol, the standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three-month period. After three months, a further three-month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment.

After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can then apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports and, if eligible, will be able to access the Housing Assistance Payment, a social housing support provided by Local Authorities.

The arrangements in this protocol are additional and complementary to, and not in substitution for, the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.