Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to the fuel allowance. [52223/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.  The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.  One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. 

In respect of the 2022/2023 fuel season, an application for Fuel Allowance has not been received from the person concerned.  An application form has been posted to him. 

From January 2023, there will be a new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.  In addition, these applicants no longer have to be in receipt of a qualifying payment to access Fuel Allowance, provided they satisfy the means test and the household composition rules.

Details in relation to the application process for those aged 70 and over, including how and when to apply, will be advertised by the Department towards the end of this year.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that those on community employment schemes are excluded from receiving fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52242/22]

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

It is incorrect to say that those on Community Employment schemes are excluded from receiving the Fuel Allowance payment.

If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they can continue to receive the fuel allowance payment while participating on the scheme once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.

If the CE participant was not in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment prior to going on the CE scheme, they may still apply for and qualify for Fuel Allowance in the following circumstances:

- If the CE scheme participant was in receipt of a long-term qualifying payment prior to going on the CE scheme, this will allow them to satisfy the qualifying payment element. However, all other qualifying conditions of Fuel Allowance must also be satisfied.

- Where the CE scheme participant has an established underlying entitlement to Fuel Allowance but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member ofthe household was receiving the payment, it is open to the CE scheme participant to apply for Fuel Allowance if these circumstances change, e.g., where the Fuel Allowance recipient leaves the address. 

Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance for other people participating on a CE scheme would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.

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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will clarify community employment scheme participants’ eligibility for the fuel allowance; if a person can retain their entitlement to fuel allowance once they join a CE scheme; if they can apply for fuel allowance once they are on a CE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52277/22]

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

If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they can continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.

If the CE participant was not in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment prior to going on the CE scheme, they may still apply for and qualify for Fuel Allowance in the following circumstances.

- If the CE scheme participant was in receipt of a long-term qualifying payment prior to going on the CE scheme, this will allow them to satisfy the qualifying payment element.  However, all other qualifying conditions of Fuel Allowance must also be satisfied.

- Where the CE scheme participant has an established underlying entitlement to Fuel Allowance but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member ofthe household was receiving the payment, it is open to the CE scheme participant to apply for Fuel Allowance if these circumstances change, e.g., where the Fuel Allowance recipient leaves the address. 

Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance for other people participating on a CE scheme would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.

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.