Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the one-off payments in budget 2023 will be counted as income when applying for a means-tested social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55722/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

These measures include the following lump sum payments:

- €400 Fuel Allowance lump sum

- November double Child Benefit payment

- €500 Working Family Payment

- €200 Living Alone Allowance lump sum

- €500 Disability Support Grant

- €500 Carer's Support Grant

In addition, an Autumn Cost of Living Payment was paid last month, and a Christmas Bonus will be paid in December.

These cost of living once-off payments will not be assessed as means for Social Protection purposes.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.