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.

The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 06 January 2023. They were notified in writing on 28 January 2023.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider allocating some rent allowance or assistance to persons on disability allowance payments who are living in social housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7292/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The rent supplement scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people, including those who are in receipt of disability allowance, living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

Responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those in social housing rests with local authorities.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to rent supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the carer’s benefit allowance to a person (details supplied). [7338/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. Carer’s Benefit is payable for up to a maximum of 104 weeks to a carer in respect of a care recipient.

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 02 March 2021 in respect of their mother.

CARB was disallowed as the person concerned was deemed not to be meeting the threshold of full time care based on the information provided by the carer. A decision letter to this effect was issued on 12 March 2021.

A review request with supplementary information was received on 16 April 2021. Following this review, it was decided to award CARB from 04 February 2021 to 01 February 2023 for the full 104-week entitlement in respect of the care recipient. The award letter issued on 4th May 2021 advised of this and served as the notification of the dates that the claim payment starts and ends.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for Carer’s Allowance if the care recipient is still in need of full time care and attention.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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416. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7414/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Supports from my Department however are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department/Agency has a primary responsibility.

My Department received an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) application from the person concerned for assistance with the cost of a generator for oxygen. In order to assess the person’s application, the following information has been sought:

- A letter from the person’s GP/Public Health Nurse confirming his medical condition and outlining the need for a generator if the Health Service Executive (HSE) cannot provide the necessary equipment.

- A supplier quotation for the generator.

- Details of total household income

When the information requested is received, the person’s application will be processed promptly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.