Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32 weeks per annum, 40 weeks per annum and 52 weeks per annum. [23760/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing the length of the Fuel Allowance season from the current 28 weeks to 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum respectively is set out in the below table. Note all costings are based on the current weekly rate of €33 per week.

The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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357. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of reinstating the bereavement grant at a rate of €850. [23761/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Bereavement Grant, which was a once-off payment for funeral costs, was discontinued in January 2014. The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716 at a cost of €20.3 million. It is estimated that the cost of reintroducing the grant would be close to €31 million per annum and would increase annually. Any decision to reinstate the grant would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

It is worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the former grant.

These include weekly-paid Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory and Non-Contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner grant of €8,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State Pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death, extending to 12 weeks in respect of Carer’s Allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.

Under the Supplementary Allowance scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. This is a more targeted and efficient manner of assisting people with bereavement expenses in addition to the range of supports already set out.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes payments, in tabular form (details supplied). [23765/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other schemes is set out in the table below.

">Cost of €1 increase

The costs are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2024.

It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults where relevant.