Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of successful applicants for fuel allowance in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24551/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

The Department generally collates data on an annual basis. At the start of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season in September, there were 369,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance. By the end of April 2023, the number of households supported increased further to 404,000.

It should be noted that the number of recipients of Fuel Allowance continuously fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance will be awarded when waiting on a probate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24561/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist those aged over 70 years and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full.Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed to direct the limited resources available to my department in a targeted manner. To qualify for Fuel Allowance, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria, including a means test and the household composition criteria.

The person concerned can make an application for Fuel Allowance based on their current circumstances and an officer of my department will determine their entitlement.

If awarded the Fuel Allowance, the person concerned is obliged to inform my department of any change in circumstances which may affect their entitlement, and a review will be undertaken at that stage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.