Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will adjust the rate of fuel allowance in a way which will be determined by a strong evidence base on the minimum energy needs of households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24644/23]

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 €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.

There has never been any link between the rate of Fuel Allowance paid and the minimum energy needs of households. The energy needs of households and the cost of the same can vary enormously depending on a number of factors including the type of fuel used to heat a home, the size of the home, geographical factors, age and health of members of the household and the age and energy efficiency of the dwelling itself.

It would therefore be inpractical to link the rate of Fuel Allowance paid to the minimum energy needs of households. Any decision to do so would have significant cost implications for the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government has provided a range of supports to assist people with rising energy costs to date, through a series of targeted lump sum payments and increases in core payment rates for those in receipt of social welfare payments, and through the energy credit scheme which was available to all households.

The Government will continue to monitor the imapct of engery costs and will, as it has to date, take appropriate responses as necessary.

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.