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 €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

While the Departments schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis any further expansion or improvements to the scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.

In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments including increases to the weekly rate of State Pension payable, as well as once off payments of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase and €300 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Budget 2024 also provided for the Christmas Bonus payment and January Cost of Living Bonus payment.

The records of the Departments indicate that the number of households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment and the cost to the State over the previous 3 years is as follows:-

The number of recipients is based on the end of December figure for each year requested. The increase in costs for 2022 and 2023 relate to additional lump sum payments made to customers in receipt of Fuel Allowance in those years. The 2023 spend on Fuel Allowance is a provisional figure.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €285 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 521,000 customers.

People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.

While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Departments schemes, any decision to enhance the Household Benefits Package would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.

In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments including increases to the weekly rate of State Pension payable, as well as once off payments of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase and €300 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Budget 2024 also provided for the Christmas Bonus payment and January Cost of Living Bonus payment.

The records of the Departments indicate that the number of households in receipt of the Household Benefits Package and the cost to the State over the previous 3 years is as follows:-

The number of recipients is based on the end of December figure for each year requested. The 2023 spend on the Household Benefits package is a provisional figure.

I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.