Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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216. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if further consideration will be given to the decision to refuse free fuel allowance/back to school allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40872/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel Allowance (FA) may be payable to certain households in receipt of long term social welfare payments. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Only one FA is payable per household.

An application for FA was last received from the person concerned on 23 September 2024. The application was refused, as the information available to the Department was that the spouse of the person in question is in paid employment and is not an exempted person within the household for the purposes of the scheme. The person referred to was notified of the decision to refuse his application on 23 September 2024.

This decision has been reviewed and it has been found that the original decision still stands. It is open to the person concerned to reapply for FA is the household circumstances change.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. In order to qualify for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant’s household income to be within the relevant income limits.

A review of the eligibility to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for the person concerned has been undertaken and their application for the allowance has not been awarded as their weekly household income is in excess of the relevant income limit. Details of the income assessed has been sent to the person concerned.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme may be considered for an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.