Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

693. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the fuel allowance was last increased. [45028/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Following Budget 2022, in October 2021 the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance was increased by €5 to €33 per week. This is the last time the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance was increased.

The Government has also provided lump-sum payments to Fuel Allowance recipients as part of cost-of-living measures announced in recent Budgets. When providing for lump-sum payments I was conscious that the bulk of energy costs will be incurred in the months after the Budget so I wanted to address this by providing a large one-off payment rather than through a smaller increase in the weekly rate of payment.

In Budget 2025, I again provided for an additional lump sum payment of €300 to be paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment in November 2024. This payment is the equivalent to a €10 a week increase to Fuel Allowance over a 28-week fuel season.

When taken in conjunction with the 2 electricity credits totalling €250 which will be applied to electricity bills, Fuel Allowance households will receive an additional €550 towards their energy costs.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

694. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of the 2023 budget for the free travel scheme that was actually spent. [45029/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Free Travel scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those aged under 66 on certain qualifying payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. From 29th of July 2024, the scheme was extended to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months.

The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by private bus and ferry transport operators countrywide.

In 2023, the original estimate for Free Travel was €95m and the outturn was €92.577m. Therefore, the percentage which was actually spent was 97.4%.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

695. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the processing times for disability allowance applications in each of the first nine months of 2024. [45054/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

The average number of weeks to award a Disability Allowance claim is currently 7 weeks. My Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently.

The table below shows the processing times for disability allowance applications in each of the first nine months of 2024 as requested:

In respect of DA, evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.

To ensure the Department can make timely and fair decisions, applicants should ensure that they complete the application form fully and attach all the supporting documentation required as per the checklist on the application form. It is particularly important that an applicant provides, at the outset, all the details they have in relation to their medical conditions to best support their claim.

In order to register a claim and establish an early entitlement or claim date, many people submit an application without first securing all of the necessary supporting documentation. Claims with missing supporting information typically take longer to process.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.