Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1029. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person in receipt of the carer’s allowance, and who has passed the means test for the fuel allowance, is assessed for the fuel allowance in their own right or does everyone in the household need to qualify in order for the applicant to be successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for Fuel Allowance are in place to direct the limited resources available to my department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including satisfy a means test and the household composition criteria, while those under 66 must also be in receipt of a qualifying payment. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

The circumstances of all members of the household are considered when assessing an applicant's entitlement to the Fuel Allowance payment.

I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases and it is for this reason that my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. My department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are income tested and are available through our Community Welfare Officers.

Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.