Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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502. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on proposals to amend eligibility for fuel allowance, including by making it identical to that of medical cards; and if he will make a statement on fuel poverty. [15024/25]

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. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty.

While my Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any further decision to amend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance, including making it identical to that of Medical Cards can only be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.

With regard to fuel poverty, the Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of financial supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock. The supports provided by the Government are cross Departmental and, in this regard, my Department is represented on the Energy Poverty Action Group, with the overall strategy to combat Fuel Poverty and Energy Poverty under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.