Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1336. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address as a matter of priority and end the discrimination that currently exists in regard to the fuel allowance payment in respect of senior citizens (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44926/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment a person must satisfy all the relevant qualifying criteria including satisfying a means test. The means test 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 increased allowable means threshold for people who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership, acknowledges that the overall cost of living for this cohort is higher than for a single person.

The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely and how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments who are at risk of fuel poverty. While my Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any changes to the means test could only be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.

My Department does of course pay the Living Alone Increase to those who live alone to compensate for the additional individual costs of living alone when compared to a couple or family. The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people who are living alone and getting certain social welfare payments. The living Alone Increase is paid at an addition weekly rate of €22 or €1,144 a year. The yearly rate of Living Alone Increase at €1,144 is higher than that of the Fuel Allowance payment of €924 and is not payable to couples.

Finally, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. If your constituent believes that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment, they should 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 .

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1337. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to urgently investigate a disability allowance application (details supplied); the reason this person is being deprived of their payment; if the information submitted will be accepted and payment issued to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44927/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Following their successful appeal, the person concerned has been awarded Disability Allowance (DA) with effect from 27 November 2024. They were notified in writing of this appeal decision on 12 August 2025. The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 03 September 2025.

Arrears of payment due from 27 November 2024 to 02 September 2025 will issue as soon as possible, once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable) and less any Overpayment that have occurred.

The Department has been in contact extensively with the person concerned on several occasions regarding his application, review and appeal of their DA.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1338. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to urgently review and disability allowance case of a person (details supplied) and take all circumstances into consideration by reinstating the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44931/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability whose income falls below certain limits and who are aged between 16 and are under 66. The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement. In this case the means of the person concerned were reviewed

Under the means assessment arrangements for DA, spouse earnings are calculated as gross earnings less PRSI, Superannuation, Union dues and pension levies. A disregard of €20 per day applies subject to a maximum of €60 per week and the balance of their earnings is assessed at 60%.

The evidence before the Deciding Officer included a payslip for the spouse of the person concerned, dated 17 April 2025, which showed a Taxable income of €15,793.04 for 16 insurable weeks, averaging €987.07 per week. When allowable deductions of €103.13 were applied, the income was €883.94. When deducting the disregard of €60 the income was €823.94. This was then assessed at 60% which meant the means belonging to the person concerned were assessed at €494.36 per week. This led to DA payments for the person concerned reducing to €18.50 per week.

The person concerned was notified on 16 July 2025 of this decision, the reason for it and her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned has requested an Appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) and they will be notified directly regarding the outcome of the appeal by the SWAO.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.