Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider removing means-testing for access to social protection supports e.g. fuel allowance and the household energy package, for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis; if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) funded research in which people reported energy hardship in households where people are receiving palliative care in the home, including struggling with their fuel bills; if he will consider extending access to these social protection supports on the same basis as people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis get access to an end-of-life medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50384/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the research carried out by the Irish Cancer Society on the reported energy hardship in households in which people are receiving palliative care. I am committed to working towards solutions to support this cohort of people.

In July of this year, I met with officials from the Irish Cancer Society to discuss their concerns and also to discuss the challenges in relation to providing access to particular schemes solely based on an end-of-life cancer diagnosis.

In general, access to the Household Benefits Package and the Fuel Allowance payment for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary social protection payments, many of them illness related. Entitlement to these primary social protection payments is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned.

Extending the eligibility to include automatic entitlement to the Household Benefits Package and Fuel Allowance for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis would change the nature of the schemes, would require additional funding and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Increase to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year and I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that these benefits continue to target vulnerable groups. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.

I fully understand the financial challenges associated with such a diagnosis and it is important to note that Additional Needs Payments are available through my Department for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. In addition, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement can be paid throughout the full year.

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 for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie/.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.