Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households in receipt of fuel allowance, by qualifying primary payment (for example State pension, disability allowance, jobseeker's long-term schemes, carer's allowance, etc.), by age band of primary claimant (under 66, 66-69, 70-79, 80+), for each of the past fuel allowance seasons 2021/2022 to 2025/2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51426/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics on fuel allowance recipients by qualifying primary payment and by age group are published annually in the Department's Annual Statistics Report. The report is available through my Department's statistics landing page, gov.ie/dsp/statistics.

The number of Recipients of Fuel Allowance by Primary Payment at the end of 2023 and 2024 is shown in the table below. The methodology for identifying the qualifying scheme for fuel allowance was reviewed and changed as part of the compilation of the 2024 Annual Statistics Report. It has only been possible to apply this improved methodology in respect of 2023 and 2024.

Table 1: Fuel allowance recipients by qualifying primary payment, 2023-2024

Table 2: Fuel allowance recipients by age group, 2022-2024

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of successful fuel allowance claims by assessment pathway, distinguishing claims qualifying under the over-66 higher means limits, claims qualifying under the standard means test; within those cohorts, the number of claimants with assessable capital falling within each €10,000 band up to and above the current capital disregard; the same breakdown for refused claims, for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51427/25]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and share of claimants opting for weekly payments and opting for lump-sum payments of the fuel allowance for each of the past three seasons; the total value paid under each option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/25]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average and median processing time for fuel allowance applications in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 to date; the share of applications decided within two, four, six, and eight weeks; the number of refusals and appeals, with the principal reasons for refusal listed and ranked by frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51430/25]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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631. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipients whose qualifying payment is carer's allowance, carer's benefit, disability allowance, or invalidity pension; the number of these cases which qualified under the over-66 means limits versus the standard means test, in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51431/25]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide total fuel allowance expenditure; the average amount paid per recipient household for each of the past five seasons, showing the proportion of part-season payments due to late awards or changes in circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51432/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 628, 630, 631 and 632 together.

The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season from September to April at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two (lump sum) instalments, one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually. In Budget 2025, a more generous means test was extended to those aged over 66, with a higher means threshold of €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Applicants aged over 66 no longer need to be receiving a qualifying social protection payment and the threshold for the capital disregard increased from €20,000 to €50,000. For those aged under 66, the means threshold is now €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory for the household.Those receiving Fuel Allowance by 2 instalment (lump sum) payments receive the instalments in September and January each year. The table below details the numbers receiving weekly and instalment payments for the past 3 years:

From November 2021, the Fuel Allowance weekly rate of payment increased from €28.00 to €33.00.

It is not possible to provide a breakdown of part-season payments due to late awards or changes in circumstances. Fuel Allowance applications are awarded from date of receipt of the application. There is no financial loss to the customer if there is any delay in processing the application.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipient households and total expenditure by local authority area; the claimant rates per 1,000 households to allow comparison between areas for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51429/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics on fuel allowance recipients by county are published annually in the Department's Annual Statistics Report. It is not possible to break down fuel allowance recipients by local authority area as this data is not held by my Department; a table showing the county-breakdown at the end of 2024 is provided below.

Expenditure is recorded at the scheme level, not the individual level. Accordingly, it is not possible to attribute expenditure to individual-level characteristics such as the county. Funding for schemes is centrally allocated. The expenditure for fuel allowance in 2024 is shown in the below Table.