Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact people on the job initiative scheme are not eligible to claim the fuel allowance; if this is under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58025/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Job Initiative scheme provides full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who have been unemployed for five years or more. Since November 2004, there has been no recruitment to the scheme. Since January 2004, participants on the Job Initiative scheme cannot retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme.

The current rate of payment for a Job Initiative participant is €543.00 per week, significantly higher than most Social Protection primary payments.

Any further changes to the criteria for accessing the Fuel Allowance scheme would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources. However, any such decision would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance scheme, as it would be awarding the payment to people in full-time employment who are not in receipt of a qualifying Social Protection payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.