Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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593. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider changing the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance given the increasing numbers of adults living at home, where a single pensioner (details supplied) who lives alone falls well below the income threshold and is eligible for the payment, however if they have an adult child living with them no matter their income then they are no longer eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65306/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria, this ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at 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.

It is not always the case that a single pensioner will not be entitled to the Fuel Allowance payment if an adult child is living with them. If the adult child is in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department, typically long-term payments, then subject to satisfying all other relevant qualifying criteria, Fuel Allowance is payable.

However, if they are in receipt of short-term payments such as Illness Benefit or Jobseekers Benefit, or if they are in full-time employment then the household will not be entitled to the Fuel Allowance payment.

A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations. Though disregarding a household member who is not reliant on a long term social protection payment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.

I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases and it is for this reason that my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. 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 can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.