Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
335. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of recipients in that will benefit from the changes arising from the over-70s fuel allowance means test disregard being extended to people aged 66 years and over from January 2025. [40171/24]
View answer324. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households that will receive the €300 fuel allowance announced in Budget 2025, by county, in tabular form. [40144/24]
View answer336. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of carers that will benefit from carer's allowance becoming a qualifying payment for fuel allowance from January 2025, by county, in tabular form. [40172/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 324 and 336 together.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
As part of Budget 2025, I was delighted to announce a number of measures in relation to the Fuel Allowance payment. These included: -
• €300 once-off payment to all households receiving Fuel Allowance in November 2024.
• Carer’s Allowance will become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance from January 2025, subject to meeting all criteria of the Fuel Allowance scheme, including satisfying the Fuel Allowance means test.
• The enhanced over 70’s Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions will be extended to people aged 66 and over from January 2025
It is estimated that 5,200 households will benefit from the enhanced over 70’s Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions being extended to people aged 66 and over from January 2025.
It is estimated that 411,000 households will benefit from the €300 once-off payment to all households receiving Fuel Allowance in November 2024. Given that this is an estimate of the number of people who will be in receipt of Fuel Allowance in November and this number is open to change it is not possible to provide a breakdown of possible beneficiaries of this measure by county.
With regards to the Carers Allowance measure, the estimated number of households who will benefit from this measure is 4,000. Given that the number provided is an estimate and that the measure will only come into force from January 2025 it is not possible to provide a breakdown of possible beneficiaries of this measure by county.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
