Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
628. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of extending fuel allowance to those in receipt of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43996/24]
View answerThe 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.
Based on 40,354 additional recipients of the working family payment qualifying for the fuel allowance, the estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance payment to all those in receipt of Working Family Payment is as follows:
|
Weekly Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Number of weeks payable |
Number of additional Claims |
Estimated Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€33 |
28 |
40,354 |
€37.3m |
Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
