Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
640. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals applied for fuel allowance in 2023 and 2024, by county; and the number of successful applications there have been in that period in each county. [2266/25]
View answerFuel Allowance 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 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.
411,395 households were in receipt of Fuel Allowance at the end of December 2023 and 413,934 households were in receipt of the allowance at the end of December 2024. It should be noted that the number of recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.
The number of Fuel Allowance recipients, by county, at the end of December 2023 and at the end of December 2024 is set out in tabular form below.
|
County |
Number of Fuel Allowance recipients at end of December 2023 |
Number of Fuel Allowance recipients at end of December 2024 |
|
Carlow |
6,669 |
6,612 |
|
Cavan |
7,586 |
7,582 |
|
Clare |
11,459 |
11,589 |
|
Cork |
43,717 |
44,003 |
|
Donegal |
20,472 |
20,578 |
|
Dublin |
87,484 |
88,314 |
|
Galway |
21,695 |
21,850 |
|
Kerry |
15,611 |
15,648 |
|
Kildare |
14,227 |
14,376 |
|
Kilkenny |
8,363 |
8,398 |
|
Laois |
7,398 |
7,370 |
|
Leitrim |
4,171 |
4,251 |
|
Limerick |
18,715 |
18,804 |
|
Longford |
5,311 |
5,398 |
|
Louth |
13,245 |
13,469 |
|
Mayo |
15,885 |
16,032 |
|
Meath |
13,038 |
13,065 |
|
Monaghan |
6,049 |
6,147 |
|
Offaly |
7,784 |
7,798 |
|
Roscommon |
6,890 |
6,985 |
|
Sligo |
7,149 |
7,136 |
|
Tipperary |
17,930 |
17,950 |
|
Waterford |
13,119 |
13,132 |
|
Westmeath |
8,352 |
8,313 |
|
Wexford |
17,562 |
17,481 |
|
Wicklow |
11,368 |
11,541 |
|
Not Recorded |
146 |
112 |
|
Total |
411,395 |
413,934 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
