Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
103. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of making fuel allowance universal for everyone over 70; that consideration will be given to implementing this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33132/25]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks. That is a total of €924 each year, available from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €400 million in 2025.The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my 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. Awarding the Fuel Allowance Payment to all those aged over 70 irrespective of their means or household composition would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance payment.The Household Benefits Package is universally available to those aged 70 and older with one package per household. Based on similar numbers of over 70 households qualifying for the Fuel Allowance payment it is estimated an additional 60,000 households would qualifying for the Fuel Allowance payment at an additional cost of €55.4 million per year.The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance to support vulnerable groups. This is, in fact, an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year. For example there have been a number of expansions under recent budgets to the Fuel Allowance to make it easier for those aged 70 or over to qualify for the payment.In 2023 the over 70s enhanced Fuel Allowance qualifying criteria were introduced. These enhanced measures included an easier means threshold for those aged over 70 and no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment.In addition, for people aged 70 or over, the amount of capital ( that is savings and investments) disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
