Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
633. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost and the in-year (single season) cost of increasing the weekly fuel allowance rate by €10, €15, and €20 respectively, based on current recipient numbers and allowing for behavioural and eligibility effects; and to set out any offsetting savings or interactions with the household benefits package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51433/25]
View answerThe cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by €10 and €15 and €20 is as follows: -
|
Weekly Increase to the Fuel Allowance Payment |
Number of Weeks Payable |
Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Cost |
|
€10 |
28 |
410,000 |
€114.8 million |
|
€15 |
28 |
410,000 |
€172.2 million |
|
€20 |
28 |
410,000 |
€229.6 million |
This costing is based on the number of recipients in August 2025 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
The Fuel Allowance Scheme and the Household Benefits Package are separate secondary benefits available from my Department subject to satisfying the relevant qualifying conditions. A person or household may receive both secondary benefits at the same time. Therefore, there would be no offsetting savings or interactions with the Household Benefits Package.
The provision of any additional supports such as increasing the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
Recent expansions to the Fuel Allowance Scheme have resulted in the Budget for the scheme increasing significantly with an estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2025 of €400.5 million compared to an expenditure of €290.45 million in 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
