Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
331. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing the income threshold of the fuel allowance by 10%, 20% and 30% respectively, in tabular form; to provide an estimate of the number of applicants each threshold increase would incorporate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/26]
View answer333. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of additional households that will become eligible for the fuel allowance if the weekly means test thresholds were increased by 10%, 20% and 30%, broken down by the primary social welfare payment they are in receipt of, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23367/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 333 together.
My Department does not hold data on the means or household composition of all households in the State and, therefore, cannot provide a costing or expected numbers that might qualify due the measures outlined by the Deputy.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Increase to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year and I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that these benefits continue to target vulnerable groups.
Any further changes to the criteria for accessing the Fuel Allowance scheme would require additional funding for the scheme and therefore any decision to increase the Fuel Allowance thresholds would have to form part of overall budgetary negotiations.
There have been significant improvements made in recent years to the Fuel Allowance scheme. These improvements have resulted in many more households qualifying for the payment and have resulted in the Budget for the scheme increasing significantly with an estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2026 of €486 million compared to an expenditure of €290.45 million in 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
