Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
452. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the amount of money expended by his Department on fuel allowance, per annum, in each of the years 2022 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11294/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance scheme 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 €38.00 (from January 2026) 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.
The overall expenditure on Fuel Allowance from 2015-2024 is published in the Department of Social Protection’s Statistical Information On Social Welfare Services Annual Report 2024 on www.gov.ie. The 2025 Fuel Allowance expenditure is provisional at this stage.
The table below shows the statistics for the past 4 years:
|
Year |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Expenditure |
€427.09m (Provisional) |
€510.23m* |
€501.67m* |
€576.40m* |
* Includes once-off payments to recipients of €300 in November 2024 and November 2023, and €400 in November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
