Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has undertaken any comparative analysis between increases in Fuel Allowance and the static electricity/gas allowance, including whether one scheme is intended to compensate for the other; and if he will provide details. [33025/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether an impact assessment has been conducted on recipients of the Household Benefits Package who do not qualify for Fuel Allowance, and the extent to which these households may face a gap in energy support. [33026/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together.
My Department has not undertaken any comparative analysis between increases in Fuel Allowance and the static electricity/gas allowance or an impact assessment on recipients of the Household Benefits Package who do not qualify for Fuel Allowance and the extent to which these households may face an energy gap.
The Household Benefits and Fuel Allowance Schemes are separate to each other and one scheme is not intended to compensate for the other.
The qualifying criteria for both schemes are also not readily integrated. Some households can automatically qualify for the Household Benefits package such as those aged over 70 and those in receipt of Carers Allowance. Also, the vast majority households do not have to satisfy a means test to receive the Household Benefits package. This is not the case for the Fuel Allowance payment.
Fuel Allowance is a targeted payment and the criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible, 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.
The targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance payment means that those who need extra support receive it. In this regard, over 266,000 household receive both the Household Benefits Package and the Fuel Allowance Payment.
While the criteria for Fuel Allowance is designed to ensure that those who require the support the most receive it, there will always be exceptional cases. It is for this reason that my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers
I trust this clarifies the position.
