Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
109. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department will take to ensure that people living with pulmonary fibrosis have access to appropriate financial supports, including supports with healthcare and household energy costs, given the financial hardship and risk of poverty experienced by many patients. [69019/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability, including Disability Allowance, Partial Capacity Benefit, and Invalidity Pension. It’s important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which it impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Every application for the Department’s schemes are individually assessed, based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant.
With regards to household energy costs, the Household Benefits package and Fuel Allowance payment provides much needed assistance to qualifying household with their energy costs. Both schemes are specifically targeted at vulnerable cohorts such as people with disabilities.
Households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment may also qualify for the Warm Homes Scheme which provides fully funded energy upgrades to homeowners resulting in reduced energy bills.
The Free Travel Scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme and ensure older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community by providing access to existing public and private transport routes.
As part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. 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.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.
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 cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
