5. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to change the fuel allowance thresholds for those over the age of 66 that are a single income household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46491/26]

Sentiment score: 0.01

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Could the Minister address the issue of the fuel allowance, particularly the income thresholds for those over the age of 66 in single-income households?

Sentiment score: 0.00

I saw a statistic that 25% of all homes now in the State are in receipt of the fuel allowance. It is certainly a very significant figure. It is coming close to nearly 500,000 homes. Any of us as Deputies can see when you walk around and knock on doors, there are homes that have been able to avail of the better energy warmer home scheme because of their eligibility for fuel allowance. My worry is about the cliff-edge for people. There might be two people over-66 living in a home and for that household, the threshold is €52,000 of annual income. Next door, if there was a person living on their own who could often be a widow or widower, their income threshold is only €26,000 but it costs the same money to heat both homes. The 50% reduction in the income threshold for a single person is very significant. Perhaps it should be something closer to two thirds of it. Particularly for those in the over-66 category, there are many people who find themselves in that situation because of bereavement and it is worth examining.

Sentiment score: 0.13

It is a new scheme that is popular and people want to avail of it. If you are sitting in someone's home and as you go through the form, you say to them you are only eligible for one income threshold of €26,000. The person almost feels like they are being punished for having lost their partner. You can see it etched in their face. I ask the Minister to examine it. A 50% reduction is too significant and particularly for that older cohort. With his colleague, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister needs to examine how this scheme interacts with the better energy warmer homes scheme. It is an amazing scheme and you can get nearly €50,000 of works done to your home at no cost to the homeowner. Giving a gateway to that scheme, without necessarily significantly changing the fuel allowance scheme, could be one way of addressing the issue I am raising. While often people are seeking the payment of nearly €1,000 per year, they really want to make the improvements to their home to reduce their bills through the better energy warmer home scheme.

Sentiment score: 0.25