Cost of Living Issues
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-30
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

We have acted. I again emphasise the increase in the fuel allowance and the extra four weeks of the payment bringing it to the end of this week, which is the beginning of the month of May. That has not been done previously. We increased the fuel allowance by €5 per week. As I said, the increase in the fuel allowance is a 32% increase for the 469,000 households that are in receipt of it. For the first time, the fuel allowance is now being paid to working families. Those in receipt of the working family payment were eligible for the fuel allowance. We made a back payment to the beginning of January so that those in receipt of the working family payment received a lump sum for January and February at the beginning of March and now have the benefit of the extension.
That is a very targeted intervention to those 469,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance. We continue to pay the household benefits package. Over 500,000 households are in receipt of that. That is a direct payment that people can use in relation to fuel and energy supports. We have just finished a run of engagements across the country with Members of the House around availability of additional needs payments. That may be something we can come back to.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-30