Co Kildare homeowners to benefit as Government doubles fuel allowances due to cold weather

By Kim O'Leary

The Government has today announced their intention to double the fuel allowance this week due to adverse weather conditions, with Kildare recipients expected to benefit by automatically receiving €45 for this week instead of the usual €22.50.

Labour Spokesperson on Older People Emmet Stagg has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty to double the fuel allowance this week due to the serious weather conditions affecting the Country.

Mr. Stagg stated that this is something his colleagues had been calling for in the Dail and he welcomed Minister Doherty's decision given the freezing weather conditions taking hold across the Country.

Mr. Stagg stated that the “additional payment of €22-50 will be processed next week” by the Department. As Labour Spokesperson on Older, Mr Stagg has urged people to check in with elderly neighbours and those in rural or isolated areas this week.

Meanwhile, Age Action has warmly welcomed the announcement by Minister Regina Doherty TD that there will be a double payment in the Fuel Allowance this week to help pensioners on low incomes heat their homes.

Justin Moran, Head of Advocacy and Communications with Age Action, said: “The decision by Minister Regina Doherty TD to issue a double Fuel Allowance payment will be warmly welcomed by tens of thousands of pensioners on low incomes. The most important thing for older people in this weather is to stay as warm as possible. But even at the best of times many are worried about the cost of heating their homes. The double payment in the Fuel Allowance will reassure them that they can afford to keep the heat on in a week when they really need it.”

The Fuel Allowance is a means-tested, weekly, payment of €22.50 made to 338,000 households to help them heat their homes during the coldest months of the year.