Written answer
Social Welfare Eligibility
An estimated 15,900 households—8,800 in Cavan and 7,100 in Monaghan—will receive Fuel Allowance in 2026/27, subject to means testing.
88. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Cavan Monaghan that are eligible for Fuel Allowance. [67384/26]
Comment on this
The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment that assists qualifying households with their heating costs during the winter season. Budget 2026 extended eligibility for Fuel Allowance to recipients of the Working Family Payment, increasing the total number of households expected to benefit from the scheme to 470,000.
As Fuel Allowance is a demand-led scheme, the total number of eligible households cannot be determined in advance, as eligibility is assessed through an individual means test. In addition, the number of qualifying households fluctuates over time as recipients enter and leave the scheme depending on their circumstances.
Based on the most recent county-level data provided for August 2026, the estimated number of households that will receive Fuel Allowance in the 2026/2027 fuel season is 8,800 for Cavan and 7,100 for Monaghan. A total of 15,900 households across the Cavan-Monaghan constituency.