Fuel Allowance for over 7,000 Cavan homes starts today

OVER 7,000 homes in Co Cavan are to benefit from this year’s Fuel Allowance which starts today.

The annual scheme which was introduced to help people heat their homes over the winter months has this year been extended to include more households.

The payment has been expanded to people aged 66 and over, and for those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance - subject to a means test.

A total of 7,394 homes in Cavan and 41,000 nationally are eligible for the scheme this year.

Fuel Allowance will be paid for 28 weeks, but households have a choice of how it will be paid, through a weekly rate of €33 or if they prefer, by way of two instalment payments of €462.

Those aged 66 and over do not need to be in receipt of Social Welfare to qualify for Fuel Allowance.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Niamh Smyth welcomed the commencement of this year’s scheme saying that the changes introduced means the Fuel Allowance is “helping those who need it most.”

The local TD said: “Fuel Allowance has been a huge success and has given households a helping hand for the last few years.

“The cost of heating your home is challenging, and we want to give households a helping hand,” she added.