Reduction in fuel allowance period will save €51m

SAVINGS of €51 million are to be made next year by cutting the period for paying the winter fuel allowance.

However, the saving will be cold comfort to the many charities that lobbied for years to have the weekly payment extended into late spring and brought forward into early autumn to take account of often unseasonable weather.

The €20 weekly allowance, which is available for those on the state pension and several other welfare payments, will now be paid for 26 weeks instead of 32.