Pensioners and long-term social welfare recipients will begin to receive the Government’s fuel allowance this week.
The means-tested payment will be paid for 28 weeks to over 400,000 households across the country including Donegal.
The allowance was introduced in the late 1980s as a way to help with the costs of heating their homes over the winter months.
The scheme was broadened in last year’s budget, in part due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Recipients are paid a weekly rate of €33 or if preferred, by way of two payments of €462 each.