The once off fuel allowance payment of €125 will be paid to social welfare recipients from today.
The measure forms part of the government's efforts to tackle the rising cost of living.
372,000 people will get the payment over the coming days.
Labour Party TD Duncan Smith says the payment is means tested.
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"You have a majority of people who will be on job seekers, carers allowance and on state pensions."
"They are those with the least amount of means to meet the challenges of trying to meet the cost of living crisis."
"It is a household and families that require this state assistance the most, and that's why it needs to work, and it needs to work now."
