Written Answers Nos. 111-130
111. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing the means test for the fuel allowance for individuals aged 70 and over, this will also make them eligible for free home energy upgrades (warmer homes scheme), from which they are currently excluded, allowing all elderly citizens to live more comfortably in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21604/25]
View answerThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty.
While my Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any decision to remove the means test criterion for Fuel Allowance would change the targeted nature of the payment and can only be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.
The Warm Homes Scheme is under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and provides for fully funded energy upgrades to homeowners who are in receipt of certain targeted payments from my Department. The eligibility criteria for that scheme are a matter for the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have appealed the Department's decision to refuse them the humanitarian assistance payment in light of Storm Éowyn; the number of these appeals which have been successful; if his attention has been drawn to any cases where there were two applicants with identical applications and circumstances but one was refused assistance while the other was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20966/25]
View answerThe Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Services (CWS) was activated on Thursday 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) is operated in 3 stages.
Stage 1 of the scheme is to address hardship in the immediate aftermath of a severe weather event and provides emergency support payments to cover food and other essential costs. This stage of humanitarian assistance is to help people with the essentials of life – food, water, shelter and warmth.
Just under 89,000 applications have been registered to date. Every individual application is assessed, and payments are made based on the information provided by the applicant and the eligibility of the request under HAS.
The majority of payments made to people to date as a result of Storm Éowyn have been Stage 1, to meet the additional cost of feeding their families in the immediate aftermath of the storm where people remained without power and/or water. The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event.
A person may request a review of a decision and review requests are undertaken by a SWA Review Officer. The review process may lead to a fresh examination of the initial decision made or include further contact/engagement with the customer and/or a requirement for additional supporting information or evidence to be provided, in order to assist the Review Officer with their consideration of the review request reasons.
5,060 review requests have been received to date and over half of the requests have been finalised. In the majority of finalised review cases, the person has provided additional information/clarification on review which results in a payment being awarded. Where a review has yet to be finalised, this is generally because further information or clarification is awaited from the applicant.
The amount an individual person receives depends on their individual circumstances. A number of variables determines the amount a person is entitled to including the household composition, the length of time the household was without power and/or water, and the type of expenditure incurred for which financial support is requested. If the Deputy has a particular case, the details can be forwarded to my office for follow-up.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
113. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans any changes to the qualifying criteria for the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21540/25]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age.Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. The young person can then apply for Disability Allowance if they meet the eligibility requirements.Any future reform of disability payments, will be considered as part of a broader review of disability matters on a whole-of-government basis and will take account of the feedback received during the recent Green Paper process.In terms of Domiciliary Care Allowance more broadly, the Programme for Government commits to protecting the Free Travel Pass and examining extending it to children in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance, as well as a commitment to progressively increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
114. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the operation of the funding schemes operated by his Department that offer ‘reasonable accommodation’ for employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21653/25]
View answerMy Department published a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness Support Scheme in August 2023. This report gave nine recommendations to merge the two schemes into a single, flexible scheme and to expand and improve the supports offered under the new scheme.
In July 2024, the new Work and Access scheme was launched. Work and Access offers seven supports to help reduce or remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Five of these supports are deemed to be reasonable accommodation measures. These supports include funding for workplace equipment, in-work supports, workplace adaptation, personal reader and communication supports.
Employers can apply for a Workplace Needs Assessment for their employee, Workplace Adaptation and Disability Equality and Inclusion training.
A Workplace Needs Assessment can help identify what adjustments a person with a disability may require in a workplace to remove or reduce barriers they experience when carrying out their job or when they return to work. The scheme can pay up to €2,500 of the eligible costs to carry out the assessment.
Funding is also available for Communication Support. People who are Deaf, hard of hearing can apply for support for an Irish Sign Language interpreter or a person with a disability can apply for communication support they require. Funding is available for interview preparation, interviews, job inductions and on-going support at work.
The In-Work Support offers funding for people with a disability to get a work coach, specialist, or other support worker to help them perform successfully in their job or retrain if they move into a new position. The scheme can pay up to €12,500 per year for eligible costs.
The Personal Reader support offers funding to people who are blind or visually impaired to hire a personal reader to assist them with work-related reading. The scheme can pay up to €12,500 per year for eligible costs.
Funding is available for Work Equipment for employees and self-employed people. They can apply for funding to cover the costs of assistive equipment or technology they need to work or keep working. The scheme can pay up to €12,000 towards the cost of equipment for the business premises and remote workplaces.
Employers can apply for the Workplace Adaptation support. This support offers funding to make modifications to the workplace to allow a person with a disability to get or stay in a job. The scheme pays up to €25,000 towards the cost of adapting equipment or the business premises.
Work and Access is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed and people working in the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces. My Department has allocated an additional €1 million a year to this scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
115. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide increased flexibility to local community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/25]
View answerThe objective of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis.
In addition to providing eligible people with valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment in the open-labour market, schemes such as CE also support important and, in many cases essential, local community services.
The OECD in a recently published review of the CE and Tús schemes found a positive impact on the employment and earnings of participants, especially for older participants on CE and younger participants on Tús. The review also found that participants are less likely to rely on disability payments and are more likely to find employment after their participation.
CE projects are in diverse areas and include the development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, environmental maintenance, early years, and after-school supports, heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport, recycling and repair of equipment, visitation, friendly call, and befriending programmes for older people.
Given the strong labour market performance, the reduction in the number of unemployed people on the Live Register has impacted on the availability of potential candidates to participate on these schemes.
My Department, working together with CE sponsors have made a number of changes in recent times to support CE sponsors in their recruitment and retention of participants. These changes include:
• A provision to allow CE participants who reach 60 years of age to remain in CE until they reach state pension age.
• Some flexibility granted to CE sponsors to retain existing participants for extended periods in cases where a replacement can’t be recruited immediately.
• Changes to eligibility criteria extending CE eligibility to the adult dependents of those in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• A new pilot scheme to extend CE eligibility to those over 50 years of age in receipt of credits or a combination of credits & Jobseekers Benefit.
I can assure the Deputy that the eligibility criteria, the duration timelines for participation and the referral process for CE continues to be kept under active review by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
116. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection what engagement his Department had with the Department of Education in relation to additional expenses being incurred by island schools in the delivery of the school meals programme, whereby island schools are required to fund the transport of meals to the island and from the quay to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14534/25]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and after-school clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.The Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. Funding under this programme is solely for food. There is no provision for transport costs as they are the responsibility of the supplier. But I can assure the Deputy that as Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the Islands are very important to me. I will engage with officials in both Departments on this issue.If the school referred to by the Deputy has any questions in relation to this matter, they can contact officials in my department at school.meals@welfare.ie. They will advise them of the meal options available to them and assist with any queries they may have.I trust this clarifies the matter.
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has plans to alter, abolish or change the means test on the carer's allowance; and if so, the date upon which these changes will come into effect. [20967/25]
View answer120. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific timeline for the removal of the means test for carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; if he intends to significantly increase the income disregard in Budget 2026, as an important first step. [20776/25]
View answer142. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for the carers allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20783/25]
View answer143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in removing the means test for carer’s allowance; if a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 120, 142 and 143 together.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. The Programme for Government has set out a specific timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.There have been a number of significant changes made to the means test in recent years. From July, there will be a further increase which will see the weekly income disregard rise from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585 respectively since June 2022.
Any further changes as part of Budget 2026 to any of the schemes under my remit will have to be considered as part of the overall Budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
118. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection his view on the recent Central Statistics Office statistics which show an increase in the poverty rates among children in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21712/25]
View answerThe latest SILC statistics published last month show that consistent poverty, which is the most relevant indicator for setting the child poverty target, increased from 4.8% in 2023 to 8.5% in 2024 for the 0-17 age group. 15.3% of children are at risk of poverty and with 8.5% living in consistent poverty, this represents an estimated number of 102,977 children.
While these figures are very disappointing, it is important to note that these statistics do not take account of Budget 2024, Budget 2025 or any cost-of-living measures that were paid in 2024, as they are based on the 2023 incomes of those surveyed.
In 2023, the year in which the SILC income data was collected, the Government had not yet brought in free school meals for all primary schools, or free school books at second level. These supports will make a difference to children in poverty and will be reflected in poverty figures in future.
Similarly, the significant increases in social welfare contained in Budgets 2024 and the associated cost of living measures worth over €2.3 billion were not included in the SILC statistics.
The Government' determination to reduce child poverty is reflected in the establishment of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2023. This coincided with the time period during which the latest SILC figures were collected.
It takes time to see the impact of our work in the data, and that is why we are also determined to keep making progress, even if that is not always immediately reflective in the statistics. We are determined and committed to see this commitment through.
Government is clear that we need to target support where they are needed most, and I am particularly concerned about what is happening to families on the lowest incomes. That is why we increased the Child Support Payment significantly in Budget 2025, and the threshold for Working Family Payment.
Budget 2025 also included lump sum payments to those in receipt of the Child Support Payment and Working Family Payment.
The Government is determined to continue to deliver measures aimed at reducing the poverty rates for children.
119. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his plans to introduce targeted employment supports to groups facing additional challenges accessing work, such as disabilities, lone parents and minority groups including travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21567/25]
View answerThe Irish labour market continues to perform well. According to data made available by the CSO, unemployment remains low, and has been consistently below 5 per cent since January 2022. This is the conventional definition of full employment standing at 4 per cent in March. Additionally, the quarterly Labour Force Survey records a long-term unemployment rate of 1 percent cent as of Q4, 2024 which is among the lowest recorded since the series began in 1998.
The Government’s national employment services strategy, Pathways to Work 2021-2025, commits to unlocking the potential of all individuals who want to work, ensuring that nobody is left behind. Under this framework, my Department oversees a range of targeted employment and in-work supports to help those distant from the labour market prepare for, secure, and maintain employment, such as:
• Making the higher rate of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy available to employers who hire a member of the Traveller or Roma community in receipt of a qualifying payment.
• Providing increased funding for training on Traveller and Roma-specific Community Employment programmes, offering support from an Employment Personal Advisor while on the programme, the extension of the duration of participation where considered appropriate, and an extension of the number of hours (outside of CE placement hours) that a participant is permitted to work for an employer who is also the CE Sponsor.
• Delivering an early engagement process for people with disabilities to help them achieve their employment ambitions and to reduce the unemployment rate for people with a disability. This process is entirely voluntary and is being implemented in line with principles agreed with stakeholders. Since the national roll-out of early engagement in mid-2022, Designated Disability Employment Personal Advisors have reached out to approximately 27,000 people in receipt of Disability Allowance. Of those, over 3,000 referrals were made to job vacancies, further education or training, a specialist service such as Employability or to suitable employment schemes such as Community Employment and the Work Placement Experience Programme.
• Making the wage subsidy scheme available to employers who hire a person with a disability, and supporting disability-inclusive workplaces through the Work and Access Scheme.
• Promoting the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter to employers to encourage take up of employer incentives and to support the recruitment of jobseekers from priority groups including people with disabilities, lone parents and members of the Traveller and Roma communities. The Charter aims to sign up 300 employers by end 2025 to benefit 1,000 jobseekers from priority groups. As of April 2025, 233 employers have signed the Charter.
Building on this progress, work has commenced to develop a successor Pathways to Work strategy for the period 2026-2030. This work will be informed by a public consultation process, engagement with the community and voluntary sectors, and an analysis of labour market research, trends, and international best practice. This approach will allow Government to identify areas of change and to develop goals that meet the needs of all groups in society.
121. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the review of the rural social scheme, and when the remaining recommendations of the report will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14518/25]
View answerThe Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishers in receipt of specified social welfare payments, and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The valuable work undertaken by participants draws on their existing skills which may be further developed and shared throughout their participation. The RSS review was undertaken to examine the role of the scheme, its ongoing relevance to the changing landscape, the funding and resourcing required along with the appropriate governance and management arrangements. The final report included 19 recommendations to address the sustainability of the RSS.
I am happy to report that a number of the recommendations have already been implemented. The Department notified Implementing Bodies (IBs) on 20 February 2025 of the following changes arising from the recommendations; the provision of 3-year contracts to existing RSS participants from 01 April 2025; the renewal process will be undertaken at 3 yearly intervals for those under 60 years of age instead of the current annual review; existing RSS participants who reach age 60 will not be subject to any further review of means or circumstances until they exit the scheme at age 66. It is important to note that the onus continues to remain on all RSS participants to notify the Department of a change in their household circumstances that could affect their rate of payment on the scheme.
The IBs have also been asked to explore options with people who are exiting the RSS to encourage them to participate as a volunteer within the company, in particular those who have reached 66 years.
Officials in my Department continue to explore the remaining report recommendations and are currently engaging with other relevant Departments and agencies as part of this process.
I am very aware of the important role this scheme plays in general and the valuable contribution it provides to local communities through the provision of services.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
122. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline if he is considering any revisions to the humanitarian assistance scheme at present, or the possible introduction of additional support measures for flood affected households, given the increasing regularity of severe weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21628/25]
View answerThe purpose of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is to provide financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.
This includes emergency support payments, under Stage 1 of the scheme, to households in the immediate aftermath of severe weather events, for items such as essential food and clothing. These payments are not income tested and are based on the immediate need of the individuals impacted. Income tested support is available under Stage 2 for the replacement of white goods and basic furniture, and under Stage 3 to repair damage to homes.
While Storm Éowyn was unprecedented, we have to learn from it in order to make improvements to recovery plans in the future.
The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning have agreed to carry out a review of the response to Storm Éowyn led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies. This Interdepartmental Group will identify recommendations regarding the response at the national and local levels, reducing severe weather impacts on critical infrastructure and essential services, assisting communities and individuals severely affected by emergencies, key policy issues and cross-cutting responsibilities.Officials from my department are represented on the Interdepartmental Group and will contribute toward the enhancement of a whole of Government response for future extreme weather events, while also considering any potential improvements to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
123. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of organisations that have availed of the workplace adaptation and equipment grant when employing a person with a disability, in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21597/25]
View answerThe Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant was one of four grants available under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund. The table sets out expenditure on that grant over the period 2020-2024.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant |
41 |
29 |
33 |
26 |
30 |
My Department published a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Scheme and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme in August 2023. This review recommended merging the two schemes into a single, flexible scheme and to expand and improve the supports offered under the new scheme.In July 2024, my Department launched Work and Access to replace the two former schemes. It offers seven supports to help reduce and remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Grants are available for a workplace needs assessment, work equipment and workplace adaptations. Work and Access is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed and people working in the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces. My Department has allocated an additional €1 million a year to this scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
124. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has plans to increase the levels of hourly payment made under the wage subsidy scheme which helps enterprises employ those with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21538/25]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government, the Government has committed to review the minimum hours requirement under the Wage Subsidy Scheme and to examine an increase to the payment rate.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire people with disabilities through a subsidy. As part of Budget 2022, my Department increased the base subsidy rate from €5.30 to €6.30 per hour. This gives a total annual subsidy available of €12,776 based on a 39-hour week. The maximum subsidy rate was increased from €7.95 to €9.45 per hour, giving a total subsidy of €19,164.60 per employee per year.
In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible and flexible. Some of the key recommendations of this review include that the minimum hours for the scheme be reduced from 21 to 15 hours and that the scheme be expanded to those on Partial Capacity Benefit. The scheme will also be expanded to the community and voluntary sector.
An additional €3.7 million was allocated to implement the review’s recommendations.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
125. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection his progress to date in the planned modifications or changes to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes to qualify for a State pension, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [21725/25]
View answerMy Department provides State Pension payments through the State Pension (Contributory), which is a contributory based payment based on a person's social insurance record and the State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is means-tested social assistance payment. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right.
The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the social insurance contributions paid by workers and employers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. To qualify for this payment a person requires 520 (equivalent to 10 years) paid contributions. Once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the rate of payment at which a person is paid the State Pension (Contributory) is currently calculated using two methods - the Yearly Average (YA) method that has been in place since the introduction of the contributory pension in 1961 and the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) that was introduced in 2018. The most beneficial payment is then awarded to the person. To qualify for a full rate pension under the YA method, a person must have an average of 48 contributions per year since they first entered insurable employment. To qualify for a full rate pension under the TCA method, a person must have 2080 paid and credited contributions (equivalent to 40 years).
Regardless of which approach is used, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition and support to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is done through PRSI credits under both approaches and through Homemaking Disregards under the YA and through HomeCaring Periods under TCA.
The Homemakers Disregard Scheme was introduced in April 1994 for use in the Yearly Average calculation. This allowed an applicant to apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since April 1994 spent caring for children under age 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation under the Yearly Average calculation method.
HomeCaring Periods were introduced under TCA. Up to 20 years of homecaring periods can be considered and this includes periods prior to 1994. Therefore, those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits / homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum State Pension (Contributory) where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.
Since January 2024, long-term carers contributions (LTCCs) can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years (1040 weeks) or more and these contributions can be used towards the calculation of their State Pension (Contributory) entitlement. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record. These long-term carers contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can, where there are gaps in paid contributions, be used to satisfy the minimum 520 qualifying contributions condition. LTCCs are available to those who reach 66 since 1 January 2024 and those already over aged 66 at that date.
For those who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record, the State Pension (Non-Contributory) is available. This is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State. As with all other social assistance schemes, payments are based on an income need. The means test used plays a critical role in ensuring that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
This combination of both the Contributory and Non-Contributory (social assistance) State pensions means that no person with a viable income need falls outside these schemes.
Any future changes to State Pension system would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context and also in the context of the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
Finally, where a person's spouse or partner is in receipt of a State Pension (Contributory), they can also apply for an increase for a Qualified Adult, amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory). This will be based on the Qualified Adult's means. The Increase for a Qualified Adult will automatically be paid directly to the adult dependant unless the adult dependant chooses to have it paid with the spouse's or partner's payment instead.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
126. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if recipients of carer’s allowance will be notified prior to the new household increase in income thresholds provided for in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21692/25]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.
There are currently 99,256 recipients of Carer’s Allowance. The projected expenditure on Carer’s Allowance for 2025 is approximately €1.24 billion.
On Thursday, 3rd of July 2025, the weekly income disregards for Carer’s Allowance will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse / partner.
This change is significant. The change will not affect customers currently in receipt of the full weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance. However, anyone who is currently in receipt of a reduced weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance due to their means will see an increase in their payment from July 3rd onwards. Payments will be adjusted automatically to take account of the new income disregards.
I hope that answers the Deputy's query.
127. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21718/25]
View answerThe Government recognises the additional costs associated with having a disability and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. That is why in the last three Budgets we brought forward an extensive range of cost of living measures to support people with disabilities and their families, including lump sum payments, bonus payments and increases to the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments.
In the Programme for Government, we have committed to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. We are currently examining the best way of delivering on this commitment within the overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of violent incidents and threats reported by social protection staff in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21419/25]
View answerMy Department has a staffing complement of approximately 7,300 both permanent and temporary staff who deliver services through a nationwide network of offices, with a very high level of public engagement, both through front office services (via Intreo offices, Public offices and Branch offices) and by phone through a number of contact centres.
The table below shows the number of incidents reported by staff for the years requested:
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 @ 24/04/2025 |
|
No. of Violent Incidents and threats |
358 |
687 |
791 |
272 |
There was an increase in the number of incidents reported in 2023/24 in comparison with 2022, attributable in part to increased reporting, with the introduction of the department’s internal Health and Safety Incident Reporting app which allows staff to more easily record and report relevant incidents.
My department takes its duty of care to staff very seriously, actively encouraging the reporting of any incidents and with a range of robust procedures in place to respond to threats to staff, including the support of line managers, Regional Safety Advisors and engagement with the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service.
In addition, our Customer Charter (2023-2026) clearly sets out our commitments to our customers and how we ask them to deal with our staff during their interactions with the department and staff working in our public offices undertake Frontline Customer Services training which includes de-escalation and diffusing techniques and procedures where required for positive customer engagement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 160 of 9 April 2025, when the report on benchmarking and indexing working age social protection rates will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20505/25]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 contains a commitment to "Consider and prepare a report for Government on the potential application of the benchmarking approach to other welfare payments".
The roadmap also includes a commitment to develop a benchmarking approach for use in adjusting the value of State pension payments. It is worth noting that indexing weekly social protection rates to only one measure, such as inflation, presents a challenge as it can widen the income gap between those dependent on social protection payments and other people in society.
The smoothed earnings approach proposed by the Department to index the rate of State Pension payments was subsequently endorsed by the Commission on Pensions and addresses this challenge as it links the pension rate to 34% of average earnings, and allows for variation in periods where inflation exceeds earnings growth.
In 2022 the Government decided that the Minister for Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate of pension payment calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of Budget discussions, on an annual basis, starting from September 2023.
Since then, this calculation was prepared and submitted annually to Government, most recently in September 2024, as part of preparations for Budget 2025. Any increases calculated under the smoothed earnings approach may be met, or exceeded, by a combination of rate increases and one-off measures taken by the Government in periods of high inflation.
A report on benchmarking and indexing working age social protection rates is being finalised by my Department. It is currently being considered and will be published in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection to comment on the number of domiciliary care allowance applications that have been rejected from 2023; to outline the appeal process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/25]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is an allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require that level of additional care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability, but primarily on the impact of the child's disability / diagnosis in terms of the associated level of additional care and attention required by the relevant child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability / diagnosis.
The Deciding Officer has regard to the professional opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA) in the DCA decision process in all cases.
Applicants are advised to submit as much detail as possible with their application, including any additional information and / or documentary evidence that is relevant to ensure that all information is available to my Department for consideration in the decision and assessment process, so that an appropriate decision on entitlement may be made.
It is open to an applicant to subsequently request a review of any decision and this right is not time-limited.
In some cases, more than one decision may be made on a DCA application where an applicant subsequently provides further information, documentary evidence, or more substantial medical evidence for consideration and/or seeks a review of a decision. In other words, a claim may be disallowed initially and then subsequently allowed on review, following receipt of further new or additional information/documentary evidence that is relevant.
The following table sets out the number of DCA applications received, awarded and disallowed since 2023:
|
Year |
Received |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
|
2023 |
12,237 |
8,045 |
4,076 |
|
2024 |
13,270 |
8,961 |
4,554 |
|
2025** |
3,379 |
2,167 |
1,019 |
** Figures are up to end of March 2025
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) is an office of my Department which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements, including DCA. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
In relation to the DCA appeal process, the decision notification advises the applicant of their right to appeal the decision directly to the SWAO and of the right to request a review of the decision by a Deciding Officer. An applicant can submit an appeal online on www.gov.ie, or in writing/email directly to the SWAO. On appeal, applicants are advised to provide information/evidence in support of their appeal. The appeal time limit has been extended to 60 days from date of decision with effect from 28 April 2025.
Once the appeal is registered by the SWAO, the appeal notice including any supporting documentation/information is submitted electronically to my Department's scheme (DCA) area. On receipt of the notice of appeal from the SWAO, as part of the appeals process, all DCA appeal cases are reviewed and re-examined by my Department, including all information/documentary evidence available at the time of the original decision, and any further decision(s) if applicable, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence provided in support of the appeal. If warranted, a revised decision (in favour of the appellant/applicant) is made by a Deciding Officer and the applicant is notified of the revised decision in writing. If the original decision is not revised, following the appeal related review/re-examination by a Deciding Officer, the appeal case is submitted electronically to the SWAO for determination by an Appeals Officer.
Appeals may be determined by an Appeals Officer on a summary basis or via an oral hearing. The SWAO notifies the appellant/applicant directly of the appeal outcome.
It should be noted that an Appeals Modernisation Project is ongoing in the SWAO. As part of that project, several initiatives to streamline/expediate the appeal decision/timeline process have been undertaken to date, which provides for simpler processes, including specified response times.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
