Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
361. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the number of people in receipt of the living alone allowance per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53261/25]
View answer362. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the living alone allowance, per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53262/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together.
The Living Alone Allowance is an extra payment for people who are living alone and getting certain social welfare payments. The current rate of payment is €22.00 per week.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the cost of the Living Alone Allowance by year. The Living Alone Allowance is included in the overall expenditure of the primary scheme and is not accounted for separately.
The table below shows the number of people in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance at the end of December each year from 2020 to 2024, and at the end of August 2025.
Table 1: Living Alone Allowance recipients, by year
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
2020 |
218,728 |
|
2021 |
224,818 |
|
2022 |
233,425 |
|
2023 |
241,450 |
|
2024 |
248,671 |
|
2025 (August) |
253,737 |
