Written Answers Nos. 169-185
169. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated code of practice for local authority approved housing bodies nominations will commence. [64364/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to 'Require local authorities to provide tenant names to AHBs before project completion for quicker move-ins', and the new Housing Plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030 builds on this commitment with the following action:
“Update the Code of Practice for local authority nominations to AHBs to:
• expedite the nomination process to avoid unnecessary vacancies in social housing;
• clarify information sharing responsibilities across agencies necessary to enhance local authority and AHBs tenancy sustainment support and anti-social behaviour management capacity in social housing developments;
• require that local authority and AHB tenants are not precluded from living with domestic pets; and
• put in place more robust oversight and reporting arrangements to ensure that the Code is implemented consistently across all local authorities and AHBs.
In order to advance these commitments, a Working Group comprising representatives of the local authority and AHB sectors, the Housing Agency, and my Department, has been established to review the CCMA Code of Practice - AHB Allocation Process 2022.
The Working Group will hold its first meeting in November 2025 and it is anticipated that the review and implementation plans for any changes will be completed in H2 2026.
170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports being provided to local authorities to ensure value for money in delivering social and affordable housing; the budget oversight mechanisms applied; and whether each authority is meeting its cost-control requirements. [64408/25]
View answerAs with all Exchequer funded projects, the Department as approving authority, assesses each project for suitability, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of applicable funding scheme before approval is issued.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides detailed programme-level information on the status of social housing developments including those been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. This report forms part of the ongoing budget oversight and monitoring framework.
SHIP-funded construction projects by local authorities must, like all publicly-funded construction programmes, comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines (Public Spending Code) and Capital Works Management Framework. My Department periodically issues Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) for each local authority area, for use as a key benchmark for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. While not a record of actual delivery costs, BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and updated based on published tender index information as required.
My Department has embedded the requirement to adopt a standardised approach for all Social Housing projects through adoption of the Design Manual for Quality Housing and Employers Requirements. Standard internal layouts and CAD Drawings are available to design teams. This is promoting a consistent approach nationally; it is decreasing the amount of time spent on reviewing proposals to achieve value for money; it is shortening detailed design phases; and it allows for a more efficient tender process.
To monitor tender cost trends and to inform BUC levels, my Department analyses the tender data for the construction cost element of new build schemes approved under the SHIP & CAS four stage approval processes for each unit type, where sufficient information is available to allow such costs to be extrapolated and where the information available is appropriate for comparison purposes.
The most recent Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) and Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were issued in Q2 2025.
My Department also issues Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs), updated on an annual basis, for each local authority area.
The ACGs provide cost guidelines for the acquisition by housing authorities, of second-hand properties for the provision of social housing. These guidelines reference lower and upper cost ranges along with an average/benchmark cost, which is representative of the average range of current (at the time of issue) prices across the local authority area. The same ACGs are used by the Housing Agency for the acquisition of homes under the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ (CRTiS) scheme.
The ACGs reflect anticipated benchmark levels at the time released, most recently Q2 of 2025. My Department continues to monitor tender price trends on an ongoing basis and all incoming funding applications are considered with such trends in mind.
The ACGs are not applied as absolute ceiling/limits, but instead act as a key benchmark for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. Similarly, we will continue to consider acquisition proposals, of both schemes, where the cost of acquiring the property may exceed the guidelines provided, having regard to appropriate value for money considerations.
In relation to affordable housing, affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030. Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to support housing supply, which will underpin, inter alia, the new Starter Homes Programme, delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030.
Affordable housing solutions must deliver a significant discount on housing market purchase prices or rents while covering the cost of identifying, developing and delivering viable affordable housing schemes. As such, applications for affordable housing projects are assessed on their own merit in line with the criteria and conditions applicable under the different funding streams. Specific delivery costs per unit are variable and can greatly differ between both the affordable schemes themselves and the typology, location and overall layout of the developments in question.
My Department continues to receive and assess applications for suitability, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the applicable funding scheme and the Department is committed to the provision of funding to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies for the delivery of Social and Affordable housing projects.
171. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an emergency winter payment to offset the withdrawal of once off payments such as the disability cost-of-living payment will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64546/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures.
Government has been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this year’s Budget. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.
However, the Budget package contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people.
These measures include:
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from January.
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, to be paid in December 2025.
• A €20 increase in the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance bringing the rate to €380 per month.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026.
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years. The Back to Work Family Dividend is also being extended to this group, where they have children.
• From January, extending the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and increasing the rates paid from April.
• Increase the Earnings Disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple from July 2026. The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will also increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
Overall, across Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and Domiciliary Care Allowance, over €250 million in additional funding has been made available when comparing the Revised Estimates for these schemes between 2025 and 2026.
In addition, the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 takes a whole-of-Government approach and includes a commitment to establish a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability, led by my Department.
My officials have already held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. I will be meeting a number of organisations at the next meeting of my Department’s Disability Consultative Forum on 2 December at which the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network is the main agenda item.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection to conduct a review of the impact budget 2026 will have on disabled households over the winter months given the removal of once-off payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64547/25]
View answerThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people. Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures.
Government has been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this year’s Budget. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.
However, my Department's Budget 2026 package contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people. These measures include:
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from January.
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, to be paid in December 2025.
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026.
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit, and increasing the rates paid from April.
The Department of Social Protection package also contained measures aimed at supporting carers, and recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• Increase the Earnings Disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 for a couple from July 2026.
• The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
• €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment bringing the payment to €380 per month from January.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services to ensure people with disabilities receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This represents a 20% increase year on year and represents an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8 billion.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. In addition, under the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. The First Programme Plan of Actions 2025 - 2026 will be published shortly.
My officials have already held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. I will be meeting a number of organisations at the next meeting of my Department’s Disability Consultative Forum on 2 December at which the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network is the main agenda item.
My Department provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the scheme, the Department may make an ‘additional needs payment’ to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service.
My Department will publish a social impact assessment of Budget 2026, with distributional analysis of the measures in this Budget.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
173. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if a request (details supplied) can receive consideration in view of the person's medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64038/25]
View answerUnder the Make Work Pay initiative, a person is entitled to retain their entitlement to Free Travel for a period of 5 years after their entitlement to Disability Allowance ceases due to taking up employment. The entitlement of the person concerned to Free Travel was linked to their Disability Allowance payment. The 5 year extension of the Free Travel entitlement is now due to end and the person concerned will be notified in writing.
Persons, aged over 17 and under 66, who are medically certified as being unfit to drive may also qualify for Free Travel. To qualify, a person must:
• have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; or
• be deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of at least one year.
There is no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify for Free Travel for those medically unfit to drive.
Application forms are available to download from the on www.gov.ie/ft. Alternatively, application forms may be obtained from any Intreo Centre, or by contacting the Free Travel Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at freetravelqueries@welfare.ie. Information in relation to Free Travel is also available on the Citizen's Information website.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to recognising Covid-19 as an occupational illness for social workers, given the support for such a designation from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64072/25]
View answerIn November 2023, my Department published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations.
This report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission.
However, my Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as occupational injuries benefit, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long COVID.
With specific reference to employees in the health services the report found that the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This Temporary Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently to conclude on 31 December 2025. Any employee remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide data by metrics (details supplied) on the wage subsidy scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64132/25]
View answerThe Wage Subsidy Scheme is a key disability employment support provided by my Department. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to disabled people through a subsidy.
The subsidy rate is based on how many employees the employer hires through the Wage Subsidy Scheme. There are currently three strands:
Strand 1: The base subsidy rate is €6.30 per hour.
Strand 2: An employer can receive an increase in the subsidy rate if they hire more employees on the Wage Subsidy Scheme, as shown in the table below:
• 1 to 2 employees: €6.30
• 3 to 6 employees: €6.93
• 7 to 11 employees: €7.56
• 12 to 16 employees: €8.19
• 17 to 22 employees: €8.82
• 23+ employees: €9.45
Strand 3: An employer who employs 25 or more employees on the Wage Subsidy Scheme may receive a grant of €30,000 towards the cost of employing an Employment Assistance Officer. There is a limit of five Employment Assistance Officer positions which can be subsidised by the scheme for any one company.
The table below shows the number of employers and employees in each of the current strands of the Wage Subsidy Scheme as of end October 2025.
|
No. employees on scheme |
Employers |
Employees |
|
1-2 |
1,361 |
1,556 |
|
3-6 |
122 |
446 |
|
7-11 |
15 |
129 |
|
12-16 |
4 |
53 |
|
17-22 |
1 |
18 |
|
23+ |
6 |
336 |
|
Total |
1,509 |
2,538 |
In Budget 2026 I provided a reduction in the number of bands, from six to three and for an increase in the subsidy rates. As a result, from April 2026:
• the two lower rates of €6.30 and €6.93 are being combined into one rate and increased to €7.50 (for 1 to 6 employees on the scheme),
• the two middle rates of €7.56 and €8.19 are being combined and increased to €8.50 (for 7 to16 employees), and
• the two higher rates of €8.82 and €9.45 are being combined and increased to €10 (for 17 or more employees).
Budget 2026 has also provided for the expansion of the scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment, those who have a progressive or degenerative condition that worsens and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
176. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of companies in receipt of wage subsidy scheme strand three grant for employment assistance officers; the number of employment assistance officers employed under strand three; the amount expended on strand three in the past five years, 2019-2024; the grant available for strand three; the last year that grant was increased; and if he has any plans to increase the grant, given that employer costs have increased significantly since the last increase in the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64133/25]
View answerAs of October 2025, there are six companies availing of the Strand 3 grant. Between these companies, there are 11 Employment Assistance Officers in employment. From June 2019 until 2024, the expenditure on Strand 3 payments was €1,303,850.
The grant is €30,000 per officer and companies can employ a maximum of five. This means a company could be availing of the top rate and be receiving an additional €150,000 to help with the employee’s needs.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme, after a pilot, became permanent in 2008. The grant was €30,000 but previously only payable to a company employing 30 or more employees on the scheme. The number of employees required to be on a Strand 3 payment was reduced to 25 in 2020, allowing more employers to avail of the grant.
The scheme also underwent a review in 2023. The review made six recommendations including to reduce the minimum required hours of the scheme, to expand the scheme to the community, voluntary and semi-state commercial sector and to remove terms such as 'productivity deficit' to better align the scheme with the social model of disability. An additional €3.7 million was allocated to implement the review's recommendations and this has been achieved.
Any further changes to the scheme, including the grant under Strand 3, will fall to be considered in a wider policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
177. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the family of an Irish citizen who had been residing in England up until their death would be eligible to apply for an additional needs payment to help cover funeral costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64136/25]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person, who normally resides in the State, cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Such support will depend on the individual circumstances of any given case.
An application can be made under the scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses by the person who takes responsibility for those funeral arrangements and where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the applicant and/or the family of the deceased person, without causing hardship.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
178. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify his Department's understanding on the position of charities who previously gave funding to support individuals struggling to pay electricity bills (details supplied). [64142/25]
View answerWhile I am aware of the support that ALONE provides to older people to allow them to age at home, my Department has no role in the funding position of the charity concerned.
My Department does provide direct support towards energy costs to qualifying low-income households, through schemes such as the Fuel Allowance Scheme, the Household Benefits Package as wells as through Additional Needs Payments.
The Fuel Allowance Scheme is means tested and assists pensioners and other welfare dependent householders with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks giving a total per recipient of €924 each year from October to April at an estimated cost of €400 million in 2025. As part of Budget 2026 I was delighted to announced that the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance will increase by €5 to €38 a week from January 2026. This equates to €1,064 in a fuel season.
The Household Benefits Package is universally available to those aged 70 and older, and those between 66 and 70, must meet certain qualifying criteria. The Household Benefits comprises the Electricity/Gas Allowance of €35 per month and the Free Television Licence Scheme which is worth €160 per year with a total value per year of €580. Over 532,000 households are in receipt of the Electricity/Gas element of the Household Benefits package at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2025.
Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, are provided to people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
179. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 11 June 2025, whether the review of means testing in the social protection system has been completed; if he now intends to amend the current weekly means limit for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension and to increasing the current means limit of €100 which has been in place for several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64144/25]
View answerMy Department is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of means testing in the social protection system. The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means-tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of the respective means test.
The outcome of the review will inform decisions regarding any potential changes to means testing. All prospective changes to means testing arrangements will have to be considered in both an overall policy and budgetary context.
Means tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years, including part of the Budget 2026 announcements. In particular, a number of changes to means testing which provide for higher income disregards have been introduced. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a means-tested payment from my Department and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.
A State pension (contributory) recipient can claim an increase on their pension in respect of a qualified adult where the eligibility conditions for this means-tested payment are satisfied.
An Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the qualified adult are not more than €100 per week. Reduced rates are payable where means are over €100 and not more than €310 per week. No increase is payable where means are in excess of €310 per week.
Any changes to the current arrangements for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension (contributory) would have to be considered in a budgetary context and as part of the annual Budget process.
180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of primary schools in the State that do not currently have access to the free school meal scheme, despite being eligible, by county, in tabular form. [64170/25]
View answerAs announced In Budget 2025, the Hot School Meals Scheme was extended to all remaining primary schools meaning that approximately 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are eligible for hot school meals in the 2025 2026 academic school year. As such, all primary schools have access to the scheme should they wish to apply for it.
Schools apply annually to my Department for the School Meals Programme funding and choose the start date of their programme.
My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. It is the responsibility of each school board to select a supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. The School Meals Programme is not mandatory for schools. The decision to apply lies with the school principal and board of management.
In September 2024 2,178 schools were eligible to apply for the School Meals Programme. 97% of these schools applied and were awarded funding. Another 64 schools which were eligible in September 2024 did not apply for the programme.
My Department is continuing to receive and process applications from schools for the current 2025-2026 academic year which started a number of months ago. A county breakdown of schools who have yet to submit their application as of 14th November 2025 is provided below as requested.
|
COUNTY |
No. of Schools |
|
CARLOW |
2 |
|
CAVAN |
1 |
|
CLARE |
16 |
|
CORK |
62 |
|
DONEGAL |
6 |
|
DUBLIN |
136 |
|
GALWAY |
27 |
|
KERRY |
21 |
|
KILDARE |
30 |
|
KILKENNY |
12 |
|
LAOIS |
5 |
|
LEITRIM |
2 |
|
LIMERICK |
20 |
|
LONGFORD |
3 |
|
LOUTH |
10 |
|
MAYO |
11 |
|
MEATH |
17 |
|
MONAGHAN |
7 |
|
OFFALY |
12 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
10 |
|
SLIGO |
19 |
|
TIPPERARY |
11 |
|
WATERFORD |
11 |
|
WESTMEATH |
10 |
|
WEXFORD |
4 |
|
WICKLOW |
13 |
|
TOTAL SCHOOLS |
478 |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the date in Q4 2025 that we can expect publication of the review carried out on nutritional standards of the free school meal scheme. [64171/25]
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.
The Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since its inception and were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:
• Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
Nutritional standards are a priority for me and I have directed that a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards be undertaken. This is being conducted by a dietician in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards to be submitted to me by the end of this year. In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, was removed from the school menu from September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted, as an option, once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
This report is to be submitted to me by the end of the year and a decision on publication will be made once I have had a chance to consider it fully.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
182. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he can provide details of his Department’s involvement in the Letterkenny gift card scheme; if he can also provide details of similar schemes including, any cross-Border initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64256/25]
View answerThere is no such scheme in the Department of Social Protection, however, we believe Letterkenny Chamber runs a gift card scheme around this time each year to encourage shopping in the town.
183. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in County Kerry who will be affected by the changes in budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the estimated number of people who would have benefitted if further funding was provided for the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64266/25]
View answerThe Living Alone Increase (LAI) is a weekly payment, which is not means-tested. The LAI is an increased additional payment made each week to:
• people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone;
• people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
In 2025, recipients of the Living Alone Increase received €22 per week in addition to their primary social welfare payment, or a total of €1,144 over the course of the year. The payment more than doubled between Budget 2020 and 2022 – increasing by €13 per week from €9 to €22 in that period.
As part of Budget 2026, there were no changes to the Living Alone Increase.
However, Budget 2026 will see an increase of €10 per week to maximum personal payment rates, benefitting people such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and for qualified adults.
184. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be carried out on the working family payment refusal for a person (details supplied). [64637/25]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
To qualify for Working Family Payment a person must be in employment and working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight as defined in legislation.
The person concerned applied for WFP and the claim was disallowed on 13 November 2025 as the applicant was not working for at least 38 hours per fortnight.
The claim was reviewed by a Deciding Officer and awarded on the17 November 2025 when the person concerned met the eligibility criteria for the scheme based on new information provided. An award letter has issued to the person concerned and any arrears due have been issued from the date of receipt of the WFP claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
185. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to allow spouses of non-EU PhD students the right to work in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64053/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that spouses and de-facto partners of non-EU PhD students are registered on a Stamp 2A immigration permission where they are residing in the State as a dependent of a non-EEA national PhD student on Stamp 2 conditions.
It is open to such people to apply for an Employment Permit in their own right if they wish to work in Ireland. Matters relating to employment permits are a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Further information relating to employment permits can be found on that Department's website, www.enterprise.gov.ie
I can also inform the Deputy that it is open to any person to apply for a change of immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. Detailed information on how to change immigration status is available on my Departments Immigration Service website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/changing-your-immigration-permission/.
While all immigration schemes are kept under constant review, there are no plans to amend current rules for spouses of PhD Students along the lines suggested by the Deputy.
