Written Answers Nos. 1522-1541
1523. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74141/25]
View answerOver the past 12 months, my Department has undertaken a small number of targeted Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot initiatives. The table below sets out each pilot, the period of activity, expenditure and current status.
AI Pilot Projects (Past 12 Months)
|
Pilot |
Period (last 12 months) Expenditure to date* |
Ongoing (Status) |
|
Ask Welfare Generative AI MVP (AWS) |
6 months period (July – Dec), totalling €1,078.49 |
Initial phase completed in September 2025 Extended Pilot to recommence in January 2026 |
|
Microsoft 365 Copilot – Department Pilot (PRO project) |
Licences subscription (12 months x 50 users), totalling €29,838 |
Expected to continue into 2026 |
|
GIT Hub Copilot |
€98.93 |
Expected to continue into 2026 |
|
Total Cost: |
€31,015.42 |
|
1524. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the 55 cent fee that will be charged to account holders enrolled in My Future Fund; the details of how that fee is calculated; how it will be apportioned to the various service providers associated with the fund that is, investment services, administration services, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74196/25]
View answer1525. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of how the 55 cent fee that will be charged to account holders enrolled in My Future Fund was calculated; how fee changes will be calculated and decided upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74197/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1524 and 1525 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. The new system - to be known as My Future Fund - commenced on the 1 January 2026.
The administration fees associated with My Future Fund have been set out in regulation following consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation. The fee was calculated on the basis of a detailed financial model based on likely participation levels in My Future Fund and the operating costs of NAERSA.
The administration fee will take the form of a flat weekly fee rather than a 'commission' based on a percentage of funds under management. In this way the administration fee will reflect the actual costs of administration (which do not vary with fund size), will be same for all participants regardless of their income or the size of their retirement fund, and will, ultimately, prove much better value for money for the participant over the course of a standard retirement planning horizon.
A fee equivalent to 55c per week will be charged each time contributions are paid to a participant's fund, up to a maximum of €28.60 a year. If a participant is not currently making contributions, for example if they have opted out, suspended, have joined an occupation pension scheme or are not currently receiving pay, the administration fee will not be charged.
In addition to the administration fee, there will be a fee for the investment management services, paid through a percentage charge on assets under management. These services have been procured through a competitive procurement process and will average at just under 0.04% of assets under management.
Over the typical life of a retirement saving plan for an average-income employee, the combined administration and investment management fees are less than the 0.5% target set by the Government and are less than the rate of 1% of assets and 3 – 5% of contributions which is the norm for many personal retirement saving schemes. I am therefore satisfied that these costs represent excellent value for participants.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1526. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection whether standards or service-level targets exist for his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department, in responding to correspondence from members of local authorities; if compliance with such standards is monitored; the reasons for delays or failures to respond to correspondence from elected members; and the measures being taken to ensure more consistent and timely communication going forward. [74266/25]
View answerMy Department recognises the important democratic function of all elected representatives to act on behalf of their constituents. The Ministerial REPS Application system is used to record and process representations from public representatives received by my Department. This system generates a REPS number and tracks the progress of the REP reply to ensure that it is answered within the required deadlines. Reminders are issued by the system to the relevant business areas to ensure that replies are issued in a timely manner.
The bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Citizen’s Information Board (CIB):
In line with the CIB Customer Service Action Plan, the CIB aims to respond to all correspondence received within five working days. Relevant inboxes are monitored by its Corporate Services Team.
National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA)
When an elected representative contacts NAERSA, it will provide clear, accessible, accurate and comprehensive information and ensure that the information provided on MyFutureFund.ie is up to date and accessible.
Pensions Authority: The Pension Authority’s Operations and Communications unit deal with all general enquiries. The Pensions Authority has published customer service standards in its [Customer Charter 2021–2025] and Customer Action Plan 2021–2025 (pensionsauthority.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/customer_action_plan_2021_-_2025.pdf), and these standards apply equally to elected representatives. The Pensions Authority remains committed to courteous, timely, and transparent communication with elected representatives and all stakeholders, and will continue to monitor and improve performance against its published standards.
Pensions Council: All correspondence in relation to the Council is dealt with by staff in the Pension Authority.
Social Welfare Tribunal: The Tribunal is convened very rarely and the question of direct queries from elected representatives rarely arises in practice. The last sitting of the Tribunal was in 2014.
1527. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74288/25]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to medical assessment, means test and habitual residency conditions.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the above-named person on 20 August 2025. It was necessary for a Deciding Officer to send a a number of information requests, seeking additional supporting information to establish their eligibility.
I can confirm the last of this requested information was received on 17 December 2025. The person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 20 August 2025.
A letter notifying the person concerned of this decision issued on 19 December 2025 and the first payment was made on 31 December 2025. Arrears of payment due from 20 August 2025 to 23 December 2025 issued to the person concerned on 07 January 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1528. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which law or statutory instrument the implementation of the means test for the State pension (non-contributory) is made. [74312/25]
View answerThe State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, 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 system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test 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.
Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from sources such as employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments. Income earned under the rent-a-room tax relief scheme is exempt from the means test.
Sections 153 and 154 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, legislate for the qualifying conditions for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), including the requirement to meet a means test. Schedule 3 of the 2005 Act sets out the process of means testing for the Department's social assistance payments. Schedule 3, Part 3 relates specifically to the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1529. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance available, without means test, to foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74313/25]
View answer1530. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance available, without means test, to kinship carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74314/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1529 and 1530 together.
The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
In order to qualify for Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, including the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and the applicant’s household income must be within the relevant income limits.
The weekly household income limits for 2026 are:
|
No. of Children |
Income Limit |
|
1 child |
€726.70 |
|
2 children |
€804.70 |
|
3 children |
€882.70 |
|
4 children* |
€960.70 |
* Limit is increased by €78.00 for each additional child.
The household income includes weekly social protection payments, gross income from employment, minus employees PRSI and a €20.00 travel allowance and any other income the household may have.
Any income from Foster Care Allowance, Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Rent Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, Guardian’s Payments, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Welfare Allowance and Higher-Level Education grants is not assessable as income. Rehabilitative employment (up to €165.00 per week) is also not assessable.
Any proposed changes to the scheme would have to be considered in a wider budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1531. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if the guardian’s payment will be abolished; and if foster carers allowance will be available to those in informal kinship care arrangements [74316/25]
View answerThe purpose of the guardian's payment scheme is to provide income support in respect of those children whose parents are unable to provide for them, through death or other circumstances. Guardian’s payment (contributory) is a social insurance payment and Guardian’s payment (non-contributory) is social assistance (means tested) payment made to a person caring for a child who satisfies the definition of an “orphan” under social welfare legislation. Where a child is being cared for by someone other than their parents, the person looking after the child may apply for a guardian's payment.
Matters relating to informal kinship care and foster care are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. Following a recommendation from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, to develop a policy on the rights of children in informal kinship care, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality have established a steering group for the Development of a National Policy on informal Kinship Care. While this national policy considers the rights of children living in informal kinship care, the associated rights and necessary supports of their carers will also be considered.
My officials are currently participating in this group in the context of Guardian’s Payments administered by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1532. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a path to pension is being considered for kinship carers as it is for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74317/25]
View answerMatters relating to foster care and kinship care are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. However, this Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including kinship and foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. The State Pension (Contributory) system provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment, such as PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards, and HomeCaring Periods in respect of caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Kinship and Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and Homecaring periods where they meet the criteria, in the same way as biological or adoptive parents. There is no difference in treatment. They may qualify if they are in receipt of Child Benefit. If they are not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory), particularly in meeting the minimum requirement of 10 years' paid contributions.
Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions required for eligibility.
Kinship and foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision.
Any further potential changes to the State Pension (Contributory) would have to be be considered having regard to the overall policy and legal contexts underpinning the State pension system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1533. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has given consideration to the introduction of a baby loss certificate process, similar to that which is in place in the UK through the NHS; if not, if he will consider the implementation of similar process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74408/25]
View answerThe UK government has introduced a scheme to allow parents in various parts of the UK to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of baby loss. This is a voluntary scheme unlike the compulsory legal requirement in respect of other life events. As the Deputy has mentioned, the scheme in England is administered through the NHS Business Service Authority.
The operation of a similar scheme in Ireland is largely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health however my officials are happy to engage as appropriate with that Department in relation to the matter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for you.
1534. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the office rental costs per annum for staff in his Department and for each agency or organisation under his remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74456/25]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection does not directly rent any properties. With the exception of the Department's headquarters, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store Street, Dublin 1, which is held by the Minister on behalf of the Social Insurance Fund, all properties occupied by the Department are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Pensions Authority and Citizens Information Board make and manage their own rental arrangements.
A summary of office rental costs, including associated service charges, for my Department and the bodies under its aegis is set out below.
|
Year |
Department of Social Protection |
Pensions Authority (including the Pension Council) |
Citizens Information Board |
|
2015 |
€7.1m |
€0.6m |
€0.9m* |
|
2016 |
€8.1m |
€0.5m |
€0.9m* |
|
2017 |
€7.2m |
€0.6m |
€1.1m |
|
2018 |
€7.1m |
€0.7m |
€1.1m |
|
2019 |
€7.3m |
€0.6m |
€1.0m |
|
2020 |
€8.0m |
€0.7m |
€1.2m |
|
2021 |
€7.9m |
€0.8m |
€1.2m |
|
2022 |
€8.2m |
€0.7m |
€1.3m |
|
2023 |
€5.4m |
€0.8m |
€1.3m |
|
2024 |
€5.8m |
€0.8m |
€1.3m |
|
2025 |
€4.7m |
€0.8m |
€1.3m |
* Please note that 2015 and 2016 amounts for the Citizens Information Board do not include associated service charges. In line with the Citizens Information Board's data protection policy, records of service charges prior to 2017 are no longer available.
1535. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for maternity benefit that were unsuccessful in each year from 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74474/25]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on maternity leave from work and are covered by social insurance contributions (PRSI). Below is a table detailing Maternity Benefit registered claims, awarded claims, rejected claims and withdrawn claims for the past 5 years.
|
Year |
Registered |
Awarded |
Rejected |
Withdrawn |
|
2020 |
41,987 |
40,507 |
1,633 |
1,332 |
|
2021 |
46,425 |
43,544 |
1,307 |
1,492 |
|
2022 |
42,131 |
40,897 |
1,633 |
1,676 |
|
2023 |
43,253 |
40,657 |
1,469 |
824 |
|
2024 |
42,434 |
40,121 |
1,863 |
845 |
|
2025 |
42,768 |
40,529 |
1,650 |
864 |
1536. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a final decision in respect of their carers allowance application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74518/25]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) 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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 23 July 2025.
The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 28 July 2025 to confirm that all conditions for the receipt of CA were satisfied. The report from the SWI was returned to the Deciding Officer on 18 December 2025.
On review of this report, the person concerned was awarded CA from 24 July 2025. The first payment issued to the nominated bank account of the person on 31 December 2025. Arrears for the period 24 July 2025 to 30 December 2025 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 19 December 2025.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1537. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the waiting time for a final decision for an applicant to the carers allowance section after all requested documentation and relevant medical reports have been submitted by the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74519/25]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) 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.
The Department of Social Protection is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that all applications are processed as quickly as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested schemes can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
The claim processing target for CA is to process 80% of new claims within 10 weeks. The average processing time for CA in 2025 is 6 weeks compared to an average of 14 weeks in 2019.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, you might provide the relevant details so that my officials can examine the specific case.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1538. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to fully restore the cuts made from 2010 to the DTSS and DTBS schemes and to the public dental service for children and people with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74562/25]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has clarified that the information sought regarding the treatment benefit scheme administered by my Department is the cost of bringing all the dental treatments that were available prior to 2010 back into the scheme.
Prior to 2010, a range of the dental treatments not currently provided under the scheme were available, including contributions towards fillings, extractions, root canal work and dentures. The cost in 2009 for all the dental treatments under the scheme was €71 million.
However, as part of measures to ease the financial pressures at the time, the Government decided in Budget 2010 to restrict the dental services available under the scheme to examinations only. In 2017, some of the dental services that had been removed were restored. These were the scale and polish and periodontal treatments.
Currently, the dental treatments covered under the scheme are examinations, scale and polish and periodontal treatments. The estimated expenditure in 2025 on these dental treatments scheme is approximately €73 million.
My Department does not have the necessary data or resources required to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of restoring the full complement of treatments that were available under the scheme prior to 2010.
Any changes to the current scheme would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
The references in the Deputy's question to “DTSS” scheme and “the public dental service for children and people with additional needs” are a matter for the Minister of Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1539. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to equalise the treatment of PRSI contributors with that of medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74564/25]
View answerI understand the Deputy has clarified that her question relates to the treatment benefit scheme operated by my Department and broadly equivalent services provided by the Department of Health and the HSE.
The treatment benefit scheme provides for certain dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner, if applicable.
Medical and health related supports are primarily the responsibility of the Department of Health and the HSE. They provide a broad range of dental, optical and audiology health services to medical card holders and children.
Due to the complexity of the eligibility criteria and the types and range of treatments involved, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of equalising or replicating the services provided by the Department of Health and the HSE in the treatment benefit scheme. My Department would not have the necessary data or resources available to carry out the complex analysis that would be required for such an exercise.
Any changes to the current scheme would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1540. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the payroll cost of his Department and of each organisation or agency under its remit individually, in 2015 to 2025, by year, in tabular form. [74634/25]
View answerPayroll costs for the Department and each agency under its remit are as follows:
|
Year |
Department of Social Protection €000 |
Citizens Information Board €000 |
Pensions Authority €000 |
|
2015 |
319,053 |
4,839 |
2,522 |
|
2016 |
309,949 |
4,404 |
2,773 |
|
2017 |
307,487 |
4,332 |
3,070 |
|
2018 |
310,855 |
4,831 |
3,524 |
|
2019 |
310,008 |
4,830 |
4,007 |
|
2020 |
313,639 |
5,043 |
4,700 |
|
2021 |
325,176 |
5,188 |
5,650 |
|
2022 |
345,732 |
5,209 |
6,009 |
|
2023 |
359,628 |
5,533 |
6,185 |
|
2024 |
386,124 |
5,806 |
6,724 |
|
2025 * |
405,862 |
6,021 |
7,857 |
* The figures for 2025 are draft only and unaudited
1541. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a cost estimate for extending the free travel pass to children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74642/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025 has committed to examining extending the Free Travel scheme to include children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment payable at €380 a month per child. In addition, all recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance qualify for the Carer's Support Grant in June of each year. The current rate is €2,000 per year.
Based on 70,693 children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance, it is estimated that extending the Free Travel scheme to include those children, would cost in the region of €6.2 million in a full year.
The modelling of the cost is complex and needs to take account of multiple factors, including all children under nine already have free travel on public transport and children under 16 benefit from significantly reduced rates. It is also important to remember that it is the parent or guardian who receives Domiciliary Care Allowance - it is not paid directly to the child.
The Programme for Government commitments to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families, has seen the extension of free travel on all Transport for Ireland services to all children between 5 to 8 years of age. This expansion will benefit almost 236,000 additional children and their families.
As the Deputy will understand, the extension of free travel, along with other potential budget measures will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary resources available.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
