Written Answers Nos. 104-120
107. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he intends to review the classification of long-Covid for social protection purposes, including its recognition as an occupational injury for healthcare workers; the timeframe for any such review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/26]
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 workers 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 was a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, who extended it a number of times. The Scheme ended on 31 December 2025. Any employee of the public health sector 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.
108. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection if a breakdown can be provided for all payments of arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2588/26]
View answerFollowing the award of a scheme payment, claimants are informed of the weekly amount awarded.
Claimants are also informed by letter of the amount of arrears being paid to them and the period to which the arrears refer. It is proposed to continue with these notifications. However, if a request is received from a claimant for a breakdown of arrears paid, this is provided to them by letter.
If the Deputy has a particular case where a breakdown of arrears is required or further clarification, the relevant scheme area can be contacted.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
109. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who was wrongly advised to claim disability allowance and who has now applied for invalidity pension and has been refused due to insufficient PRSI contributions but would have had sufficient contributions at the time of application can have their claim assessed on the basis of the original application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2641/26]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
Entitlement to IP is normally determined as of the date the application is received in my Department. However, in certain circumstances, an earlier application for a related Social Welfare payment such as Disability Allowance (DA) can be taken as the application date for IP where the Deciding Officer is satisfied that there is just cause for allowing such an application. In this regard, it should be noted that all other conditions governing the IP scheme must remain satisfied.
If there is a specific case that the Deputy would like my Department to consider, then they may forward the details directly to the IP Section.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
110. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements to benefits without means testing survivors of the Hepatitis C scandal have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2642/26]
View answerMy Department has over 140 schemes and services, a significant number of which are means tested schemes. 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.
Means tests are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years.
Social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain compensation awards when assessing the means of a person. These disregards include, for example, all income derived from payments awarded by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and payments made in relation to disability caused by Thalidomide. In addition, ex gratia payments made to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, or through the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme, or payments made by the Minister of Health in accordance with recommendations proposed by the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme are also disregarded.
As a result, any sums received from compensation awarded –
(i) by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal,
(ii) by a court of competent jurisdiction to compensate certain persons who have contracted Hepatitis C or Human Immunodeficiency Virus within the State from the use of Human Immunoglobulin Anti-D, whole blood or other blood products,
will be disregarded in the means test for social protection payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
111. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the application process for higher scales for administrative grades below the grade of assistant principal operated in his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2658/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that Circular 24/1995 was replaced by Circular 31/2007. From 1 January 2007 a new procedure was implemented on the basis of suitability with due regard to seniority. In the Department of Social Protection, Higher Scale assignments at HEO, AO, EO and CO are rewarded on a seniority basis subject to satisfactory PMDS assessment and adherence to sick leave regulations.
112. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to enhance the farm assist and fish assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2841/26]
View answer113. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will include seaweed harvesting for a bespoke social protection scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2842/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
Farm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 3,200 claims in payment at present. The government has provided almost €44 million for the scheme in 2026.
Fish Assist is available to self-employed fishers on a low income under the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme and is based on the conditions and rate of payment on the Farm Assist scheme.
The Farm Assist scheme is similar to Jobseeker's Allowance in a number of ways, such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes where a person may want to take up off-farm employment or is seeking educational or training opportunities.
However, the means test is more generous on Farm Assist. For example, under Jobseeker's, self-employed income is assessed at 100%; this is reduced to 70% under Farm Assist. Child disregards apply under Farm Assist which do not exist for Jobseeker's. In addition, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances to ensure that the assessment for the scheme reflects the current situation accurately.
Legislation also provides for a disregard in the means test for Farm Assist for income from a range of agri-environmental schemes, whereby the first €5,000, increased from €2540 from January 2023, of such income is disregard in full, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. A Review into the means test disregards for Farm Assist completed in 2021 recommended that that the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for the disregard should be significantly increased. The list has been expanded since then from 4 schemes to 29 schemes. I am committed to working with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to keeping this disregard under review in the context of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
Farm Assist claimants can move to the Rural Social Scheme, which provides a supplementary income for low-income farmers aged 25 years or over. Participants work 19.5 hours per week providing services that benefit rural communities and receive a top-up on their social welfare payment.
In Budget 2026 I secured increases in social welfare payment rates, including the personal rates, increases for qualified adults and Child Support Payments that are payable for Farm Assist, Fish Assist and the Rural Social Scheme.
Where a person is eligible for either Farm Assist or Jobseeker's Allowance, income up to €1,270 per year earned by that person, or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, from seaweed harvesting is not assessed in the means assessment for their claim.
I am satisfied with the current arrangements and do not intend to introduce a bespoke social welfare scheme for seaweed harvesting. Sectoral supports for the seafood industry, including seaweed harvesting, is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
114. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 571 of 18 December 2025, if the information requested regarding the number of crimes recorded where the suspected offenders were on bail, by county and category of offence, in 2025, in tabular form is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2548/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that, further to his parliamentary question number 571 of 18 December last, the relevant information has been sought from An Garda Síochána. My Department understands that the response is near finalisation and it is expected that it will be issued to the Deputy in the coming days.
115. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 24 September 2025, if we will provide an update on the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2549/26]
View answerWhile the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment publicly on individual cases, I wish to assure the Deputy that Department officials have engaged with this family in respect of their request to transfer and their associated needs.
Individuals and families seek transfers for various reasons and IPAS facilitates those requests where possible. Often, however, transfers may not be possible where suitable accommodation is not available to meet a person’s or family’s needs or where the applicant has specific personal, health and accessibility requirements.
IPAS has a number of protocols and procedures in place to enable persons and families with special reception needs to apply for a transfer. Applications may include cases of medical priority, where people are undergoing specialist treatment and where they may need to live within a reasonable travelling distance to a hospital. IPAS also engages with medical professionals where appropriate.
IPAS has engaged with this family and will continue to monitor its accommodation portfolio based upon the family’s requirements.
116. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on his Department’s Bill to enable the taking of oral testimony for the purposes of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry; the rationale for only applying the Bill to retired officials with their advance written consent; the provision for access to records, in addition to the oral questions provided for, subject to vetting; and when he envisages such a Bill becoming law. [2577/26]
View answerOn 16 December 2025, I received Government approval for the priority drafting of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Amendment) Bill 2025 to enable the taking of oral testimony in this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. Obtaining Government approval to progress this legislation marks another important milestone in delivering on the Government's commitment to facilitating and supporting the work of the Inquiry.
Assisting an inquiry established under the law of another sovereign state is legally complex and requires us to make every effort to find solutions. The proposed legislation will provide a robust statutory framework that seeks to maximise the assistance to be provided to the Inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference while also safeguarding, in so far as that is necessary, the essential interests of the State and the rights of any witnesses involved.
The proposed legislation is modelled on the mechanism contained in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 to enable the taking of oral testimony for the purposes of UK Troubles-related inquests.
Recognising the significance of the Omagh bombing, the legislation builds on the 2019 model. It includes new features aimed at maximising the evidential opportunities available to the Chairman of the Inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference and to enhance transparency. This is in the interests of the victims' families and survivors and their search for truth and accountability.
These new features include extending the mechanism to other State bodies, in addition to An Garda Síochána, and to both serving and retired Gardaí, members of the Defence Forces and departmental officials. Core participants to the Inquiry, principally family members and survivors, will be facilitated to be present and hear first hand the evidence given before the High Court judge. The new features also enable the inquiry to ask questions to clarify evidence given by a witness to the judge.
It is important to recall that retired people are now private citizens and cannot be compelled to give testimony for the purposes of an inquiry in another jurisdiction though they may, of their own volition decide to attend such an inquiry. In choosing to do so, they would remain subject to certain residual obligations in respect of sensitive information acquired during their service but would not have benefit of the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled under Irish law. My proposals seek to provide a means for those retired members and officials to provide testimony to the Inquiry under Irish law if they wish to do so.
The legislation will add to the suite of measures already implemented to assist the Inquiry. This includes the Memorandum of Understanding which I signed with the Chairman of the Inquiry last April relating to the disclosure of Irish State materials, and the Data Protection Regulations that I signed in November to enable the disclosure of sensitive personal data to the Inquiry.
Drafting of the Bill is underway with a view to it being enacted this term.
117. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will legislate to allow for assisted dying given the vote in favour by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying in its report, which recommended to legalise for assisted dying in specific circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2602/26]
View answerThe issue of assisted dying is very complex, requiring careful consideration of medical, ethical and cultural issues. It also gives rise to challenging issues in the areas of criminal justice and constitutional law.
The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying was established in January 2023 to consider and make recommendations for legislative and policy change in relation to assisted dying. The Committee published its Final Report on 20 March 2024. The Committee’s report recommends that the Government introduce legislation to allow for assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances. On 23 October 2024, the Dáil voted by 76 to 53 to note the Committee’s Report.
It is a matter for Government, on foot of the Dáil vote, to determine how to progress this issue, including with regard to which Department will take a lead role in relation to it. No decision has been taken, as of yet, as regards any proposed legislative, or other actions, to be taken.
118. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the application process for higher scales for administrative grades below the grade of assistant principal operated in his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2655/26]
View answerMy Department assigns higher scales to the administrative grades listed in Circular 24/1995 based on seniority in grade, subject to suitability.
These assignments are performed biannually in order to meet the quotas established in the circular, i.e. 25% of Executive Officers, 30% of Higher Executive Officers and 30% of Administrative Officers.
I am informed that the selection mechanism in the Circular, referred to by the Deputy, specifically the reference to a 50% - 50% split between seniority and application-based streams, was a transitional measure intended solely for the initial implementation of the scheme in 1995 and 1996. These arrangements were designed to manage the immediate assignment of the established from the then-existing staff pool.
The Circular explicitly provides that assignments are made departmentally at the discretion of the Head of the Department.
I understand there is no obligation to maintain a separate application-based stream for ongoing vacancies unless such a requirement is established by a specific local agreement. Where a department utilises a seniority based model, it is a valid exercise of departmental authority under the Circular, provided the mandatory quotas are maintained and officers meet the performance and suitability standards. There is no requirement for a separate policy to override the Circular, as the Circular itself grants this procedural flexibility.
The principle of pay portability is an established principle of Civil Service mobility. An officer who has validly achieved a higher salary scale award in one department retains that scale upon permanent transfer. This ensures that an officer's career progression and earned pay scales are protected across the civil service. It does not circumnavigate local processes, as the officer has already met the service and suitability criteria mandated by the central agreement.
119. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider removing the €80 application fee for a civil protection order given that no such fee exists in respect of domestic violence orders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2810/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that all legislation under the Department's aegis is kept under ongoing review. This includes section 28 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 under which Civil Restraining Orders are made and S.I. No. 22/2014 - District Court (Fees) Order 2014 under which fees for civil matters in the District Court are set. The provision in section 28 is relatively new, and its operational impact is being monitored, however, there are no immediate plans for amendments in this area.
120. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any categories of visa or immigration applications made by Syrian nationals were paused, frozen, or otherwise not progressed by his Department; if so, which types of visas or applications were affected; the period of time during which any such pause or freeze applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2811/26]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that there has been no pause on visa applications from Syrian nationals.
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
The Deputy may also be aware that in December 2024, a decision was taken by the International Protection Office to pause issuing final determinations on international protection applications, as rapidly evolving events in Syria meant assessing any claim was difficult, with underlying country of origin information fluid and unreliable. This decision mirrored positions taken across most EU Member States, and the UK.
The European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) recently published a comprehensive update to its Country Guidance on Syria including an assessment of international protection needs arising from the changed situation in Syria. The Country Guidance will assist national authorities in assessing application, fostering convergence in asylum decisions at the EU level.
Consistent with most other member states of the EU and with the UK, the IPO has now resumed the processing of Syrian applications.
