Written Answers Nos. 672-694
672. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will issue guidelines for non-statutory public consultations for local authorities to support the implementation of various schemes, such as active travel. [4272/26]
View answer673. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to expand on his recent statements that local authorities should take urgent measures to prevent older people experiencing homelessness; and the specific measures his Department has implemented, or will implement, to achieve this. [4289/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
675. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a year-on-year breakdown, from 2018 to date, of the number of applications submitted by each Dublin local authority under the buy and renew scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/26]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
|
|
|
|
Buy and Renew 2018-Q3 2025 |
|
Year |
DCC |
DLR |
Fingal |
SDCC |
|
2018 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2019 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
2020 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
2021 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
2022 |
40 |
8 |
13 |
0 |
|
2023 |
23 |
2 |
10 |
0 |
|
2024 |
11 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
2025 (Q1-Q3) |
8 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Total Units |
122 |
10 |
46 |
0 |
676. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1448 of 13 January 2026, and the reply if he will consider further correspondence (details supplied); to provide a reply to queries raised regarding new declared qualifications for engineering services in local authorities.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4390/26]
View answerThe Working Group established to review the qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector did have regard to employees currently working as engineers in the sector and who may not meet the eligibility criteria set down in the qualifications declared under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 in order to apply for recruitment competitions for advancement to higher levels.
The previous qualifications for engineering posts declared in 2017 were restricted to only an honours degree (level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)) in Engineering which did not take into account any further learning opportunities that an employee may have availed of or be willing to undertake.
The amended qualifications for engineering roles declared in July 2025 provide potential pathways to this cohort of employees to meet the eligibility requirements. The eligibility criteria in the qualifications for Assistant Engineer and Executive Engineer were amended in July 2025 to include at least an ordinary bachelors degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)) in Engineering and also a combination of at least an ordinary bachelors degree (level 7 or higher on the NFQ) and a post-graduate masters degree (level 9 on the NFQ) in Engineering. The qualifications for Senior Executive Engineer and above were amended to include an ordinary bachelors degree (level 7 or higher on the NFQ) in Engineering and a post-graduate masters degree (level 9 on the NFQ).
In addition, further flexibility was included with the addition of chartership as an optional criterion for grades at Senior Executive Engineer and above and there are a number of routes to chartership with Engineers Ireland including a further learning route and an experiental route.
The effect of these changes is that there are now more eligibility options available to those who may wish to seek to advance their careers in the local government sector.
Also, as advised in my reply to Question No. 1448 of 13 January 2026, the opportunity was taken in July 2025 to declare other new qualifications for posts analogous to Assistant and Executive Engineer in the fields of construction / project management, energy management, facilities management and fleet management. Declaring these new qualifications recognises the changing role of engineering in the sector and the evolving role of local authorities in terms of the range and variety of services now provided by local authorities.
It is important to note that an employee engagement process was undertaken over a number of months with the relevant unions prior to the declaration of revised qualifications in July 2025.
677. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide data on the backlog within Tailte Éireann on applications for property registration; the reasons for the delays; the extra resources that are now required to address the problem within Tailte Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4399/26]
View answerTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
The continued increase in applications received for registration by Tailte Éireann year over year, and challenges in recruitment for some time, have resulted in longer processing times for certain application types, however these delays are now alleviating.
Applications for registration which involve a transfer, charge or release of registered lands, where no change to the registry map is required, are currently processed within 15 working days where the application is lodged in order. Approximately 60% of all paper applications require no change to the map and are processed within this time frame. Applications submitted electronically through eRegistration account for approximately 18% of all applications received and are processed within 10 working days. eDischarges are typically processed within 2 working days.
Processing times for applications which do require a change to the map, and those requiring first registration of property, are improving due to implemented process improvements and targeted recruitment campaigns outlined below.
As part of Tailte Éireann's resourcing strategy, an accelerated recruitment programme was launched to address the high volume of vacancies and strengthen operational capacities in response to the increasing service demands. As a result, the Registration team within Tailte Éireann is now fully staffed with additional capacity to support ongoing improvements in the delivery of registration services and contribute to the timely processing of applications.
Outside of recruitment, every effort is being made by Tailte Éireann to further reduce application processing times, including implementation of:
• revised procedures for more efficient handling of the large volume of applications that are lodged that are not in order to proceed to registration
• a targeted approach to reduce the age profile of applications pending registration
• revised internal processes aimed at reducing the volume of applications on hand that are not in order to proceed and remain under query
• an organisation-wide focus on reducing processing times with business process improvements now implemented across the organisation.
Tailte Éireann also continues to promote its digital services and uptake of e-registration services where paperless application types are available to legal practitioners and financial institutions, which helps to reduce processing times for all service users.
Information on the number of applications pending by year of lodgement has been provided below as requested. It is not possible to determine whether any delay in a particular case is, or is not, reasonable without knowing the history of progression of the case and whether the application is in order to proceed to registration. In the case of aged applications lodged in 2017 for example, these are actively being processed by Tailte Éireann however some of the applications are under query and cannot be progressed further at this time.
|
Year |
Total Applications Received |
Arrear Per Year |
|
2017 |
191,212 |
9 |
|
2018 |
205,931 |
13 |
|
2019 |
216,366 |
24 |
|
2020 |
178,130 |
39 |
|
2021 |
206,516 |
123 |
|
2022 |
227,748 |
1,033 |
|
2023 |
240,803 |
4,630 |
|
2024 |
262,661 |
24,496 |
|
2025 |
296,039 |
57,612 |
|
2026 (to 11 Jan) |
5,416 |
2,839 |
In cases where any delay in registration could have a potential impact, Tailte Éireann makes every effort to expedite applications which are in order, where valid grounds exist, and where doing so does not impose a conflict in regard to priority given to any prior lodged dealing.
Lodging parties may contact Tailte Éireann in relation to a specific case by email at info@tailte.ie. Further information in relation to specific cases may be obtained by Oireachtas members by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of Tailte Éireann at oireachtas@tailte.ie.
Tailte Éireann has advised that improvements have been made to date in throughput times and I am confident that they have the resources and procedures in place to further reduce waiting times across all application types.
It may be noted that in accordance with the recently published guide by the Law Society to avoid delays when selling property (www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/news/2024/speed-up-your-property-sale.pdf), the seller, or their solicitor, should have all of the required deeds and documents in order prior to putting a property on the market to avoid delays. Registration of the legal effect of a conveyance comes at the end of the process after the documents are executed and should, in the vast majority of cases, not lead to any delay in the conveyancing process as the purchaser is already in occupation of the property.
678. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority can consider a transfer request from a person from another local authority; the priority which can be placed on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
Question No. 679 answered with Question No. 670.
680. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme as the payment period concludes for many applicants; if a replacement support is being considered; if so, the details of any such support or supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4466/26]
View answerThe Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established following engagement with stakeholders in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the restrictions on turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation (SAC) and was extended in 2014 to include 36 raised bog natural heritage areas (NHA).
Eligible applicants on raised bog SACs where turf cutting ceased in 2011 received their final payment under the 15-year scheme in 2025. Applicants on SACs where turf cutting ceased in 2012 will receive their final payment in 2026. Where turf cutting ceased on the raised bog NHAs at different stages between 2014 and 2017; payments will continue to be made annually with final payments being made from 2028 to 2031.
Applicants on sites where the scheme concluded in 2025 have received average payments of €23,830. This scheme has compensated those impacted by restrictions on turf-cutting, and other supports, such as those operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland and the Department of Social Protection, will continue to offer support to those with older homes, inefficient heating systems and those most at risk of fuel poverty.
The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation scheme has helped to ensure the conservation of these important sites of unique ecological value. My Department will finalise shortly its considerations of any alternative supports the conservation of these sites after the Cessation of Turf Cutting Scheme closes.
681. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) to prevent them and their children presenting as homeless. [4479/26]
View answerTenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. Where a person has a change of circumstances, such as a loss of income, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly.
The HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants’ differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. The HAP SSC follows a clear communication policy if rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority.
The approach taken by the HAP SSC has been very effective: at the end of Q3 2025, the scheme had a 99% differential rent collection rate, with minimal arrears arising for tenants or local authorities. Therefore, only a very small number of tenants have fallen into difficulty with their differential rent.
In addition since 1 May 2023, the HAP Landlord Payment Guarantee has been in place. This means that when a HAP tenant defaults on their differential rent payment to the local authority and reaches suspension stage, they are offered the option of a payment plan to assist them in maintaining their tenancy and allow the HAP payment to the landlord to continue. If the tenant defaults on payment of differential rent or the payment plan, the HAP payment to the landlord will be guaranteed for a 12-month period or earlier if the tenancy ends.
HAP tenants in arrears should contact their local authority and the HAP SSC to discuss the options that are available to them.
The administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and it is the responsibility of the local authority to make a decision in each individual case.
682. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to review case (details supplied) and provide an update on the matter. [3322/26]
View answerThe request for appeal from the person concerned was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the 5th of December 2025, where it was registered and sent to the relevant scheme area for review. The decision was upheld be the scheme area and the appeal was returned to the SWAO on the 14th of January, 2026. I am advised by the SWAO that the appeal has now been assigned to an Appeals Office and that an oral hearing has been deemed necessary in this case.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office will shortly make contact with the person concerned to schedule that oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
683. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for only counting complete years of service when calculating contributory State pensions (details supplied); if he will consider amending the law to allow for full recognition of all monthly contributions made as the current law adversely impacts those with birthdays towards the end of a contribution year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3347/26]
View answerFrom September 2012 to December 2024, the State Pension (Contributory) was calculated under two different methods known as the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) and the Yearly Average (YA) method. The elements which make up each calculation method are set out in legislation. Applications were assessed under all possible rate calculation methods with the most beneficial rate paid to the applicant.
The provision in section 108 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 that counts contributions “ending at the end of the last complete contribution year before the date of his or her attaining pensionable age or deferred pensionable age” is a feature of the YA method. This provision is designed to ensure that a person who drawdowns their pension later in the year is not penalised. If these contributions were counted, it would also add another year onto the divisor and possibly lower the YA of the person.
Following on from the Pensions Commission's recommendations, a number of State pension reforms were enacted in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, which represented the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State pension system.
Since January 2025, a ten-year phasing out of the YA method of calculating State Pension began. The ten-year transitional arrangements are to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ effect. From 2034 the YA method of calculation will no longer be used, and all State Pension (Contributory) calculations will be done using the TCA method. TCA is a fairer and more transparent method for calculating the contributory pension and will remove the existing anomalies that exist in the YA calculation method.
To qualify for a full rate pension under the TCA method, a person must have 2080 contributions (equivalent to 40 years) and unlike the YA method contributions are counted up to the date a person draws down their State Pension (Contributory), which as a result of the reforms introduced can be up to the age of 70 where a person choses to defer drawing down their State Pension (Contributory).
TCA is a more equitable approach as pension outcomes are more in line with the total number of contributions paid and credited. The principle of higher contributory entitlements for those who contribute more frequently into the social insurance fund is central to contributory pensions around the world.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
684. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his additional plans to financially assist people with disabilities during 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3396/26]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. The purpose of these payments is to provide income support for people experiencing specific contingencies that limit their ability to earn an income.
The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures.
Over the last five budgets the Government has progressively improved payment rates and income disregards for disabled people. The weekly payment rates for Disability Allowance have increased by €51 in that time. The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people, including:
• A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week from this month.
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, 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 from this month.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bringing it to €38 per week from this month.
• 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.
• Wage Subsidy Scheme rates will be increased from April.
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.
The Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people. This includes a commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment. These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, my Department established a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. While it is led by my Department, it includes other Government departments in this cross-government endeavour, and will also include people with disabilities and their advocates.
I have asked my officials to prioritise this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of this year. Officials have held meetings with a number of organisations in relation to this initiative. The views of disabled people and all relevant research, including the Indecon and ESRI reports will be given due consideration as we progress this work.
685. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when some local primary schools in County Leitrim (details supplied) will receive funding for invoices supplied in relation to school meals delivered. [3460/26]
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 status of the schools for the 2025/26 year stated by the deputy above are as follows:
|
ST PATRICKS NS |
Claim Awarded and payment has issued |
|
COOTEHALL NS |
Claim Awarded and payment has issued |
|
SCOIL MHUIRE NS |
Claim Pending - Awaiting further Information from this school which they have advised they will submit in the coming days. |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
686. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employers, employees and average number of weekly WSS hours claimed for each individual strand 2 category, based on the number of disabled employees employed, for both 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3482/26]
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. Expenditure on the scheme in 2025 is approximately €22.1 million.
Those employers with one or two employees covered by the scheme are in Strand 1. Employers with three or more employees covered by the scheme are in Strand 2, which currently includes five different subsidy rates depending on the number of employees covered. An employer who employees 35 or more employees covered by the scheme may also receive a grant of €30,000 towards the cost of employing an Employment Assistance Officer. This is known as Strand 3 and a grant can be paid in respect of up to five such roles in an organisation.
The table below shows the number of employers and employees in Strand 1 and each Strand 2 category for 2024 and 2025.
|
- |
No. of employers 2024 |
No. of employees 2024 |
No. of employers 2025 |
No. of employees 2025 |
|
Strand 1 - 1 or 2 employees on the scheme |
1,320 |
1,508 |
1,364 |
1,559 |
|
Strand 2 Bands |
|
|
|
|
|
3-6 employees |
124 |
445 |
129 |
477 |
|
7-11 employees |
13 |
108 |
15 |
137 |
|
12-16 employees |
3 |
41 |
3 |
38 |
|
17-22 employees |
1 |
17 |
2 |
39 |
|
23+ employees |
6 |
303 |
6 |
338 |
The average number of weekly Wage Subsidy Scheme hours claimed in each individual Strand 2 category is not readily available. However, the table below shows the percentage of Wage Subsidy employees in each of six different contracted hours bands in 2024 and 2025.
|
Contracted Hours |
2024 |
2025 |
|
15-21* |
28% |
35% |
|
22–25 |
12% |
14% |
|
26–29 |
3% |
2% |
|
30–34 |
5% |
6% |
|
35–38 |
4% |
3% |
|
39+ |
48% |
40% |
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
* Prior to April 2024 an employee had to be contracted to work for at least 21 hours per week in order to be eligible to be covered by the scheme.
687. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the work of a college (details supplied); if he will facilitate a meeting with the management to discuss their concerns related to the wage subsidy scheme and the way in which it is applied in their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3603/26]
View answerThe Wage Subsidy Scheme provides a financial incentive to employers and aims to increase the employment of people with disabilities. Under the eligibility criteria applicable to the scheme, for an employer to qualify for a payment, employees must be either new or an existing employee who is in their current employment for less than 12 months.
Officials from my Department have contacted the Together Academy to discuss the issues raised and to offer support, including information on other relevant schemes that may be of assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
688. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the letter received by an organisation (details supplied); the actions he will take to address their concerns related to the wage subsidy scheme and the way in which it is applied in their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3604/26]
View answerThe Wage Subsidy Scheme provides a financial incentive to employers and aims to increase the employment of people with disabilities. Under the eligibility criteria applicable to the scheme, for an employer to qualify for a payment, employees must be either new or an existing employee who is in their current employment for less than 12 months.
The employer concerned applied for the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) in respect of one of their employees in October 2025. Our records show that the employee concerned has been in employment with the employer for more than 12 months, therefore does not meet the eligibility criteria and as a result their application was refused.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
689. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a review of the wage subsidy scheme that will allow for greater flexibility in the way in which it is applied by charitable organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3605/26]
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. In December 2025, 1,551 employers were availing of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and 2,626 employees were supported through the scheme with an expenditure of approximately €22.1 million.
In Budget 2026, I provided for an 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 also provided for the rate structure to be simplified by reducing the number of subsidy bands from six to three, from April, and importantly all of the subsidy rates will also be increased at that time. These measures build on other improvements to the scheme which have been made since my Department completed a review of the scheme, which included a a public consultation, and examined ways to make the scheme more flexible and effective.
The review, which was published in 2024, made six recommendations, one of which was to expand the scheme to employers outside of the private sector. As a result, the scheme is now open to community and voluntary sector, not-for-profit sector and commercial semi-state organisations. This change expands the pool of potential jobs and opportunities for disabled people. Employees in this sector must meet the other eligibility criteria to avail of the scheme.
Another recommendation was to reduce the minimum required hours requirement for the scheme from 21 hours per week to 15 hours per week. This change was implemented from April 2024. The intention of this changes is to make the scheme more accessible and flexible for disabled people while also ensuring that the scheme maintains its key aim of encouraging employers to provide substantial and meaningful work to disabled people.
The scheme needs to operate with the new 15-hour minimum requirement for a period before my Department can assess the impact this change has had. As there is already a commitment in the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 to further reviewing the minimum hours of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, this will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in light of the prevailing policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
690. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the humanitarian assistance scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3606/26]
View answerMy Department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
The purpose of the scheme is to prevent hardship by providing financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and/or severe weather events and who are not able to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repairs to the home.
It does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event, nor does it cover damage or losses that are reasonably expected to be covered by insurance policies.
The scheme does not cover commercial, agricultural, business losses, or any additional properties or structures that are not occupied and lived in as the applicant’s primary residence.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides support to the horticulture, meat processing, farming and forestry sectors.
Expenditure under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for the period from 2009 to end of December 2025 was in the order of €27.0 million. Some €15.5 million was paid in 2025, the majority of which was paid in respect of Storm Éowyn related claims.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
691. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under his Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/26]
View answerMembership to the Single Pension Service Pension Scheme is determined by assessing the eligibility of employees against the provisions of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. There are no exclusions for eligible staff within our agencies.
692. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will re-examine the national guidelines in relation to exceptional needs payments for household furnishings, appliances and equipment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/26]
View answerThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Where an application for assistance with the purchase of household furnishings and/or appliances is received and a need is identified, a recommended amount for a given item is considered.
Guidance on the recommended levels of payment in respect of specific household furnishings and appliances are available to assist Community Welfare Service staff and are based on a price comparison analysis at which the appliances can be obtained on a nationwide basis. These guidelines do not limit the discretionary powers available to officers administering the scheme.
Additionally, assistance with charges associated with the delivery and installation of goods can be considered by way of an Additional Needs Payment.
I believe the current process used in considering claims for assistance with the costs of household furnishings and appliances is a fair and equitable approach.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
693. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if disability allowance payments will be reinstated for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/26]
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, a means test, and habitual residency conditions.
The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is a continued entitlement. In this case the means of the person concerned were reviewed. A means review of this claim commenced on 15 September 2025 and an information request was issued to the person concerned requesting information relating to their means only.
As all the requested information was not supplied, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to DA with effect from 12 November 2025. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 28 October 2025 and was also notified of their right to request a review and/or appeal of the decision.
Further information was later received from the person concerned and it was decided the person concerned is entitled to Disability Allowance at a reduced rate and their Disability Allowance was reinstated with effect from 12 November 2025. A letter issued to the person concerned on 12 January 2026 informing them of this decision and notified them of their right to request a review and/or appeal of the decision.
Arrears owed for the period between 12 November 2025 to 13 January 2026 will issue in due course.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
694. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if his officials have planned for inactive My Future Fund accounts exceeding the number of active accounts; his views on whether the administrative costs associated with such inactive accounts will be absorbed by the flat fee applied only to active accounts, given that such costs are not dependent on fund size and will not be charged directly to inactive members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3714/26]
View answer695. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for the treatment of My Future Fund accounts held by people who have left Ireland never to return; if he intends to follow the Australian approach of allowing such departing members to encash their fund pots upon leaving the State so as to mitigate the long-term administrative burden of maintaining inactive accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3715/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 694 and 695 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 access to a quality assured retirement savings scheme, thereby giving greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. The new system - known as My Future Fund - commenced on the 1 January 2026.
Over 763,000 employees that weren't actively contributing to a qualifying pension or PRSA through payroll were eligible and were automatically enrolled in My Future Fund. Once a person is enrolled in the scheme, they remain enrolled until they are eligible to draw down their funds when they reach State Pension age. However, participants may not be actively contributing at all times because they may have opted-out or suspended contributions or joined an exempt occupational or private pension arrangement or are not in the workforce.
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. Therefore, provision has already been made for the possibility of non-contributing participants remaining in the scheme.
The administration fee is a flat weekly fee of 55 cents per week rather than a 'commission' based on a percentage of funds under management. In this way the administration fee reflects the actual costs of administration (which do not vary with fund size), is the same for all contributing 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.
The My Future Fund accounts of those who become non-contributing participants will continue to be administered and invested. This will apply to any participant who decides to leave Ireland before they are eligible to withdraw their funds. There are no plans to allow retirement savings funds to be drawn down early as early access to savings undermines the fundamental principle that savings should be ‘locked away’ or deferred until retirement. The only exception in terms of early access to My Future Fund savings will be in relation to enforced workplace retirement due to ill health, injury, or disability.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
