Written Answers Nos. 695-714
696. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider changing the maximum hours a person can work (currently 18.5 hours per week) when qualifying for carer's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/26]
View answerMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined expenditure on these schemes in 2026 is expected to exceed €2.2 billion.
Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because of their caring responsibilities.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant must be providing full-time care and attention. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care for at least 12 months. A person is regarded as providing full-time care where they provide at least 35 hours of care per week, over any five days in a seven-day period.
While carer income support payments are based on the provision of full-time care and attention, they also provide flexibility in terms of allowing carers to engage in work, training or education for up to 18.5 hours per week. In effect, a carer can engage in these activities for half of a full-time working week. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
In the details supplied the Deputy, makes reference to the position of those participating in the Community Employment Programme. The objectives of that programme are not compatible with the requirements of the Carer's Allowance scheme. The Community Employment programme is an active labour market programme designed to support people who are long-term unemployed, or otherwise disadvantaged, to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. Participants can take up other part-time work during their Community Employment placement and are encouraged to seek permanent employment after their placement ends. Participants must work for 19.5 hours per week.
A person may progress from Carer's Allowance to Community Employment. The time spent on Carer’s Allowance can count towards the eligibility period, however a person’s caring responsibilities must have ended.
The 18.5-hour limit for Carer's Allowance reflects a careful balance between ensuring that the care recipient receives full-time care and enabling carers to maintain a connection to employment, training or education. Any proposal to amend this condition would need to preserve that balance and would have to be considered in the broader budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
697. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to regulations he signed on 23 December to exempt employees from auto-enrolment who are members of occupational pension schemes that are funded by their employers outside of payroll contributions, if he will outline which staff from which sectors this concerns; or if he will provide a sample of professions and sectors which have been effected by this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/26]
View answerThe 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. To date over 763,000 employees that weren't actively contributing to a qualifying pension or PRSA through payroll have been automatically enrolled in to My Future Fund.
In relation to the Statutory Instrument that I signed on the 23rd December, this regulation is designed to ensure that pension arrangements outside of My Future Fund are at least as favourable for the participating employee as they would be under the introductory contribution rates in My Future Fund. In the case of a defined contribution occupational pension scheme or a PRSA, the standards specify the total contributions amount to at least 3.5% of the employee’s gross pay, of which at least 1.5% must be made by the employer (subject to a maximum of €1200 per annum) to exempt an employment from enrolment in My Future Fund. For defined benefit schemes, the standards specify that those that confer a long-term benefit based on continuing service, will allow such employments to be exempted.
These standards, therefore, apply to pension schemes paid through payroll as well as those that operate outside of payroll by way of an employee's length of service in that employment. Such pension schemes that operate outside of payroll can be found across all sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and services.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
698. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under his Department, in tabular form. [3879/26]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Contact details for queries from Oireachtas members to each of these bodies is set out in tabular format below:
|
Name of Statutory Body |
Oireachtas members’ contact details
|
|
Citizens Information Board
|
oireachtas@ciboard.ie. |
|
National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority
|
tdreps@naersa.ie |
|
Pensions Authority
|
oireachtas@pensionsauthority.ie |
|
Pensions Council
|
oireachtas@pensionscouncil.ie |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal
|
ann.donoghue2@welfare.ie |
699. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of an older woman in Dublin 11 (details supplied) who has been without heating for many months; if he will respond to the details of the case; to outline the steps that will be taken to assist the woman in question and the additional supports available to her; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3933/26]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet expenses that an eligible person cannot pay from their weekly income, personal and/or household resources. The ANP scheme is demand led and administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS), 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.
Local authorities offer the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which can help homeowners with essential repairs and home improvements, including heating repairs and upgrades. While new fossil-fuel heating systems are no longer funded, alternative and energy efficient solutions may be considered. There is also now an Age Friendly Technical Advisor in each of the 31 local authorities who are able to guide people though options, advocate and liaise on their behalf with the relevant agencies.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP to assist with the cost of a replacement gas boiler. In view of the exceptional nature of the circumstances being encountered by the person concerned this claim has been awarded. I am pleased to advise that a payment of €2,100 has been processed for payment to their nominated bank account on 14/01/2026. A letter advising the person of this outcome issued to them on 12/01/2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
700. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families who have benefited from the new baby grant, broken down by county for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4002/26]
View answerChild Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth, subject to the qualifying conditions.
As part of Budget 2025, a new-born baby grant of €280 was introduced. This is paid to families of babies born, or children with a date of placement, on or after 1 December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140.
The county-by-county breakdown for 2025 is as follows.
|
County |
Customer |
Children |
|
Carlow |
635 |
646 |
|
Cavan |
813 |
826 |
|
Clare |
1041 |
1053 |
|
Cork |
5385 |
5480 |
|
Donegal |
1529 |
1551 |
|
Dublin |
13444 |
13646 |
|
Galway |
2646 |
2693 |
|
Kerry |
1289 |
1309 |
|
Kildare |
2806 |
2850 |
|
Kilkenny |
825 |
847 |
|
Laois |
937 |
952 |
|
Leitrim |
303 |
306 |
|
Limerick |
2069 |
2106 |
|
Longford |
451 |
460 |
|
Louth |
1560 |
1592 |
|
Mayo |
1237 |
1257 |
|
Meath |
2248 |
2286 |
|
Monaghan |
621 |
631 |
|
Offaly |
790 |
806 |
|
Roscommon |
577 |
591 |
|
Sligo |
553 |
563 |
|
Tipperary |
1574 |
1604 |
|
Waterford |
1204 |
1231 |
|
Westmeath |
1047 |
1071 |
|
Wexford |
1559 |
1582 |
|
Wicklow |
1613 |
1638 |
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
701. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Carlow that have applied for the school meals scheme for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/26]
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.
In total, 43 applications have been received for the School Meals Programme in Carlow for the 2025/26 academic year to date.
It is important to note that the 2025/2026 academic school year started a few months ago and applications continue to be received and processed.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
702. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Kilkenny that have applied for the school meals scheme for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4004/26]
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.
In total, 65 applications have been received for the School Meals Programme in Kilkenny for the 2025/26 academic year to date.
It is important to note that the 2025/2026 academic school year started a few months ago and applications continue to be received and processed.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
703. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if travel expenses such as an employee's mileage is taken into account when being assessed for carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4043/26]
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.
A travel expenses disregard is included in the CA means assessment on an administrative basis at a rate of €15.00. However, carers may submit evidence (e.g., mileage logs, fuel receipts) if their travel costs exceed €15.00 per week, and the Department may allow a higher deduction. No disregard applies if travel expenses are already reimbursed by an employer or claimed via a cycle-to-work scheme.
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.
704. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacancies at each grade of higher executive officer and above within his Department as of 12 January 2026, in tabular form. [4182/26]
View answerThe table below details the number of vacancies at each grade of Higher Executive Officer and above within my Department as of 12 January 2026.
|
|
Number of Vacancies at each Grade of Higher Executive Officer and above as of 12 January 2026 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
93 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
15 |
|
Medical Assessor |
4 |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Total |
115 |
705. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify whether personal data held by his Department and its customer facing sections is subject to processing by artificial intelligence tools (details supplied). [4302/26]
View answerMy Department is currently examining the potential future use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This has involved active participation in several stakeholder groups, such as, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's working group on the implementation of EU AI Act. My Department follows the "Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service", published in May 2025.
Personal data held by my Department and its customer facing sections is not currently subject to processing by any AI tools.
706. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he and or his officials have conducted a data protection impact assessment with regards to the use of artificial intelligence tools, and, if so, the dates on which this assessment was conducted. [4307/26]
View answerA Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a process designed to describe the processing of personal data, assess its necessity and proportionality and help manage the risks and freedoms of natural persons resulting from that processing. A DPIA assesses risks and determines the measures to address them. DPIAs are important tools for accountability, as they help controllers such as my Department not only to comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but also that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure compliance with the GDPR. DPIAs are conducted for defined projects rather than for an organisation's operations as a whole.
My Department is currently examining the potential future use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This has involved active participation in several stakeholder groups, such as, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's working group on the implementation of EU AI Act. My Department follows the "Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service", published in May 2025.
There are no AI systems in place at present which involve processing personal data. The Department has recently established an Innovation Hub, to allow the organisation to assess and evaluate the potential use of AI in a safe and secure manner. This will include conducting DPIAs for any defined projects which involve processing of personal data.
707. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether she will agree to grant a visa to a human rights defender from Saudi Arabia (details supplied) who is at risk of deportation from Bulgaria to Saudi Arabia. [3815/26]
View answerSaudi nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. I understand that this individual has not applied for a visa.
Should an application for an Irish visa be made, it will be assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:
www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.
708. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to respond to concerns (details supplied) that citizenship applications are being delayed. [4187/26]
View answerI understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has submitted an application for naturalisation that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note, however, that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some checks, such as international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside the control of the Immigration Service.
For that reason, while I expect that going forward, most applicants will receive a decision within one year, this cannot be guaranteed in the case of applications made in any specific year.
Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to improve the process for applicants. These include introducing an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing processing times.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
709. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on his Department’s drafting of the regulations for periodic payment orders indexation rates; if this work has been completed, given that it was due to be actioned by the end of 2025; the date at which these regulations will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4295/26]
View answerPeriodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche, a payment is made annually on an agreed date. The annual payment amount is calculated to meet the cost of permanent and long-term care and treatment. An indexation rate is applied to the annual payment amount to ensure that the amount keeps pace with inflation.
A Working Group on the Indexation rate for Periodic Payment Orders, to advise on an appropriate index, was established following a High Court determination that the index used in primary legislation was unworkable. As part of a two-stage process, the primary legislation governing PPOs has been amended to allow for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to set the rate by way of secondary legislation.
The recommendations of the Working Group that the Periodic Payment Index should comprise a combination of harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) and Annual Rate of Change (ARC) in nominal hourly health earnings for the health sector were subsequently approved. Drafting of the necessary regulations is at an advanced stage and I hope to be able to bring the regulations into operation shortly.
710. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an update on the establishment of the dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána, noting media reports (details supplied) that it was expected to be in place by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3319/26]
View answerThe Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles includes a commitment to establish a single point of contact in An Garda Síochána for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases. The unit is also to act as a central point of contact and co-ordination for victims and families in relation to Troubles-related investigations undertaken by An Garda Síochána.
The unit, known as the Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit, has been established within An Garda Síochána since the start of the year. An Garda Síochána will shortly launch a web page and press release with contact details for the unit.
Its full operation in line with what is envisaged in the Joint Framework will depend on the progress made by the UK Government in enacting the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the reformed Legacy Commission becoming fully operational.
This unit will operate alongside the commitment of An Garda Síochána to investigate all unresolved Troubles-related incidents within its jurisdiction and ensure that any potential investigative opportunities are proactively pursued. The investigation of such cases will continue to be undertaken by the relevant Garda Division in which the incident occurred with the support of national units as required.
In circumstances where historic offences have not been resolved, the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities follow up fully on any new evidence or information that becomes available to them, whether that comes from the public, from other police services or from their own investigations.
In time, once the Joint Framework has been implemented and embedded, further investigative leads may come to light through reciprocal cooperation with the UK authorities.
711. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if e-scooter and e-bike users are subject to breathalyser tests to detect alcohol and drug impairment in vehicle users at roadside checkpoints or after incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3358/26]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
712. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of illegal gambling operators and websites have been identified, investigated, subject to enforcement action, and shut down by the relevant authorities in each of the years 2021 to date, inclusive. [3404/26]
View answer713. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the resources - including staffing levels, technical capacity, and budgetary allocations currently dedicated to the investigation and enforcement of illegal gambling activity; and whether these resources are considered sufficient given the rapid growth of unlicensed online operators. [3405/26]
View answer714. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the powers the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has, or will have under the new gambling legislation, to block illegal gambling websites, disrupt payment processing and advertising, cooperate with international regulators, and pursue operators based outside the State but targeting Irish consumers. [3406/26]
View answer715. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if analysis has been undertaken of international experience, including recent developments in the Netherlands, where increased gambling-related taxation reportedly led to significant revenue shortfalls and market displacement to the black market; and the lessons being applied in an Irish context. [3408/26]
View answer716. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the engagement which has taken place with licensed gambling operators, financial institutions, and technology platforms to prevent illegal gambling operators from accessing Irish customers through crypto payments, offshore sportsbooks, and unlicenced online casinos. [3409/26]
View answer717. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific measures being taken to protect vulnerable individuals, including those self-excluded from licenced operators, from being targeted by illegal gambling sites that operate outside Irish regulatory and consumer protection frameworks. [3410/26]
View answer718. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he accepts that illegal gambling now poses a dual risk to public health and gambling harm reduction, and Exchequer revenue and consumer protection; and if so, the additional legislative or enforcement actions planned to address this growing threat. [3411/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717 and 718 together.
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was enacted on 23 October 2024 and established a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (the Authority / GRAI). I signed the orders to commence the first provisions of the Act and to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) on a statutory basis on 4 March 2025. The establishment day for the GRAI was 5 March.
The GRAI’s Strategy Statement 2025-2027, prepared under section 30 of the Act, launched on 15 October 2025, identifies clear goals and objectives for the Authority over the coming years. The Act provides for a new streamlined, simplified, and coherent licensing framework which reflects the nature of modern gambling in the State and for a robust regulatory regime to regulate gambling in-person and online that will replace the existing, fragmented systems which date back to 1929.
The GRAI is an independent regulator under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the GRAI’s powers will be rolled out on a phased basis. Consistent with the provisions in section 40 of the Act, it is expected that the GRAI will become self-financing within a three-year period following establishment and is at present being funded through the Vote of my Department. The GRAI has been allocated a budget of €13.32m for 2026 to enable it to carry out its functions, which represents an increase of 92% on its budget allocation in 2025.
The GRAI is responsible for establishing a comprehensive licensing regime encompassing all licence categories under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, including betting, gaming, lotteries, business to consumer, business to business operations, and charitable or philanthropic initiatives. The Authority will begin its licensing and enforcement functions on a phased basis and I expect to commence the necessary provisions of the Act to allow the Authority to do so early this year. Once the relevant provisions of the Act are commenced, the Act will provide the Authority with the necessary enforcement powers, to take appropriate and focused action, where licensees fail to comply with its provisions and with the Authority’s licensing terms, conditions, and regulations.
The Act provides the Authority with extensive powers to deal with unlicensed operators, those operating without the correct licence, or those in contravention of the terms of a licence issued by the Authority. In addition to offences concerning breaches of the new licensing regime, the Act also provides for the ability of the Authority, via court order, to block:
• internet service provision of a prohibited gambling activity or by unlicensed providers (both inside and outside the State);
• advertising of gambling activities by unlicensed providers;
• financial payments to unlicensed providers;
• the disposal of assets (by such an unlicensed provider) or reducing assets below a certain level; and
• to compel the surrender of any gambling products used in the provision of prohibited gambling services.
The Act provides the Authority with sufficient scope and flexibility to keep licensees’ compliance under review and, depending on the nature of any contravention of a licence or breach of the Act, the Authority may bring criminal prosecutions for a number of offences, with penalties ranging to up to eight years imprisonment and, or, a fine at the discretion of the Courts. Alternatively, the Authority may seek to impose administrative sanctions with penalties of up to 10% of a licensee’s turnover.
Section 45 of the Act specifies that the GRAI shall establish and maintain a National Gambling Exclusion Register, which shall contain information on persons who have excluded themselves from participating in relevant gambling activities by remote means with licensees of Business to Consumer gambling licences. The Register will enable an individual to request that they be excluded from participating in remote gambling indefinitely and is an important public health protection measure. The provisions of the Act underpinning the Register reflect how such exclusion schemes work in other jurisdictions and international best practice for how such systems operate. In that context, the Government has no plans to extend the scope of the Register to in-person operators.
Gambling in the State is currently licensed and regulated under the provisions of the Totalisator Act 1929, the Betting Act 1931, and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. The enforcement of both the 1929 and 1931 Acts is the responsibility of the Department of Finance and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, while the 1956 Act is enforced by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. In this context, my Department does not hold the specific information sought by the Deputy regarding enforcement actions.
If any person has knowledge of a crime being committed, including the operation of unlicenced gambling, I would urge them to report this to their local/nearest Garda station.
