Written Answers Nos. 747-767
747. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the assessment form for disability allowance is being found by some families to discriminate against individuals with certain conditions (details supplied); if his Department has plans to address these apparent anomalies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9587/26]
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 a medical assessment, a means test, and the habitual residency condition. The medical assessment process for DA is not based solely on the type of disability that the person has but rather it depends on the degree to which their disability restricts them from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualification. Each applicant is assessed on their own medical evidence and in their own circumstances. Under Social Welfare legislation, it is a Deciding Officer (DO) who decides on a person’s eligibility for social welfare schemes, including DA. In arriving at their decision, a DO will review all evidence available to them. In relation to medical eligibility, the assessment is based on medical reports and other evidence provided by the applicant and the applicant’s own doctor. The DO will also have regard to the opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA).
My Department’s MAs are fully qualified medical practitioners who have experience and specialist training and qualifications in occupational medicine as well as in human disability evaluation. They provide a second opinion to that of the applicant’s own doctor for the guidance of the DO.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 18 November 2025. Based on all the information available, their claim was refused as they were deemed not to satisfy the qualifying medical criteria for the scheme. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision in a letter dated 30 December 2025. They were also notified of their entitlement to request a review and / or to appeal the decision.
The person has lodged an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). At present no decision has been made by the SWAO and they will contact the person concerned directly in writing with the outcome of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
748. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of the percentage of women that have their salary topped up by their employer on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9598/26]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) publication “Employment Analysis of Maternity and Paternity Benefits” was first published in June 2020 with a follow up release in May 2023 as part of the CSO’s Frontier Series Outputs. CSO Frontier Series may use new methods which are under development and / or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources. Details on this release can be found on the CSO website and are the responsibility of the CSO.
The most recent publication covers the period 2019 to 2022 and relates to those who received a benefit payment from the Department of Social Protection in the reference year.
The table below reference the relevant and available data from the release.
Table 1: Statutory Maternity Pay and Employer top ups
|
Payment Type (percentage) |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Statutory Payment Only |
35.7% |
37.9% |
32.9% |
|
Received Employer Top Up |
64.3% |
62.1% |
67.1% |
749. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) in relation to their carer’s allowance refusal will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9655/26]
View answerThe person concerned applied for Carer's Allowance on 25th February 2025. Their application was refused on 2nd April 2025, on the grounds that at the time of application they were not providing full time care and attention, as although they are providing a certain level of care, the time involved is not considered to be full time.
The person concerned submitted an appeal on 7th August 2025. Having considered all of the available evidence the Appeals Officer found that the care being provided cannot be regarded as full-time care and attention within the meaning of the social welfare legislation. The appeal was subsequently disallowed on 23rd January 2026.
If the person concerned has additional information not previously submitted for consideration which was relevant at the date the claim was made that they now wish to bring to the attention of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, they may do so by completing an SWAO2 form to request a review under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
If the person concerned thinks the decision was erroneous by reason of a mistake as to the facts or the law it is open to them to request a review under Section 318 by submitting a written statement of the grounds on which a review of the decision is sought and include any new evidence that was not previously considered.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
750. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who is undergoing chemotherapy had their social welfare payment terminated in November 2025; if the payment will be resumed in view of their illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9656/26]
View answerMy Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the customer on the 25/04/2024. His claim was awarded from the 22/04/2024. This was his most recent claim for Illness Benefit. His payments of Illness Benefit at the time were €232 per week, which was the full personal rate.
Mr. Nugent was paid from the 22/04/2024 to the 06/06/2024. On this claim, he was paid a total of €1353.34. This claim was closed on the 07/06/2024. We are not aware of any scheme payment that terminated in November 2025.
He has been awarded State Pension Contributory, which will start on the 13/02/2026, as he is about to turn 66.
We sought clarification from the Deputy as to the specific payment in question and when we get this information we can look into the matter further.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
751. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will take to address the exclusion of coeliac children from hot school meals; the measures he will take to address concerns regarding cross contamination making school meals unsuitable for coeliac children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9675/26]
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.
Clear nutritional standards have been in place for the School Meals Programme since its inception. A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. A technical Nutrition Subgroup comprised of Dietitians from the following organisations participated in developing these standards:
• The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE
• Safefood
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
My department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. It is the responsibility of each school board to select a supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenderer’s responsibilities and obligations, including in relation to compliance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals.
Under the Hot School Meals Scheme, parents can choose food for their child every week from an approved menu which contains a range of options that are offered by the school’s supplier in accordance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. Under tender documentation, as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the menu is to accommodate those with food intolerances and allergies, including those with Coeliac disease. In addition, the supplier is required to check these details with the school upon award of the contract, in order to accommodate those children. The supplier must also provide clearly visible menu boards with an allergens list.
Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the Government. I requested a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards be undertaken. The review is being finalised by a Department of Health dietitian funded by the Department of Social Protection. The dietitian is being supported by both expert technical and advisory groups.
In the meantime food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, was removed from the school menu from September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted, as an option, once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
752. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the refusal of an invalidity pension application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9780/26]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 1 February 2024. The claim was refused on the grounds that the conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.
To satisfy the contribution conditions for IP, 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 IP 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.
According to my Department’s records, the person concerned has no paid or credited PRSI contributions after the 2006 tax year. On 20 November 2024, a Deciding Officer (DO) decided that the relevant date for the IP claim is 2013. As the person concerned does not have the required 48 qualifying contributions paid or credited in the 2 contribution years immediately prior to 2013, the IP claim was refused on the grounds that the qualifying contribution conditions are not met. Notification issued to the person referred to on 20 November 2024 informing them of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
Following reviews on 13 October 2025, 4 November 2025 and 8 January 2026 to take account of further information submitted by the person concerned, the DO decided that the original decision on 20 November 2024 should stand following each review.
The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JA) from the Department in the period 22 April 2010 to 19 September 2014. To qualify for credited PRSI contributions for this payment, they must have been paying PRSI contributions at class A, E, H or P immediately prior to their JA claim or they must have been coming directly from another reckonable Social Welfare payment with credited PRSI contributions. The person concerned has paid PRSI contributions at Class S in the 2006 tax year and has no paid or credited PRSI contributions thereafter. Therefore, they do not qualify for credited contributions for their JA claim.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
753. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons care-related credited contributions are not deemed as qualifying contributions for the State Pension (Contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9873/26]
View answerThe State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) 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. Eligibility for the SPC is based on a number of criteria:
• Being aged 66 or over.
• Having entered the Social Insurance system 10 years before you intend to drawdown your SPC.
• Having a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions (i.e., 10 years reckonable PRSI contributions).
This Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, carers are not excluded from access to the SPC. Once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the State Pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role including:
• PRSI credits (which include Credits for Carers Benefit and Carers Allowance), and
• Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants faced barriers in accessing the SPC.
The previous Government established the Pensions Commission in November 2020 to review the State Pension system, examine the sustainability of the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund and make recommendations for its future. The Pensions Commission was also asked to consider how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependents can be accommodated within the State Pension system. The Commission engaged in a public consultation process and had the benefit of presentations from Family Carer’s Ireland and the National Women’s Council in forming its recommendations on the proposals and the period of care.
The Commission recommended that long-term carers should be given access to the SPC and defined long-term caring as caring for more than 20 years. Setting the criteria of more than 20 years is in recognition of the existing access to SPC for carers who may have up to 20 years of caring periods.
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 will be treated the same as paid contributions for SPC 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.
Where a person has less than 20 years caring, they may be entitled to avail of up to 20 years HomeCaring periods or the Homemakers scheme or rely on PRSI credits subject to existing qualification conditions of having 520 paid contributions. All caring periods that are registered with my Department will be recorded on a person's contribution record.
As the actuarial value of the SPC is currently estimated at approximately just under €400,000, it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 520 paid contributions over the term of their working life to qualify for a payment. The Pensions Commission strongly supported the retention of the qualifying criterion of 520 paid contributions.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for the SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of just over 96% of the SPC; or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate SPC where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner or qualified cohabitant is deceased, a Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension, which they may claim either based on their deceased partner’s or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €299.30, i.e., the same as the maximum rate of the SPC, with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
754. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will confirm the date of signing of contracts with the investment managers contracted to invest funds on behalf of the My Future Fund; the names of the persons who signed those contracts on behalf of the State or the My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9874/26]
View answer755. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the exact division of roles and responsibilities or management of investment funds between the three contracted investment management companies for the My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9875/26]
View answer756. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the most recent projected number of account holders, assets under management, and forecast fees to be paid to investment managers under the auto enrolment scheme for each year from 2026 to 2050, in tabular form. [9876/26]
View answer757. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the treatment of accounts in the My Future Fund in respect of typical PRSA fees due to the Pensions Authority; the rate at which they will be charged; and if those charges will be levied in the case of suspended, paused or otherwise dormant accounts. [9879/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 754, 755, 756 and 757 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 MyFutureFund - 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 MyFutureFund.
The investment management services were selected through a competitive procurement process with each bidder being asked to provide a low, medium and higher risk UCITS fund. At the conclusion of this process, three investment management companies were selected - Amundi, Blackrock and Irish Life Investment Managers (ILIM). Amundi and ILIM signed the contract on the 23rd of December 2025 while Blackrock signed the contract on the 30th of December 2025. In all cases, the Secretary General of my department signed the contracts for the State on my behalf.
Each investment manager is responsible for investing one-third of the contributions collected from the participants in the scheme, their employers and the State in accordance with the investment choices of those participants. Each is also responsible for all governance, regulatory and operational matters related to the three funds that they provide in line with the investment management contract.
With regards to the charges that are applied to participants in MyFutureFund, they consist of an administration fee charged on contributions and an investment management fee based on a percentage charge on assets under management. The administration fee will meet all regulatory costs associated with MyFutureFund including the fee charged to the National Automatic Enrolment Savings Authority by the Pensions Authority.
The administration fee will take the form of a flat weekly fee of 55 cents on contributions 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. The administration fee will not be levied in the case of suspended, paused or otherwise dormant accounts.
With regard to the fee for the investment management services, it will average at just under 0.04% of assets under management (AUM). As actual calculations are dependent on the flow of monies to the system and the level of returns received over time, it isn't possible to project them with any accuracy over many years. However, it is clear that an AUM charge of less than 0.04% is considerably lower than charges typically available in the market and consequently provides excellent value to the participants of MyFutureFund.
The precise projections over the time horizon requested by the Deputy are not available. The table below provides high-level projections for the value of contribution collections over the first ten years of operation based on 730,000 participants.
|
Year |
Contributions Collected |
Total Contributions |
|
2026 |
€0.95 billion |
€0.95 billion |
|
2027 |
€0.95 billion |
€1.9 billion |
|
2028 |
€0.95 billion |
€2.85 billion |
|
2029 |
€1.9 billion |
€4.75 billion |
|
2030 |
€1.9 billion |
€6.65 billion |
|
2031 |
€1.9 billion |
€8.55 billion |
|
2032 |
€2.85 billion |
€11.4 billion |
|
2033 |
€2.85 billion |
€14.25 billion |
|
2034 |
€2.85 billion |
€17.1 billion |
|
2035 |
€3.8 billion |
€20.9 billion |
758. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for maternity benefit that were successful in each year from 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9898/26]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a payment for employed women who are on Maternity Leave, and self-employed women, who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The number of claims awarded in the years requested is set out in the table below.
Table 1 - Awarded Maternity Benefit claims, 2020-2025
|
Year |
Awarded claims |
|
2020 |
40,507 |
|
2021 |
43,544 |
|
2022 |
40,897 |
|
2023 |
40,657 |
|
2024 |
40,121 |
|
2025 |
42,768 |
759. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is considering a policy change to bring Ireland in line with the rest of Europe in terms of granting maternity and paternity benefit at 100% or a high percentage of salary for all or a portion of a person's entitlement to the corresponding leave; if there are policy learnings from the recent implementation of Jobseekers pay-related benefit scheme which could support a similar change in terms of maternity and paternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied.’ While the initial focus is on Parent’s Benefit, the development of this scheme will help to inform the considerations around extension of a pay-related approach for other family leave benefits.
Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit will have been in place for a full year by the end of March 2026. My Department will draw on the operational experience and learnings from its first year of implementation to inform the examination of pay-related approaches for other schemes.
I intend to seek the views of the public later in the year to support this process and to assist in the development of any future proposals.
760. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to FOI decision FOI-2026-28668 stating that no documents exist regarding enforcement of PRSI liabilities arising from scope section employment-status decisions, to reconcile this with replies from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Finance which confirm that PRSI liabilities from misclassification are enforceable and material; the Department of Social Protection has been consulted by Revenue on the Karshan Disclosure Opportunity and related PRSI matters; and manual PRSI records for 2024–2025 are now being created under the Karshan scheme to protect workers’ entitlements; in view of this, to clarify whether any internal briefings, guidance documents, emails, or policy notes were prepared in relation to the enforcement or tracking of PRSI liabilities arising from Scope decisions; if such records now exist or previously existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10144/26]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection’s Scope section makes decisions and provides information and advice regarding the PRSI insurability of an individual. Employment status decisions are made in accordance with the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Decisions are based on the criteria set out in the Code of Practice on Determining Employment Status and by reference to decided case law. Each case must be considered on its own facts.
If it is established that a worker has been misclassified for PRSI purposes employers are required to remit the correct value of contributions, back-dated for the full period of misclassification, and the worker's PRSI record is corrected.
The Department is aware of the recent Karshan disclosure opportunity guidance issued by the Revenue Commissioners and has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on this matter. The Department understands that Revenue is providing employers with an opportunity to correct, without interest or penalties, any payroll tax, USC and PRSI issues in respect of 2024 and where relevant, 2025, arising from bona-fide classification errors following the Supreme Court judgement of 2023.
It is open to any worker who has concerns in relation to their PRSI classification to contact the Department’s Scope section.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
761. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of all active interdepartmental, interagency, and department-agency working groups organised under his remit. [10162/26]
View answerThe table below provides a list of the relevant interdepartmental and department-agency working groups that are organised by my Department, along with the purpose of the group, and the names of the departments and agencies involved. Some of these groups are organised on a bilateral basis with other Departments and accordingly, may be mentioned by other departments responding to this question.
|
Name of active interdepartmental, interagency or department-agency working group |
Description of the purpose of the working group |
Details of other Departments/Agencies/Bodies involve |
|
Interdepartmental Working Group - School Meals Programme |
Interdepartmental Working Group to examine ways to build a stronger interdepartmental perspective and approaches across departments in matters relating to the School Meals Programme |
Department of Education and Youth Department of Health Department of Children, Equality and Disability Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection/Department of Health/Health Service Executive (HSE) |
HLG To discuss and progress issues of mutual interest |
Department of Health, Health Service Executive |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection / Department of Education and Youth |
HLG deals with strategic issues and interactions between the two organisations |
Department of Education and Youth |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection / Revenue Commissioners |
HLG deals with strategic issues and interactions between the two organisations |
Revenue Commissioners |
|
High Level Group (HLG) -Department of Social Protection / Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
HLG deals with strategic oversight and alignment between the two Departments on areas where employment services, skills policy, and further/higher education intersect |
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Working Group to renew the Protocol for the provision of Employment Services to ex – offenders. |
To develop a DSP/TOSÚ protocol for the provision of Employment Services to Ex-Offenders |
TOSÚ, Irish Prison Service |
|
Abhaile Joint Working Group |
The Departments of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Social Protection co-chair a joint working group. The Joint Working Group focuses on Abhaile’s operation and the efficient and effective delivery of its services, resources, and other strategic matters. |
The Abhaile Working Group’s membership includes representatives of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI), the Legal Aid Board (LAB), and the Courts Service. |
|
Interdepartmental EPSCO coordination working group |
To discuss and coordinate briefing for EPSCO Council of Ministers |
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Department of Children, Equality and Disability Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
762. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for disability allowance remaining a means-tested payment in Ireland, notwithstanding existing income disregards, particularly in light of the system in the United Kingdom where certain disability income supports are not subject to means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10175/26]
View answer763. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has considered the experience of Irish citizens returning from the United Kingdom who encounter differences in disability income supports and eligibility criteria, including the use of means testing; whether guidance is provided to assist such individuals in understanding the Irish system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 762 and 763 together.
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance and contributory payments, based on PRSI contributions, such as Invalidity Pension. The purpose of these payments is to provide income support for people experiencing specific contingencies that limit their ability to earn an income.
There are currently approximately 231,000 recipients of disability income support payments, with estimated expenditure of €3.24 billion in 2025.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people aged under 66 who cannot work due a long-term illness or disability. It is payable for people who have the required social insurance contributions, and it is not means tested. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or must be permanently incapable of work. A person must satisfy both medical and social insurance conditions.
Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement. The means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property – other than the family home – and capital.
Applying a means-test ensures that the recipient has an income need and that scarce resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. This approach supports an economically sustainable and socially equitable allocation of scarce resources.
Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This compares with €20,000 for most social welfare payments.
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. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their means tested payment. This means that people can earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €527.60 per week and keep a portion of their payment.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to remove anomalies in the Disability Allowance Means test. In addition, my Department is also conducting a review of means testing generally. Any changes to means tests will be informed by that review.
Information on the disability and other supports provided by my Department is available on gov.ie with contact details also available if additional support is needed. This published information includes details in relation to means testing as well as the habitual residence requirement.
In addition, the Citizens Information website includes the "Returning to Ireland portal" which has information on housing, social welfare, pensions, work and tax, and much more for returning Irish emigrants. It has a page that covers the topic of benefits for people who are sick or have a disability.
Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Government funds Safe Home Ireland, the Disapora Support Service which provides information and supports to Irish emigrants who are intending to or who have recently returned to Ireland. This includes information in relation to the social welfare system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
764. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a cost of disability payment over the lifetime of the Government; and the way it will be calculated. [10362/26]
View answerThe 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.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment. In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input form Disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability. While it is led by my Department, it includes other Government departments in this cross-government endeavour, as well as disabled people and their advocates.
Officials have held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network Summit as well as the possible form of a cost of disability payment. A public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered will be launched in the coming weeks.
This work will inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment. I have asked my officials to prioritise this work with a view to hosting the Strategic Focus Network Summit and bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of this year.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
765. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each county or Dáil constituency in receipt of the old age pension. [10363/26]
View answerThe number of persons in receipt of the State Pension Contributory as of 31st January 2026 is shown in the below table.
|
County |
People |
|
Carlow |
6,222 |
|
Cavan |
7,894 |
|
Clare |
13,954 |
|
Cork |
60,228 |
|
Donegal |
15,665 |
|
Dublin |
134,056 |
|
Galway |
26,357 |
|
Kerry |
17,767 |
|
Kildare |
21,733 |
|
Kilkenny |
11,140 |
|
Laois |
7,750 |
|
Leitrim |
4,044 |
|
Limerick |
22,354 |
|
Longford |
4,451 |
|
Louth |
13,596 |
|
Mayo |
15,890 |
|
Meath |
18,911 |
|
Monaghan |
6,732 |
|
Offaly |
8,103 |
|
Roscommon |
7,746 |
|
Sligo |
8,267 |
|
Tipperary |
19,151 |
|
Waterford |
13,557 |
|
Westmeath |
9,807 |
|
Wexford |
17,738 |
|
Wicklow |
16,834 |
|
Other, including those abroad or county unknown |
50,624 |
|
Total |
560,571 |
766. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each county or Dáil constituency in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. [10364/26]
View answerThe number of persons in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance as at 31 January 2026 is shown in the below table.
|
Carlow |
1,680 |
|
Cavan |
1,745 |
|
Clare |
2,719 |
|
Cork |
8,050 |
|
Donegal |
5,769 |
|
Dublin |
27,974 |
|
Galway |
4,880 |
|
Kerry |
4,008 |
|
Kildare |
3,771 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,973 |
|
Laois |
1,886 |
|
Leitrim |
1,098 |
|
Limerick |
4,211 |
|
Longford |
1,488 |
|
Louth |
4,041 |
|
Mayo |
3,574 |
|
Meath |
3,373 |
|
Monaghan |
1,248 |
|
Offaly |
1,909 |
|
Roscommon |
1,565 |
|
Sligo |
1,886 |
|
Tipperary |
3,620 |
|
Waterford |
3,575 |
|
Westmeath |
2,197 |
|
Wexford |
4,645 |
|
Wicklow |
3,059 |
|
Unknown |
76 |
|
Total |
106,020 |
767. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each county or Dáil constituency in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit. [10365/26]
View answerJobseeker's Benefit is a payment for people between 18 and 66 years of age who are part-time, casual, short-time and seasonal workers, those whose employment is based around the school or academic year and retained fire-fighters.
Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit payment replaces Jobseeker’s Benefit for those who are fully unemployed and whose last day of employment was on or after Friday 28 March 2025.
Data on recipients by county is set out in the table below, showing the number of people in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit as of the end of January 2026.
Table 1. Recipients of Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, by County.
|
County |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit |
|
Carlow |
202 |
368 |
|
Cavan |
199 |
379 |
|
Clare |
571 |
688 |
|
Cork |
1661 |
2897 |
|
Donegal |
616 |
524 |
|
Dublin |
3100 |
10520 |
|
Galway |
845 |
1521 |
|
Kerry |
1230 |
726 |
|
Kildare |
608 |
1757 |
|
Kilkenny |
292 |
522 |
|
Laois |
293 |
517 |
|
Leitrim |
100 |
138 |
|
Limerick |
468 |
1084 |
|
Longford |
117 |
240 |
|
Louth |
399 |
978 |
|
Mayo |
496 |
606 |
|
Meath |
618 |
1462 |
|
Monaghan |
151 |
286 |
|
Offaly |
250 |
451 |
|
Roscommon |
181 |
327 |
|
Sligo |
224 |
359 |
|
Tipperary |
501 |
798 |
|
Waterford |
500 |
716 |
|
Westmeath |
247 |
562 |
|
Wexford |
766 |
973 |
|
Wicklow |
510 |
1125 |
|
Unknown |
51 |
158 |
|
Total |
15196 |
30682 |
