Written Answers Nos. 78-89
78. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the new action his Department is taking to reduce high levels of youth unemployment in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/26]
View answerAccording to the quarter 4 Labour Force Survey, released by the CSO on 19th February, the rate of youth unemployment stood at 9.8% in the last quarter of 2025. This was lower than a year earlier when the rate stood at 9.9%.
My Department is monitoring these developments closely, as it drafts the successor strategy to Pathways to Work, the government’s national employment services strategy. This strategy will include priorities for various groups, including young people, and will be published this year.
The performance of the labour market overall is monitored through Labour Market Updates, quarterly publications which examine emerging labour market trends, and are used by the Labour Market Advisory Council and independent policy experts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
80. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide increased flexibility to local community employment, TÚS, and rural social schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15019/26]
View answerMy Department offers a range of employment schemes and other supports to encourage long-term unemployed people to return to work, while also assisting communities across the country in the provision of vital services. They are targeted at people who have been on an unemployment payment or certain other social welfare payments for a specific period of time.
Community Employment (CE) and Tús are employment activation measures designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
There are currently 19,665 participants on CE, 4,323 participants on Tús and 2,588 participants on the RSS. Government investment in these schemes will amount to over €565 million in 2026.
A number of changes have been introduced in recent times to these schemes to support both participants receive training and upskilling to assist them find a pathway to employment and the sponsoring/implementing bodies to recruit participants to provide vital local services.
Changes introduced in respect of CE include:
• CE participants who reach 60 years of age can remain on CE until they reach state pension age.
• Flexibility granted to CE sponsors to retain existing participants for extended periods in circumstances where a replacement can’t be recruited immediately.
• Changes to eligibility criteria extending CE eligibility to the adult dependents of those in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• A new pilot scheme to extend CE eligibility to those over 50 years of age in receipt of credits or a combination of credits and Jobseeker’s Benefit.
Changes introduced in respect of Tús include:
• Some flexibility granted to Implementing Bodies to retain existing participants, up to a maximum additional 6 months.
• Customers aged 18 or over, in receipt of Disability Allowance and fully unemployed may self-refer with immediate access to Tús.
• On a pilot basis, an 18-year-old with a low probability of work and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection payment can have immediate access to Tús.
• A Refugee who is aged 18 years or older, fully unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance payment may self-refer with immediate access to Tús.
• A Roma or Traveller who is fully unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance may self-refer with immediate access to Tús.
• A fully unemployed customer in receipt of Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BoTP) weekly payment for at least 12 months may self-refer to Tús.
Finally in respect of the Rural Social Scheme, the implementation of the recommendations in a review published in July 2024 is ongoing, including:
• RSS Participant means reviews are undertaken at 3 yearly intervals, instead of the current annual review on the basis that farm incomes do not change significantly year on year.
• RSS Participants, on reaching 60, are allowed remain on the scheme until they reach 66.
• RSS participants are given three-year contracts.
• The Rural Dweller Pilot to ringfence 250 places for Rural Dwellers 50 years of age or over who are on a qualifying social welfare payment is in place from 1 January 2026.
• RSS eligibility will be extended to people engaged in farming or fishing who are not the holder of the herd number or fishing licence but who have a defined connection to the farming/fishing enterprise is in place from 1 January 2026.
• RSS eligibility will be extended to members of a couple jointly engaged in farming /fishing utilising just one herd number/fishing licence is in place from 1 January 2026.
• Implementing Bodies have been requested to explore options with people who are exiting the RSS to encourage them to participate as a volunteer within the company, particularly those who have reached 66 years.
I recognise that employment, activation and income support programmes enable participants to make a significant contribution to their communities whilst enabling them to up-skill for prospective future employment, as appropriate. I wish to re-iterate that the eligibility criteria, the duration timelines for participation and the referral process for these schemes continues to be kept under active review by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
81. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements widows and bereaved partners have from his Department; if he has any plans to revisit their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15585/26]
View answerUnder the remit of my Department there are a suite of income supports available to Bereaved Partners, which include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.
The Bereaved Partners (Contributory) Pension (BCP) is a weekly payment to the widow, widower, surviving civil partner or surviving qualified cohabitant of a deceased person (Bereaved Partner). The pension remains payable unless the person cohabits with another person or marries, and the payment is not means tested. As a result, a person can be in receipt of BCP and earn income from employment or self-employment.
Where the Bereaved Partner has a dependant child, they can claim the weekly Child Support Payment (CSP) of €58 for a child under the age of 12 or a CSP of €78 for a child over the age of 12. If the child is 18 or over, a person can continue getting a CSP for 3 months after the child leaves second level education or finishes the Leaving Certificate. If a child remains in full-time education, a person on BCP can continue to receive a child support payment for them until the dependent child turns 22, or until the end of the academic year in which the dependent child turns 22.
The Bereaved Parent Grant (BPG) is a once-off payment of €8,000 to Bereaved Partners with dependent children. This grant is available to widows, widowers or surviving civil partners who have one or more dependent children living with them at the date of death. Since 21st July 2025, the BPG is available o surviving qualified cohabitants who have one or more dependent children living with them and where the death occurred after that date.
Other payments made by my Department include the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, Child Benefit, Carer's Benefit and Allowance. Each of these payments have their own qualifying criteria, however the civil status of each applicant is not a factor.
Furthermore, 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. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
The rates of payment are set as part of the Budgetary process and are informed by various data including the CSO SILC. In recent successive Budgets, the social welfare packages were the largest in the history of the State, and the last three Budgets contained significant cost of living packages. The Government is focused on continuing to deliver on measures to address poverty and social exclusion.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
82. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to a tailored accessible weekly welfare payment for victims and survivors of rape, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; if he is aware of the barriers and limitations of the disability allowance, jobseekers and illness benefit as alternatives, placing undue burdens, means-tests, contribution requirements and time constraints on victims/survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15410/26]
View answerTackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for the Government. The Programme for Government includes a number of commitments in this regard. Establishing a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence is essential for safeguarding individuals and promoting a safer society.
My Department already has provisions in place in the Rent Supplement Scheme to assist those fleeing domestic violence. In such circumstances the standard Rent Supplement means test does not apply for an initial three-month period. Access to this support is instead via a fast-track approval process to assist with immediate accommodation needs.
While many of the Programme for Government commitments fall within the remit the Minister for Justice and other Ministers, this is an issue that requires a whole of Government approach. For that reason, the Programme for Government included a commitment to “examine how the social protection system can better support people fleeing domestic violence.”
My Department will progress this work and officials will engage with stakeholders and will take on board lessons from other jurisdictions to deliver on this commitment.
In respect of travel supports, my Department has met with Cuan on a number of occasions as well a meeting with SafeIreland, Women’s Aid and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to understand the issues on the ground for domestic violence victims in relation to travel. There are currently schemes available and being used to support victims of Domestic Violence in relation to travel, through Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Additional Needs Payments and weekly Travel Supplements. My department is currently examining these schemes with the organisations referenced to ensure that they offer the supports required in a speedy and meaningful way and that there is good awareness and signposting of supports. There will be further engagement in the coming weeks to address this issue based on feedback from the organisations. Any new proposals emerging will be considered as part of that engagement.
83. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding the fiscal implications of introducing a cost of disability payment; and if provision is being considered within future Estimates. [1616/26]
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. That is why the Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to improve the position of disabled people including a commitment 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 from Disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish 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. I will be hosting this Summit on 13 May.
As this is a whole of Government issue, officials have engaged with colleagues in other Departments, including the Department of Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This engagement will continue and deepen as we get stakeholder feedback on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered.
Last Friday, 20 February, I launched a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment and the Strategic Focus Network Summit can best be delivered. It will run for just over 6 weeks closing on the 7th April. I want to all voices to be included in this consultation. I encourage any interested parties to visit gov.ie/COD, where they will find guidance on how to engage with the consultation in whatever format best suits them.
After the Summit we will produce a briefing paper outlining the key lessons and any tangible outcomes which will support how the whole of government delivers in this area. This will inform the next Programme Plan of Actions under the strategy.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
85. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which his Department will engage with stakeholders in the formation of a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15603/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the additional costs associated with having a disability and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. The Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people including a commitment 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 from Disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish 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. I will be hosting this Summit on 13 May.
Since October last my officials have met with several groups, including Disabled Persons Organisations, to discuss the cost of disability. In December, the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network was the main agenda item of my Department's Disability Consultative Forum. Officials from across government were also in attendance given that this is a whole of Government issue.
Last Friday, 20 February, I launched a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment and the Strategic Focus Network Summit can best be delivered. It will run for just over 6 weeks closing on the 7th April. Members of the public can participate in the consultation by submitting written, video or phone contributions. The consultation is open to everyone, with particular engagement encouraged from disabled people, their families and carers, Disabled Persons Organisations and representative groups.
I want to all voices to be included in this consultation. I encourage any interested parties to visit gov.ie/COD, where they will find guidance on how to engage with the consultation in whatever format best suits them. To support participation a range of accessible format are available. These include ISL videos, Easy to Read documents, screen-reader friendly Word documents, and Braille.
I am very pleased that we are already receiving submissions.
After the Summit we will produce a briefing paper outlining the key lessons and any tangible outcomes which will support how the whole of government delivers in this area. This will inform the next Programme Plan of Actions under the strategy.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
87. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will urgently introduce an emergency €400 disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15629/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
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. Both the increases to personal rates of payment and the Fuel Allowance were ahead of the general inflation rate reported by the Central Statistics Office of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025, and an energy cost increase of approximately 3.5% for the same period.
In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from Disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish 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. I will be hosting this Summit on 13 May.
On 20 February, I launched a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment and the Strategic Focus Network Summit can best be delivered. It will run for just over 6 weeks closing on the 7th April. I want to all voices to be included in this consultation. I encourage any interested parties to visit gov.ie/COD, where they will find guidance on how to engage with the consultation in whatever format best suits them.
After the Summit we will produce a briefing paper outlining the key lessons and any tangible outcomes which will support how the whole of government delivers in this area. This will inform the next Programme Plan of Actions under the strategy.
For anyone who needs immediate assistance, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is available to them now. Under the 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. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
Furthermore, under the scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the full year.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment or a Heating Supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
89. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to introducing a pay-related maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to introducing Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. In reality, Parent’s Benefit is part of a suite of family leave which includes Maternity, Paternity, and Adoptive leaves, forming the core caregiving period for parents of new children.
Parent’s Benefit provides nine weeks paid leave to each parent during the first two year of a child’s life or following adoption.
A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for Jobseeker’s Benefit. My Department will draw on the learnings and operational experience from it to inform options for Parent's Benefit and other family leave schemes.
I intend to issue a public consultation document on a pay-related approach to Parents' Benefit in the autumn, which will also help to inform decisions about other family and related benefits. I want to invite the views of the public, employers and stakeholders to support the process and to assist in the development of any future proposals in this area.
I trust this clarifies my position.
