Written Answers Nos. 1-35
4. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the commitment to "Introduce Pay Related Parents Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied"; if maternity benefit is also being considered for pay related benefit status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/26]
View answerParent’s Benefit provides nine weeks paid leave to parents during the first two years of a child’s life or following adoption. 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. In total, parents are provided with up to 46 weeks of paid leave in the first two years of their child’s life or placement, in the case of adoption.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. These commitments are linked to an increase in social insurance contribution rates to fund any increased costs.
A pay-related model, which moves away from flat rates of payment, would provide a stronger financial cushion to new parents while reflecting the contributory and solidarity principles of the social insurance system. This approach may also encourage more fathers to take up these schemes to care for their children.
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.
To progress this commitment, 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. This consultation will invite views from 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.
10. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to combat poverty among disabled individuals and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15363/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government. We are currently at the start of that five-year programme but, our actions in Budget 2026 indicate our commitment to delivering what we promised.
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, or 4.1%, increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week.
• A €5 increase or 15% increase in the Fuel Allowance, bringing it to €38 per week or €1,064 per annum.
Both of these increases were ahead of cost increases. They compare to a general inflation rate reported by the CSO of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025 and an energy cost increase of about 3.5% for the same period.
In addition, Budget 2026 provided for:
• 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.
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.
One of our commitments is to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment. Last Friday, I launched a consultation process on this payment and the Strategic Focus Network Summit which I will host on 13 May. The consultation process will be open until Tuesday 7 April. I encourage anyone who is interested to visit gov.ie/COD to get full details about the process.
The Summit will provide a space for key stakeholders to identify ways that not only my Department, but all Government Departments and Agencies can make changes to address the cost of disability. This whole of government approach is important as we know that addressing these costs in a meaningful and sustainable way is not simply a matter of a income supports, the delivery of and access to key services is also needed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
15. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time in the last five years to award maternity benefit; paternity benefit; parents benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15027/26]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women, who are eligible for Maternity Leave. Paternity Benefit is a payment made for 2 weeks to employed and self-employed relevant parents who are eligible for Paternity Leave. Parent’s Benefit was introduced in November 2019. It provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth or adoption of a child and is available to employed and self-employed persons who are eligible for Parent’s Leave.
The current rate of payment for each of these schemes is €299 per week, as announced in Budget 2026.
The average number of weeks to award for each of these schemes has remained steady over the last five years. The average weeks to award for Maternity Benefit in each of the years 2021 to 2025 was 6 weeks. For Paternity Benefit, the average weeks to award was also six weeks in each of these years. For Parent’s Benefit, the average weeks to award was 1 week in each of these years.
In 2025, my Department received almost 43,000 applications for Maternity Benefit, over 30,000 applications for Paternity Benefit and almost 94,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit.
In 2021, my Department received over 46,000 Maternity Benefit applications, almost 29,000 Paternity Benefit applications and almost 52,000 Parent’s Benefit applications. This represents an increase of 80% on the number of applications received for Parent’s Benefit between 2021 and 2025, while the number of applications for Maternity Benefit has fallen by 8%, and the number of applications for Parent’s Benefit has risen by 5%.
16. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently address the anomaly that exists for senior citizens being disqualified from entitlement to the State pension (non-contributory) due to holding shares (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/26]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from sources such as employment, self-employment, and occupational pensions. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.
In the case of any shares, including in this case Kerry Group shares, it is the market value of the shares that is taken into account, and a formula that is set out in legislation is applied to determine how the value of the shares is incorporated into the means test.
In respect of senior citizens, taking the case of the means assessment for a personal rate of the State Pension (Non-contributory), the first €20,000 (or €40,000 for a couple) of capital an applicant holds is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand. Under this system people with capital assets of up to €111,000 - excluding the value of their family home - can still receive a partial pension payment.
The assessment of capital reflects an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of capital and property are in a position to use that capital, to support themselves without having to rely solely on a means-tested welfare payment. In this respect holdings of shares are treated the same as cash savings, Government bonds or other capital assets, with an exception as set out above for the value of the family home.
The use of means tests, including the assessment of capital assets, is important in targeting state funded supports to people who have greatest need and avoiding the provision of such supports to people who with significant assets or income.
While the case can always be made that the assessment of capital should be more generous, any such change comes with a cost - a cost that is either borne by taxpayers, including by taxpayers who may have less resources than the people seeking the increase in capital allowances, or a cost that is reflected in the reduction in funds available for essential state supports, including potential future increases in social welfare payments.
My Department is conducting a review of means testing within the social protection system. It is my intention that the review's findings will inform decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future Budgets, but these must be taken in the context of the overall budgetary position.
17. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made on the introduction of pay-related carers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15519/26]
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 spending on these payments in 2026 is estimated at over €2.2 billion.
Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who meet a number of qualifying conditions and are required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of up to two years for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods or all at once. There are currently over 4,600 people in receipt of Carer's Benefit and expenditure in 2026 is estimated to exceed €76 million.
All recipients of Carer’s Benefit automatically qualify for the annual Carer’s Support Grant, which is paid at €2,000 per year, the highest level at which it has ever been set. The grant is paid in respect of each care recipient.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the introduction of a Pay Related Carer’s Benefit for individuals who have to give up work suddenly in order to provide full-time care to a loved one.
Our new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme began in March 2025. The scheme ensures that workers who are made unemployed receive benefits linked to their previous earnings. It is a relatively new payment but the experience of operating it over the past year will help to inform future decisions regarding pay-related schemes.
However, I should be clear that in terms of carers, my current priority is the removal of the means/income test.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
18. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims, by county, in 2025 for maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parents benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15029/26]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women, who are eligible for Maternity Leave. Paternity Benefit is a payment made for 2 weeks to employed and self-employed parents who are eligible for Paternity Leave.
Parent’s Benefit was introduced in November 2019. It provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth or adoption of a child and is available to employed and self-employed persons who are eligible for Parent’s Leave.
In 2025, my Department received almost 43,000 applications for Maternity Benefit, over 30,000 applications for Paternity Benefit and almost 94,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit. My Department awarded over 41,000 Maternity Benefit claims, almost 30,000 Paternity Benefit claims and almost 96,000 Parent’s Benefit claims.
My Department does not collate statistics on applications by characteristics, such as the county of the applicant, but does produce these statistics for recipients. According to the data published by my Department, 29,460 people received a Maternity Benefit payment in Q4 2025. On an individual county basis, Dublin had the most recipients at 8,300, while Leitrim had the fewest at under 200, representing 28% and 1% of total recipients respectively. The Deputy's own county, Kildare, had 1,800 recipients, or 6% of the total.
8,000 people received a Paternity Benefit payment in Q4 2025. Again, Dublin had the highest number of recipients at 2,100, and Leitrim had the fewest under 50, representing 27% and 1% of total recipients respectively; 500 people from Kildare received a payment.
25,700 received at least one Parent’s Benefit payment, with Dublin accounting for 6,200 of these recipients.
I will arrange for a table of detailed statistics to be sent on to the Deputy.
20. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings and correspondence that he and his Department have had with the Department of Finance following the announcement in January of this year that information of those in receipt of carer’s allowance would be shared with Revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15026/26]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2026 is expected to amount to over €2.2 billion on these payments.
The operation of the taxation system is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and the tax treatment of income, including social welfare payments, is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
Carer's Allowance is and has always been a social assistance payment that is subject to income tax. It is important to note that people solely reliant on Carer’s Allowance will not meet the income tax threshold and therefore will not be liable to pay tax unless they also have income from other source, e.g. rental, investment, employment income.
From 1 January 2026, information on Carer’s Allowance payments are included in the weekly Taxable Payments Report shared directly with Revenue and include details of all Departmental schemes who are subject to tax. Data in relation to taxable social welfare payments is shared in the interest of good customer service and to ensure that individuals can keep their tax affairs up to date and avoid any later surprise taxation demands. It also means that when an individual stops receiving a taxable social welfare payment that Revenue will be notified, and the person’s tax credits, and rate band will be updated automatically.
The measure is an administrative improvement rather than a policy change and does not alter the amount of tax due by an individual. Prior to the sharing of the data file many Carers self-reported their carer's allowance income to the Revenue Commissioners. The new process means that they do not have to do so.
As the underlying tax treatment of Carer’s Allowance has not changed, and no new tax liability arises for carers because of the measure, meetings and correspondence between my Department and the Department of Finance have not been necessary. The Department did however engage with the Revenue Commissioners through a joint High-Level Group, which meets to discuss matters of mutual interest. As part of this engagement Department officials pressed hard to ensure that tax liabilities arising from the transfer of the payments file would be forward looking rather than backdated.
I am conscious of the vital role played by family carers and the importance of ensuring that they are adequately supported. Therefore, my focus as Minister is on ensuring that carers are appropriately supported through the rates and structures of payments within my department’s responsibility.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
21. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of men, and number of women, who applied for parent’s benefit in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14193/26]
View answerParent’s Benefit was introduced in November 2019. It provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth, or placement in the case of adoption, of a child and is available to employed and self-employed persons who are eligible for Parent’s Leave.
The current rate of payment for Parent’s Benefit is €299 per week, as announced in Budget 2026.
My Department received almost 77,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit in 2023, almost 93,000 in 2024, and almost 94,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of nearly 22% between 2023 and 2025.
My Department awarded over 78,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit in 2023, almost 91,000 in 2024, and almost 96,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of over 22% between 2023 and 2025.
A gender breakdown of claim applications is not available; however a gender breakdown of persons who receive the Parent's Benefit payment is published quarterly by my Department.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, over 25,700 people received at least one Parent’s Benefit payment. Of these, 15,500, or 60%, were female and 10,200, or 40%, were male.
In Q4 2024, around 28,700 people received a payment. Of these recipients, 18,100, or 63%, were female while 37%, were male.
Finally, in Q4 2023, there were 22,000 recipients of Parent's Benefit, with 13,500, or 61%, being female, and 39%, being male.
I will arrange for a table of detailed numbers to be sent to the Deputy.
22. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the planned extension of the fuel allowance scheme to families in receipt of the working family payment; the expected number of beneficiary households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15632/26]
View answerExtending Fuel Allowance eligibility to Working Family Payment recipients was a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and I am delighted to have introduced this extension as part of this Government’s first budget.
The Fuel Allowance payment will be expanded to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment from March 2026 and backdated to January 2026. Based on the number of people currently in receipt of the Working Family Payment it is estimated that some 50,000 households will benefit from the measure.
This measure also supports the commitment within the Programme for Government to "enhance supports for lone parents" as almost two thirds of Working Family Payment recipients are single adult households. The Government is committed to supporting children and families with targeted supports to those most in need.
Recipients of the Working Family Payment will be deemed to have satisfied the Fuel Allowance means test and the Household Composition criteria. However, to receive the Fuel Allowance payment, Working Family Payment recipients must satisfy the following conditions:
• Be legally resident in the State;
• Be awarded and in receipt of the Working Family Payment;
• Their heating needs must not be provided for in full as part of their accommodation; and
• One payment of Fuel Allowance per household rule applies.
My Department officials are continuing to work to ensure that this budget measure is implemented in March.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
23. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in light of the recently published consumer price index figures, his plans to alleviate hardship through increases to core welfare payments; the fuel allowance; or any disability-contingent payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/26]
View answerThe published Consumer Price Index figures are closely monitored by my Department and my colleagues across Government.
The most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that prices for consumer goods and services in Ireland were approximately 2.7% higher in the year to January 2026 compared with the same period last year. This reflects ongoing cost pressures faced by households across a range of categories and underscores the importance of continued support through the social protection system.
In determining the Budget increases consideration was given to the most recent CPI data published by the CSO. Forward looking economic forecasts were examined at the time, including inflation projections. Broader cost of living pressures were also assessed, particularly in areas such as housing, energy, and food.
I am conscious of the impact that increases in the cost of living can have on households who rely on social protection supports, particularly older people, carers, disabled people and low income families. Budget 2026 measures were set at a level above the CPI rate that was available at the time of budget preparation.
This decision reflects the Government's clear priority to protect the most vulnerable households, and to ensure that social welfare recipients maintain, and where possible, improve their standard of living.
In Budget 2026, we increased core weekly rates by €10 per week, bringing the main personal rate for working age welfare payments to €254 per week, an increase of 3.9%, which is in excess of the rate of inflation. This followed a series of sustained increases in recent Budgets designed to protect the real value of payments.
In addition, the Fuel Allowance was increased by €5 per week to €38, representing a 15% increase. That increase was ahead of general inflation and energy price growth at the time and was specifically designed to assist households with heating costs during the fuel season.
Disability-contingent payments have also been strengthened. The increase in core weekly rates applies equally to Disability Allowance and other disability-related schemes. These increases now represent a cumulative rise of €51 per week since Budget 2021.
In summary, the increases in Budget 2026 were deliberately set above the CPI rate to ensure that those who rely on social protection are not left behind. Looking forward I will continue to monitor price developments carefully and will engage with stakeholders in advance of Budget 2027 and can assure the House that protecting the living standards of those dependent on social welfare will remain a key consideration in future Budget decisions.
24. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to engage with the Minister for Finance in relation to carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit being made tax exempt in line with other social welfare payments, including jobseeker’s allowance and disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15138/26]
View answerCarer's Allowance and Carer’s Benefit are and have always been taxable sources of income. However, it is important to note that if a person is solely reliant on Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit they will not usually meet the income tax threshold and therefore will not be liable to pay tax unless they also have income from other source, e.g. rental, investment, employment income.
Last year, it was agreed between my Department and the Revenue Commissioners that, from 1 January 2026, information on Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments would be included in the weekly Taxable Payments Report shared directly with Revenue.
These arrangements were developed to improve customer service, reduce the administrative burden on carers, and ensure that individuals’ tax records remain up to date.
The operation of the taxation system is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and the tax treatment of income, including social welfare payments, is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
25. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to carry out a comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15049/26]
View answer46. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to publish the outcome of a review instituted by his Department on means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/26]
View answer79. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review of means testing for qualifying allowances in the social protection system will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14635/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 46 and 79 together. My Department is conducting a review of means testing within the social protection system. The aim is to examine various means-tested schemes and identify any issues related to their respective means tests. With over 140 schemes and services, many of which are means-tested, this is a complex and detailed task. It is my intention that the review's findings will inform decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future Budgets. The review is nearing completion and I expect that it will be submitted to me shortly. Due to the complexity of the review, I will carefully and thoroughly evaluate it to determine the best way to utilise its findings and identify those that may warrant further consideration. However, any prospective changes to means testing arrangements will need to be evaluated and considered within the broader context of overall policy and budgetary considerations and over the lifetime of this Government.
26. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15574/26]
View answer36. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14631/26]
View answer53. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the work being done to provide a cost of disability payment in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 36 and 53 together.
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. That is why the Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to improve the position of disabled people, including a commitment to introduce a Cost of Disability 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.
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.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
27. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will conduct a full review of the CE scheme to ensure that placement processes are efficient, responsive, and supportive of participants seeking to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/26]
View answerMy Department's Intreo Employment Service provides nationwide support to jobseekers through a structured and mandatory engagement process that offers tailored, individualised employment support. Employment Services Officers engage with jobseekers on a one to one basis to develop a Personal Progression Plan, which will identify steps the jobseeker will take to support them to progress to sustainable employment. There are a wide range of supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements as well as programmes like the Community Employment (CE) to support people to return to work.
The objective of the Community Employment scheme is to enhance the employability of long-term unemployed persons and other customers distant from the labour market by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis. The provision of training for participants on CE with work experience is one of the valuable functions and strengths of CE supporting participants seeking to return to work.
In addition to providing eligible people with valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment in the open-labour market, schemes such as CE also support important and, in many cases essential, local community services.
In 2024, jointly the OECD/EU/Department of Social Protection published an impact evaluation of Ireland's active labour market policies, 'Connecting People with Jobs, which set out the positive impact of CE and Tús on the employment prospects of participants. The review found a positive impact on the employment and earnings of participants, especially for older participants on CE and younger participants on Tús. The review also found that participants are less likely to rely on disability payments and are more likely to find employment after their participation in the programmes.
At the end of January 2026 there were 19,665 participants and 1,225 supervisors employed through CE across 806 sponsor organisations. The 2026 budget for CE is €415.00 million.
I recognise that employment, activation and income support programmes such as CE and Tús enable participants to make a significant contribution to their communities whilst enabling them to up-skill for prospective future employment. I wish to re-iterate that the eligibility criteria, the duration timelines for participation and the referral process for CE continues to be kept under active review by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
28. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications refused over the last three years, by county; the number of those refused where an appeal was registered; the outcome of that appeal, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15025/26]
View answerMy Department does not collate statistics on applications by county, and these figures are not readily available. The figures for claims rejected shown below are for the country as a whole. The number of Domiciliary Care Allowance claims which were rejected, along with the total number of appeals for Domiciliary Care Allowance claims for the last three years, are shown in the table below.
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Claims Rejected |
4,079 |
4,554 |
5,167 |
|
Appeals Registered |
2,146 |
3,609 |
3,145 |
Note that appeals can be made for reasons other than a claim being rejected, such as backdating of a claim. The number of appeals registered refers to all appeals, and not only those for claims which were rejected. The outcomes of appeals for Domiciliary Care Allowance by year are shown below:
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Revised by DSP Officer |
407 |
832 |
1,475 |
|
Allowed |
862 |
792 |
1,551 |
|
Partially Allowed |
54 |
29 |
17 |
|
Disallowed |
705 |
646 |
1,085 |
|
Withdrawn |
11 |
349 |
140 |
I have instructed officials in my Department to carry out a review of the DCA application process to ensure that is it empathetic, efficient and robust, and does not cause any unnecessary burden to those who seek this vital support.
29. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans for a targeted second-tier child benefit payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14957/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes the commitment to explore a targeted child benefit payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports like the Working Family and Child Support Payments.
Officials in my Department are working on this commitment with a view to bringing forward a proposal for public consultation later this year.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
30. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the timeline and expected impact of the increases to the carer’s allowance income disregards due to take effect later this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15631/26]
View answer69. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on abolishing the means test for the carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15568/26]
View answer84. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the abolition of the carer's means test. [14268/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 69 and 84 together. The carer’s allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on carer’s allowance in 2026 is estimated to exceed €1.4 billion. At the end of January there were more than 105,000 carers receiving this payment. The programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for carer’s allowance in each budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government. This process is already under way.
Last July, the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. As part of budget 2026, I announced further changes to the carer’s allowance means test that will be introduced this July. The weekly income disregard will increase from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple. Since June 2022, there have been cumulative increases to the disregards of over 200%. The single carer disregard has increased by €667.50 and the couple disregard by €1,335. These are significant increases. The impact of the increases to the carer’s allowance income disregards due to take effect later this year will mean that those recipients on a reduced payment due to means will see their payment increase.
In addition, more carers will qualify for carer’s allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full carer’s allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment. The recent improvements outlined are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to phase out the Carer's Allowance means test over the lifetime of the Government. We will continue to progress this commitment in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
31. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to updating the communications allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15411/26]
View answerThe Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security.
Approximately 163,000 customers are in receipt of the Telephone Support Allowance payment. The full year cost of the scheme in 2026 is estimated at €21.6 million.
While consideration is always given to any proposals to improve my Departments Schemes, any proposal to expand the qualifying criteria or increase the rate payable for the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
While there was no increase in Budget 2026 to the rate of Telephone Support Allowance payable, the Government committed €8.1 billion in additional spending, including over €1.15 billion in additional social welfare spending.
Those in receipt of the Telephone Support Allowance would have directly benefitted from the €5 increase to the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance payable and also from the across-the-board increases of €10 per week to primary Social Welfare payment.
In addition, a Christmas Bonus was paid in December to long-term social welfare recipients.
I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that this benefit continues to target vulnerable cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
32. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to strengthen income supports and remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities; and the way his Department is responding to the additional cost-of-living and service access challenges facing individuals and families in areas such as north Dublin. [15482/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent support measures. 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 January.
• 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.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026.
Access to disability services is matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. The Budget 2026 allocation of €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, represents another significant investment to ensure people with disabilities receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
To make the welfare to work journey as smooth as possible in 2026 and to support disabled people into work, Budget 2026 provided additional supports for:
• 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, and increasing the rates paid from April.
My Department offers a range of employment support to remove barriers to the workplace for disabled people. They can access a range of mainstream supports in Intreo centres such as Community Employment and Tús or be referred to more tailored supports such as Employability.
Work and Access is a set of seven supports that aims to improve access to the workplace and help disabled people into a job and to retain it. Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and training. Jobseekers, employees, self-employed people, and employers may apply for supports both for the business premises and remote workplaces.
My Department’s WorkAbility programme is co-financed with the European Social Fund Plus. This programme aims to support disabled people to progress their training and employment ambitions through 57 local, regional, and national projects.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a Cost of Disability 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.
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.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
33. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to removing means testing for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis for access to social protection schemes such as household benefits package and fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14956/26]
View answerAccess to the Household Benefits Package and the Fuel Allowance payment for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary social protection payments, many of them illness related. Entitlement to these primary social protection payments is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned.
Extending the eligibility to include removing the means testing to the Household Benefits Package and Fuel Allowance for cancer patients with a terminal diagnosis would change the nature of the schemes and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Increase to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year and I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that these benefits continue to target vulnerable groups. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
However, I fully understand the financial challenges associated with such a diagnosis and to this end, I met with officials from the Irish Cancer Society last year to discuss their concerns and also to discuss the challenges in relation to providing access to particular schemes solely based on an end-of-life cancer diagnosis.
With this in mind, it is important to note that Additional Needs Payments are available through my Department for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. In addition, 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 can be paid throughout the full year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
34. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Mayo claiming carers allowance; and if that number has increased or decreased over the past five years. [15141/26]
View answerThe number of Carer's Allowance recipients in Mayo increased by 285 people between January 2021 and January 2026.
At the end of January 2026, there was a total of 3,241 recipients of Carer's Allowance in county Mayo. At the end of January 2021, there were 2,956 recipients of Carer's Allowance in county Mayo.
35. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of domiciliary carer's allowance rejections that were overturned on appeal in Cork in 2025. [14269/26]
View answerData in relation to the percentage of claims rejected by the Department of Social Protection which are subsequently overturned on appeal by county are not maintained.
Nationally there was a total of 4,512 domiciliary care allowance appeals finalised during 2025. Of these, 3,062 were successful which equates to 67.9%.
It is important to note that where decisions are allowed on appeal, this may not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information which was not made available when the decision was first made. The appeals process allows for this. Of the 3,062 domiciliary care allowance appeals that had a successful outcome, 1,482 were made by way of revised decision by Deciding Officers based on new information rather than going through the full appeals process.
If the original decision remains unchanged following the appeal-related review/re-examination by a Deciding Officer, the appeal case is submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination by an Appeals Officer.
A full breakdown of appeal outcomes, including Domiciliary Care Allowance appeals will be available in the 2025 Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report which is due to be published later this year. The Annual Report for 2024 and previous years are available in the Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Reports at the following website News and Publications from the Social Welfare Appeals Office (www.gov.ie/en/social-welfare-appeals-office/collections/news-and-publications-from-the-social-welfare-appeals-office/).
I have instructed officials in my Department to carry out a review of the DCA application process to ensure that is it empathetic, efficient and robust, and does not cause any unnecessary burden to those who seek this vital support.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
