Written Answers Nos. 638-657
638. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the average duration of time recipients have remained on disability allowance; the number of recipients on the scheme for more than five years; and the annual exit rate from the scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025. [16713/26]
View answerFor Disability Allowance claims that were awarded and paying at the end of January 2026, the average claim duration was 10 years. There were 115,563 claims with durations exceeding 5 years. Durations are based on entitlement periods and may include periods where payments did not issue to the customer.
The number of people who exited the scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025 is detailed in tabular form below.
Table 1 - Number of closed Disability Allowance claims, 2020-2025
|
Year |
Closed claims |
|
2020 |
7,609 |
|
2021 |
8,958 |
|
2022 |
9,339 |
|
2023 |
9,885 |
|
2024 |
11,438 |
|
2025 |
11,308 |
639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any internal administrative guidance, medical assessment protocols, or decision-making frameworks relating to eligibility for disability allowance have been amended, revised, or updated since 1 January 2020; and if so, if he will outline the nature and date of those revisions. [16714/26]
View answerDisability Allowance is my Department's primary social assistance payment for disabled people who are aged between 16 and 66. Eligibility for this payment is dependent on the recipient having an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications. The payment is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency requirement.
There have been a number of changes to the Disability Allowance scheme since 1 January 2020, primarily to the means test.
Budget 2020 saw the Blind Welfare Allowance exempt from the means assessment for Social Welfare schemes.
From September 2020, certain PhD bursaries, scholarships and stipends are disregarded for means purposes. ? The value of disregard is up to €20,000 per year for up to four years.
Since October 2020, ex gratia State Claims Agency payments for Pandemrix vaccine claims settled are specifically excluded from the means assessment.
The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. In June 2022, the upper limit of disregard from earnings from work was increased from €350 to €375. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their payment.
The means rate bracket was changed to benefit people getting a reduced Disability Allowance rate, the first weekly means band increased from €2.50 in 2020 to €7.60 currently.
In January 2022, the income threshold for Fuel Allowance increased from €100 to €120 to €200 currently.
In July 2024, the Government extended Free Travel Scheme to people aged over 17 and under age 66, who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability or are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months.
People moving from Disability Allowance to take up work will be able to retain their eligibility for the Free Travel scheme for 5 years.
Since 4 June 2024, child maintenance payments are no longer included in the means test.
In Budget 2025, the amount not taken into account when a person sells their home to move into care increased to €337,500 for those who get Disability Allowance.
In Budget 2026, people moving from Disability Allowance to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for up to five years. The Back to Work Family Dividend is also being extended to this group, where they have children.
In addition, the personal rate of payment has been increased, most recently in Budget 2026 which increased the rate to €254 per week from January. There has been a €51 per week increase in the weekly disability income support payment since 2021.
In Budget 2026, I also provided for the highest ever increases in the weekly Child Support Payment - an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over and of €8 to €58 for children aged under 12.
Increases to the Qualified Adult, Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Allowance has increased to the current rates of €168.60, €38 weekly and €22 respectively.
It is standard practice that when changes such as these are which impact on a person's eligibility for a payment the scheme guidelines are amended to reflect the new position. All scheme guidelines are available on gov.ie
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
640. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated gross annual expenditure on disability allowance in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and the projected expenditure for 2026. [16715/26]
View answerThe table below outlines the annual expenditure on Disability Allowance for the period 2020 - 2025, and also sets out the Revised Estimate for 2026.
|
Disability Allowance |
Expenditure / Revised Estimate (€ 000) |
|
2020 |
1,811,854 |
|
2021 |
1,828,845 |
|
2022 |
2,015,919 |
|
2023 |
2,174,825 |
|
2024 |
2,408,096 |
|
2025 (Provisional Outturn) |
2,477,346 |
|
2026 (Revised Estimate) |
2,571,375 |
641. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if an up-to-date public services card can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/26]
View answerNon-EU/EEA citizens who apply for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) in Ireland are required to provide evidence of identity in the form of a passport, or in the alternative an International Protection Office (IPO) Card issued by the International Protection Office (IPO), an agency of the Department of Justice.
The person concerned presented for SAFE registration on 30 December 2019 with an IPO card. The name recorded by my Department reflected the name, and order, as appeared on the IPO card.
Where subsequent to the allocation of a PPSN, a person wishes to make a change to the information originally provided to the International Protection Office, the person completes and submits a revised IPF1 form and their revised IPO Card from the Department of Justice.
In the case of the person concerned, my department has confirmed with the International Protection Office that the person has been granted permission to remain in the State. In these circumstances a revised IPO card is not issued.
The person concerned has now been contacted to attend at our Tullamore office to update the name and signature order. Following this, their new Public Services Card will issue within 7-10 days, by post.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
642. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the ongoing ‘cost-of-disability payment’ consultation includes consideration of additional payments to pensioners with disabilities who do not currently receive an additional support in recognition of their higher costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/26]
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 more permanent measures.
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.
On Friday 20 February, I launched a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. It will run until the 7th April. All interested parties are encouraged to visit gov.ie/COD where they will find guidance on how to engage with the consultation in whatever format best suits them. The associated guidance document sets out a number of questions that people may wish to consider in preparing their submissions.
Following on from the consultation, on the 13th May, I will chair a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit. The Summit will provide a space for key stakeholders such as Disabled Person's Organisations and officials from across government to input into the design of a new cost of disability payment. It will also provide a space to identify ways that all Government Departments and Agencies can make changes to lower the cost of disability in the future. This whole of government approach is important as we know addressing these costs is not simply a matter of income supports alone but require improvements in the delivery of and access to key services.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
643. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payments to a category of persons who are currently in receipt of a State payment and will be transferring to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/26]
View answerDisability Allowance is a means-tested, weekly allowance paid to those with a disability. It is available to those who are 16 or over and 65 and under. It is not available to those aged 66 or above. When a person who has been in receipt of the Disability Allowance reaches 66, the payment will cease and they may apply for and receive the State Pension (Non-Contributory), provided they satisfy the conditions of the payment.
State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
For the purposes of the means-test for both payments, from application stage through the lifetime of a claim, an applicant must provide full and up to date details of any income(s), asset(s), savings and investment(s) held, including any changes that occur. As the means tests for Disability Allowance (DA) and the State Pension (Non-Contributory) use different rules there is a clause in Section 159 (ca) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 that prevents the rate of payment for the State Pension (Non-Contributory) being lower than the rate the person is entitled to under the Disability Allowance scheme immediately before becoming entitled to State Pension (Non-Contributory).
Entitlement to secondary benefits, including those listed will be assessed at the same time as the primary application, in this case for the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
The Department cannot answer on any individual rates without the information required at application stage.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
644. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application (details supplied) for carer’s leave benefit can be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17102/26]
View answerCarer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
Under the provisions of the legislation, to be eligible to claim Carer's Benefit, a person must have been in remunerative full time employment for a minimum of 16 hours in the week, or 32 hours in the fortnight, for eight weeks out of the previous 26 week period immediately prior to the first day on which a claim is made.
An application was received from the person concerned on 04 February 2026 and the claim was disallowed as the person did not satisfy the employment conditions for the scheme. The person applied for Carer's Benefit to commence on 04 March 2026, therefore the 26 week period commences from 03 September 2025. However, as the person is in receipt of Illness Benefit since 13 October 2025, they do not satisfy this employment condition.
Correspondence issued to the person on 12 February 2026 regarding the decision to disallow the claim and of their right of review and appeal. This letter also advised of a possible entitlement to Carer's Allowance which is not a contribution based scheme.
The Carer's Leave Act 2001 allows employees to leave their employment temporarily to provide care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. This Department is required to determine a person's entitlement to Carer's Leave by assessing whether the proposed care recipient is deemed to be a relevant person in need of full time care and attention. The person concerned was notified of their entitlement to Carer's Leave on 12 February 2026.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
645. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application (details supplied) for the bereaved partners contributory pension can be reviewed and awarded given that the applicant has demonstrated and provided all possible evidence that they co-habited with their partner for in excess of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17132/26]
View answerIn order to qualify for Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension, a person must be a bereaved partner, that is a widow, widower, surviving civil partner, or since 21st July 2025, a surviving qualified cohabitant, subject to other qualifying conditions. A qualified cohabitant is one of 2 adults who lived together as a couple, in an intimate and committed relationship, for a continuous period of or two years or more, where there are children of the relationship, or five years in any other case.
In determining whether a person is a qualified cohabitant, the deciding officer will take into account any evidence presented including information available from department records.
It was decided that the person concerned is not entitled to the Bereaved Partner's Pension as there is insufficient proof she was a qualified cohabitant, that is, that they lived together as a couple for a continuous period of five years or more, prior to the death of the deceased.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and provided further documentation in support of her claim. The review is now complete, however the outcome remains the same. The person concerned has been notified of outcome of the review and has also been advised it is open to her to provide any other documentation that evidences her address for the period concerned. They have also been advised they have the right to appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
646. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection to advise when in March/April 2026 the fuel allowance payment will be made to working family payment recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17160/26]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees receiving a low income and have dependent children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them.
Recipients of Working Family Payment (WFP) have an entitlement to Fuel Allowance, subject to qualifying conditions, from Thursday 1st January 2026, as announced in Budget 2026. Payment for those with an entitlement to fuel allowance will be paid on Thursday 12th March and will include any arrears due.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
647. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of any information/notice or circular being issued by his Department to HSE-funded health and social care services (details supplied) pertaining to possible changes to means testing of residents in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17169/26]
View answerEligibility for access to HSE-funded health and social care services, including where this includes a means-test, is a matter for my colleagues the Minister for Health and/or the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
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.
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.
There are no pending changes to this disregard and my Department has not not issued any information, notice, or circulars to HSE-funded health and social care services on this matter.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
648. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government is actively considering any changes to means testing of a social welfare payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/26]
View answerDisability 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.
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 commits to reform the Disability Allowance Payment and remove anomalies in the current means test.
My Department is currently reviewing means testing across all its social assistance schemes. The outcome of this review will be used to inform decisions regarding any further changes to means testing. Any changes to means testing arrangements can only be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
649. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who was granted international protection status but has been unable to register for an Irish residence permit due to technical issues with the online system; if alternative arrangements, including a manual registration appointment, can be facilitated in such circumstances; the steps being taken to address technical barriers within the registration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16207/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the matters raised have been resolved and the person cited has successfully booked an appointment with the registration office of my Department.
The functionality of all my Departments online platforms are under constant review and there are no reported issues with the online systems. If the Deputy is aware of any particular issues with the service or an application, or wants to request the status of individual immigration case, they can contact my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service, [IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie], who can assist to resolve the matter.
650. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the success of the pilot scheme titled 4empowerment; if he is aware of an application for a scheme that has been submitted via the Uplift project based in County Donegal; when a decision will be made on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16255/26]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency is committed to providing safe and accessible accommodation and support services for victims and survivors of DSGBV.
I'm informed by Cuan that the 4empowerment pilot scheme is run by the Donegal Domestic Violence Service (DDVS), and that DDVS is a Cuan-funded organisation. Cuan provided funding of €976,883.88 to DDVS in 2024, and a further €1,121,515.11 last year. Cuan did not fund the 4empowerment pilot scheme, and did not receive a funding application in relation to it.
I am further informed that the Uplift Project did not seek funding from Cuan in the 2025 DSGBV funding call and is not a Cuan-funded organisation.
651. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an IRP renewal application will be processed and the IRP card issued (details supplied) given it is over ten-weeks since the application was submitted, and the applicant urgently requires a valid in-date IRP card when attending a Schengen visa appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16309/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the application for the person cited has been approved. The person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within 10-15 working days from the date of approval.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
652. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of new Garda command and control vehicles that came into fleet in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; and the number of Garda command and control vehicles that were withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form. [16340/26]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. This includes all operational policing matters, such as the distribution of resources, including Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I have been informed by Garda management that there are currently four command and conisional/District monthly breakdown. Monthly Fleet reports are currently available from 2020 to January 2026. This is publicly available on their website at the following link:trol vehicles in the Garda fleet as of 27 February 2026.
There were no new command and control vehicles allocated in 2024, 2025 or to date in 2026, and there were no such vehicles removed from service during the same period.
An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Div
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
The allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. The allocation of vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.
653. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of new Gardaí (transfer or newly attested) to County Roscommon in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [16381/26]
View answer654. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of new community Gardaí (transfer or newly attested) to County Roscommon in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [16382/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together.
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
655. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 27 January 2026, to confirm that according to the CSO, the number of people estimated to reside within the State who originated from outside the UK and the EU27 has risen from 168,700 in April 2019 to 426,400 in April 2025, a net increase of approximately 257,700; his views on whether it is sustainable for a number of people greater than the population of Cork city to migrate into Ireland from outside the UK or the EU in just a five-year period [16390/26]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) is the national statistics agency, established under the Statistics Act 1993. Under section 13 of the Statistics Act 1993, the CSO is fully independent in its role of publishing statistics, and the standards applied to these statistics.
The Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade.
My Department is currently working collaboratively with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy later this year
656. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 4 February 2026 if the necessary information has been provided to him from Garda Authorities to answer this question. [16494/26]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 4 February 2026 where you sought:
“To ask the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí trained and currently deployed in specialist units for cyber crime, serious and organised crime and immigration for the Louth-Cavan and Monaghan Division.”
I understand from An Garda Síochána that the following number of Gardaí are assigned to the Crime Functional area in Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Division.
• 4 Detective Inspectors
• 26 Sergeants/Detective Sergeants
• 128 Gardaí/Detective Gardaí
Gardaí attached to the crime functional area are allocated to Crime Detective Units, Drugs Units, Digital Intelligence Unit, Fraud Units, Divisional Protective Service Units, Serious and Organised Crime Units, Crime Prevention and Immigration Units.
I understand there is no specific cybercrime unit in the Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Division.
The Deputy may be interested to note that the Immigration Unit, included in the numbers above is made up of 1 Sergeant and 10 Gardaí in the Division.
657. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 830 of 4 February 2026 if the necessary information has been provided to him from Garda Authorities to answer this question. [16495/26]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No 830 of 4 February 2026 where you sought: “the number of inspections Gardaí within the R District of DMR Region carried out on pubs, clubs, restaurants and so on in 2025 to ensure full compliance with alcohol licensing regulations; the number of those premises that were found in breach of licensing regulations; and the frequency with which these inspections are carried out.”
A response to this Parliamentary Question issued on 26 February 2026. I have set out the response provided below.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that Gardaí attached to the Community Engagement Area, Coolock Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North conduct Liquor Licensing Inspections on a regular basis. In 2025 there were 19 such inspections with no offences recorded.
Members of the public may also notify Gardaí of their concerns about licensed premises and Gardaí act on same.
In addition, Gardaí from Coolock Garda Station receive an annual list from the Licensing Office in relation to Registered Clubs and premises who have Special Restaurant Licenses, Public Dance Licenses and Music and Singing Licences, and attend the annual Licensing Court where the applications are made to ensure that they are in Order.
There is also attendance at the Licensing Court where new applications for premises seeking alcohol licences are made along with special exemptions for late night licences. In all cases there is continued engagement with the licensed premises and holders.
