Written Answers Nos. 61 - 80
61. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No.150 of 13 November 2025, to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to extend from 6 to 12 weeks the period of a social welfare payment following the death of a dependent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29003/26]
View answerThe Government has agreed a number of commitments that are to be achieved over its lifetime, some of which are relevant to my Department.
One of the proposals in the Programme for Government is to extend the period of payment after death from 6 weeks to 12 weeks. While in general, across Social Welfare schemes, payment continues for a period of 6 weeks after death, there are some exceptions, with some payments already paid for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the recipient.
In this regard, Carer’s Allowance continues to be paid for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for, while in the case of Domiciliary Care Allowance, payment continues for a period of 3 months after the death of the recipient.
Consideration as to how to deliver on this Programme for Government commitment is ongoing and any decisions will be taken in the context of the Budget, the overall funding available, the economic context, and competing Government priorities.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason pensions and social welfare payments cannot be paid together or at the same time, with the exception of carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29506/26]
View answerThere is a general principle of one person-one payment that applies across our social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
People may be eligible to receive one of the following supplementary supports in addition to their primary payment: Working Family Payment, Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Household Benefits Package depending on their living circumstances, their age and any applicable eligibility conditions. More information on overlapping payments and eligibility is available at gov.ie.
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.
Any changes to the underlying one person-one payment principle would involve significant additional expenditure, which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
64. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are being explored to ensure that his Departmental budget allocated for the fuel allowance scheme will be sufficient to provide for those in need next winter, in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31282/26]
View answerOn Tuesday 7th October 2025, I announced a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures for Budget 2026.
This package provided for a general rate increase of €10 across social welfare schemes from January 2026, with proportionate increases for those on reduced rates as well as Qualified Adults.
In addition, the rate of Fuel Allowance increased by €5 from €33 to €38 per week from January 2026. This alone provided an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season to help offset the impact of increasing energy costs.
In March, the Government also approved an extension of the 2025/2026 Fuel Allowance season by four weeks until the week ending 1st May 2026, as part of the temporary and targeted measures to help those most vulnerable to rising energy costs.
As Minister, both the Government and I are determined to protect the most vulnerable households, however, it would not be appropriate to set out Budget parameters for individual sub-heads this far in advance of Budget 2027.
I will continue to monitor the impact on the price of energy arising from the conflict in Iran, carefully and will engage with stakeholders in advance of Budget 2027. I can assure the House that protecting the living standards of those dependent on social welfare will remain a key consideration in future Budget decisions.
65. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the progress his Department has made in implementing the Programme for Government commitments to increasing social protection payments and supports for family carers. [31338/26]
View answerThe Government recognises and values the important role of family carers and we are committed to continuing to improve the supports available to them.
The 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 on these payments this year is expected to exceed €2.2 billion.
Significant progress has been made in terms of increasing social protection payments and supports for family carers. In this regard, as part of Budget 2026 I announced a range of measures which take effect this year:
• In January there was a €10 increase in the maximum personal rates of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. This was the fifth successive rise in weekly welfare rates which have increased by €51 over the last five years.
• Also in January, there was a €20 increase to the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance payment, bringing it to €380. This payment has increased by €70.50 per month since January 2023.
• From July, the Carer's Allowance income disregard will increase to €1,000 for a single person and €2,000 for a couple. Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €667.50 and €1,335 respectively, or an increase of just over 200%.
• In line with Carer’s Allowance, the earnings limit for Carer’s Benefit will also increase from €625 to €1,000, after tax. It's also important to note that since January 2025, the Carer's Benefit payment has become available to the self-employed.
• Where eligible, Carer’s Allowance recipients benefitted from the increase to the Fuel Allowance payment of €5 per week. Those cares would also have benefited from the recent four week extension to the fuel season which we introduced in response to high energy costs.
• For carers with children the weekly rates of the Child Support Payment have increased by €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over, and by €8 to €58 for under 12s. This is the largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the State.
These recent improvements are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to increasing social protection payments and supports for family carers as set out in the Programme for Government. We will continue to deliver on these commitments over this Dáil term in an overall Budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
67. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who transferred from carer’s benefit to carer’s allowance for each of the last four years; if his Department has any plans to make this transition easier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31337/26]
View answerCarer’s Benefit is a payment to insured people who leave their employment or reduce their working hours to care for a person in need of full-time care and attention. It can be paid for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each person being cared for and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
Carer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
The number of recipients who transitioned from Carer’s Benefit to Carer’s Allowance within the same or following year is outlined below.
|
Year |
Carer's Benefit to Carer's Allowance |
|
2022 |
1,190 |
|
2023 |
1,248 |
|
2024 |
1,663 |
|
2025 |
1,123 |
|
2026 |
115 |
When a claim for Carer’s Benefit is awarded, the customer is notified that when their entitlement to Carer’s Benefit is exhausted it is open to them to make an application for Carer’s Allowance.
If the Deputy has a specific case you would like my officials to examine, I encourage you to forward the details for consideration.
68. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the carer's support grant will be paid this year. [31085/26]
View answerThe Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who get Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full time care.
The Carer's Support Grant is paid on the first Thursday in June each year. This year, it will be paid on Thursday 4th June.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
69. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned about undue delays in processing invalidity pensions, as in the case of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that applicants suffering from health issues are not placed under further distress as a result of difficulties accessing their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31411/26]
View answerIt is important to ensure people claiming valuable benefits satisfy the criteria established by the Oireachtas for entitlement to that benefit. However, in doing so it is also important that we offer people who may not receive a favourable decision the opportunity to seek a review of that decision and to submit a formal appeal. In that way we work to ensure that entitlement is not denied to people who have a need for support and who satisfy the relevant qualification conditions.
In the case of Invalidity Pension, we offer claimants both a review by the decision area as well as a formal appeal mechanism. In most cases these reviews and appeals can be dealt with expeditiously.
We are also continuously working to improve the service. For example, over the past year or so we have introduced new regulations that extend the period of time during which a person can make an appeal from 21 to 60 days. The new regulations also grant additional rights to seek an oral hearing of the appeal and receive an explanation if an oral hearing is not granted, and in addition specify specific timelines for the exchange and processing of appeal documentation.
In parallel we have introduced a new IT system including the ability to submit appeals online, (an average of 60% of appeals are now received online), and significantly increased staffing in the appeals service.
These changes have resulted in a reduction in the number of appeals on hand from 21,630 appeals on hand at the end of December 2024, to 7,470 appeals on hand at the end of March 2026. Processing times have also improved, from over an overall average of 23 weeks in 2024 to just 9.5 weeks today in the case of Invalidity Pension.
Having said all of that some cases, particularly those involving the exchange of complicated medical evidence, can take some time to finalise. With respect to the case referenced in the Deputy’s question; in summary I understand that the initial claim was disallowed following which an appeal was received with an appeal decision issuing last year confirming the original decision. I also understand that the person concerned subsequently sought a further review from the Chief Appeals Officer, a decision on which is still awaited. I have raised this case with the Chief Appeals Officer, who acts independently in the performance of her duties, and will write separately to the Deputy with a more detailed response shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
70. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people that have benefitted from the extension of the fuel allowance this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31092/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of financial supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.
As part of the Government's €250m targeted supports in March, I was delighted to announce the extension of the expansion of the Fuel Allowance season, by four weeks. This support directly targets pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents, low paid working families and the long-term unemployed and will help these recipients with high energy prices.
The additional four weeks Fuel Allowance payment provides an additional €152 to over 468,000 households that need the most support. The four-week extension of the Fuel Allowance season will mean the yearly payment will increase to €1,216 in 2026.
Budget 2026 also provided significant supports to help householders with the cost of heating and other energy bills. The Fuel Allowance was increased by €5 to €38 per week.
Importantly, from a child poverty perspective, eligibility for Fuel Allowance has recently been extended to almost 50,000 families in receipt of Working Family Payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
71. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the average and the longest waiting times for domiciliary care allowance appeals in Kildare north; whether such appeals are prioritised by the age of the child; whether consideration has been given to expediting appeals in cases involving children under five years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/26]
View answerData in relation to the timeframe for appeals by county is not maintained.
Domiciliary care allowance is a payment for guardians of children under the age of 16. Appeals are not prioritised by the age of the child and consideration is not given to expediating appeals in cases involving children under five years of age. Instead, domiciliary care allowance appeals as a whole are treated as a priority for my Department.
The average processing time for domiciliary care allowance appeals at the end of Q1 2026 is 9.6 weeks.
The average processing time for domiciliary care allowance appeals in 2025 was 16 weeks.
This information will be available on the Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Report which is due to be published shortly. The average processing time for domiciliary care allowance appeals for 2024 and previous years are available in the Social Welfare Appeals Office Annual Reports at the following website: www.gov.ie/en/social-welfare-appeals-office/collections/news-and-publications-from-the-social-welfare-appeals-office/.
The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
72. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on any planned changes to the SAFE registration process for acquiring a Public Services Card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31240/26]
View answerThere are no planned changes to the SAFE registration process.
SAFE registration is the process used by my department to authenticate a person's identity. It involves attendance at an in-person appointment at a local Intreo or public services card centre, or using the online SAFE registration service. The online service is available to valid Irish passports holders, aged sixteen or over, with an address on the island of Ireland.
To become SAFE registered, the person must provide evidence of their identity and address, and their photo and signature are captured.
On verification of a person’s identity, the person is issued with a Public Services Card which can be used as proof of their identity when accessing public services, collecting social protection payments or accessing Free Travel entitlement. The person can also set up a verified MyGovID account.
MyGovID is the secure online identity authentication service provided by my Department to enable a person to access online public services. Having a verified MyGovID account provides assurance to the public body concerned as to the identity of the person they are transacting with online.
To date over 4.9 million people have verified their identities through the SAFE registration process. There are over 3.4 million verified MyGovID accounts created to date.
Currently, it is an offence for any person or organisation other than those specified in social welfare law to request or accept a public services card (PSC) as proof of identity. I have recently brought forward proposed legislation under the Scheme of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, which will allow a PSC holder to use their card for identity purposes, at his or her own discretion, in exactly the same way as they can use a driving licence or passport.
I believe this measure will be of particular help to people who do not hold a valid passport or driving licence. I am very mindful of the cost a person incurs when they get, or renew, a passport or drivers licence. There is no fee to get, or renew, a PSC. My department is repeatedly asked why it is not possible for a person to use their PSC to verify their identity, for example for opening an account in a financial institution or utility company, when other state provided identity documents are accepted.
The PSC does not currently display a cardholder’s date of birth. The proposed legislative changes would also provide for a card-holder to opt to have their date of birth inscribed on their PSC, and to subsequently opt to have their date of birth removed, at any time, and a new PSC issued to them.
The proposed legislation will not result in any changes the existing SAFE registration process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend the current weekly means limit for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension, and to increase the current means limit of €100, which has been in place since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30070/26]
View answerMy Department provides State Pension payments through the State Pension (Contributory), which is a contributory-based payment based on a person's social insurance record, and the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is means-tested social assistance payment.
Article 7 of SI 142 of 2007, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, as amended, sets out the income limit for the payment of an IQA across a range of schemes, not solely in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) scheme.
At present an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is payable with the State contributory pension at the maximum rate of payment where the income of the qualified adult are not more than €100 per week. Reduced rates are payable where their income is over €100 and not more than €310 per week. No increase for a qualified adult is payable where their income is in excess of €310 per week.
The purpose of means tests are to ensure that the available resources, which are finite, are targeted in the most effective manner to those people who are most in need of support. For example, where a household has income from an occupational pension as well as the contributory state pension it is appropriate to consider if the State's limited resources should be directed towards increasing the income into that household, via an increase in means limits for the qualified adult payment, or to increasing incomes into other households including, for example, recipients of the non-contributory pension in receipt of the fuel allowance.
The current structure of the Irish social protection system in mediating these choices is shown to perform exceptionally well, delivering a poverty reduction effect of 62.7% - consistently one of the most effective poverty mitigation effects across the entire EU.
A review of means testing in the social protection system is currently under way in my Department. The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means-tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of the respective means test.
Any change to the the income limit for the payment of an IQA in respect of State Pension (Contributory), as suggested in the parliamentary question, would need to encompass the other schemes affected and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
78. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to enhance application processes within the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31290/26]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. This includes a commitment to the delivery of 90% of applicable services online by 2030 and follows a digital by desire approach. In developing services, the Department works with customers and advocacy groups to ensure that when services are launched, they are simple and intuitive to use, thereby enhancing the application process for the customer.
The vast majority of the Department’s service metrics are achieved or exceeded, with external customer satisfaction surveys reporting high and improving levels of satisfaction. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the different qualification criteria. Means-tested payments can require more detailed investigation and interaction with the applicant, thereby lengthening the decision-making process. Delays can occur if a claim is submitted and all the necessary supporting documentation is not included. If information is required from a social security organisation in another jurisdiction, this can also affect processing times.
To help my Department to make timely and fair decisions on all applications, applicants should ensure that they complete the application forms fully, providing all the supporting documentation outlined on the application form checklist. In cases where there is an urgent need for assistance a person may make an application for supplementary welfare allowance while waiting for a decision on their claim for another social welfare payment.
I wish to reassure the Deputy that claim application and processing is kept under active review, with all possible steps taken to improve processing times and customer service. This includes the assignment of additional resources, where available, and the review of business processes, to ensure the efficient processing of applications.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
79. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which means testing criteria for social welfare payments are kept under review for discrepancies for social welfare payments, particularly for qualified adult payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31079/26]
View answerMy 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.
Article 7 of SI 142 of 2007, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, as amended, sets out the income limit for the payment of an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) across a range of schemes.
For certain schemes, an IQA is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the income of the qualified adult is not more than €100 per week. Reduced rates are payable where their income is over €100 and not more than €310 per week. No increase for a qualified adult is payable where the income of the qualified adult is in excess of €310 per week.
Any change to the the income limit for the payment of an IQA would need to encompass the schemes affected and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
80. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department considered comparing the value of all State benefits an individual or a family could receive to an equivalent taxable salary. [31302/26]
View answerMy Department offers a range of benefits and payments for individuals and families depending on a number of factors, such as the contingency a person experiences, a person's age, the presence, and number, of dependents, household composition, social insurance contribution history and available means.
Any number of scenarios could be envisaged, all of which give a different total of State benefit payments. In any event, comparing this total to an equivalent taxable salary is not straightforward. For example, household composition may affect the payment of certain secondary benefits, such as Fuel Allowance, but not the taxable salary a person in that household could receive.
My Department has made available, through MyWelfare, a 'Benefit of Work' estimator, which provides information on how starting or increasing work may affect a person's social welfare payment. This tool is one of the ways my Department provides advice and support to facilitate the social and economic participation of people of working age.
Promoting participation in the workforce is a key policy objective. Through schemes such as Back to Education Allowance, which aims to raise the educational and skill levels of social welfare recipients to enable them to have better access to the labour market, and the Work and Access scheme, which is a set of supports to help disabled people get a job or stay in work, social welfare recipients are provided the support needed to encourage and maintain participation in the work force.
