Thursday, 7 May 2026

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (359)

Emer Currie

Question:

359. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection whether it is intended that individuals who contribute to pay full PRSI contributions after age 66, while deferring their State pension, may be excluded from treatment benefit due to the operation of the ‘relevant tax year rule’; and if his Department plans on addressing this inconsistency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33748/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In 2023, legislation for a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system was introduced in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represented the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from the 1st January 2024, was the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland.

Under this system, there is now flexibility for those reaching State Pension age from the beginning of 2024 to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) at any age from 66 up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment.

A person can use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to pay PRSI and build up additional entitlements for the State Pension (Contributory), and, if a person has less than 520 PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement.

As part of the pension reforms it was decided by Government that those who defer claiming their State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work would, during the period of deferral, have access to a limited number of short-term contingency payments. The schemes available beyond age 66 are:

• Illness Benefit,

• Partial Capacity Benefit,

• Jobseeker’s Benefit,

• Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit,

• Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed).

All other schemes, including Treatment Benefit, were unaffected by this change and continued to retain their previous qualifying conditions.

It should be noted, however, that if a person qualifies for the Treatment Benefit scheme at age 60 – 65, that person will be entitled to this benefit for life.

My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, taking account of the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (360)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for urgent needs payments in each county in the first three months of each of the years 2019, 2025 and 2026 respectively, by category of application; and the number approved, in tabular form. [33758/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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. This also includes supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information including number of claims registered, and also to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payments. Therefore the tables provided does not provide the number of registrations for 2019, nor do they include reoccurring supplements awarded in 2019.

Table 1 sets out the number of Additional Needs Payments awarded, by category, in Quarter 1 2019, and registered and awarded by category in Quarter 1 2025 and 2026

Table 2 set out the number of Additional Needs Payments awarded, by county, in Quarter 1 2019 and registered and awarded by county in Quarter 1 2025 and 2026

The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information. Applications are assessed on the basis of identified need, income, available resources and essential expenditure.

My department also publishes statistics on Additional Needs Payments in the Quarterly Statistics report which is available at [g]ov.ie.

Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via [www.mywelfare.ie].

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement

Table 1- The number of Additional Needs Payments awarded, by category in Quarter 1 2019, and registered and awarded by category in Quarter 1 2025 and 2026

Category	Q1 2019 Awarded	Q1 2025 Registered	Q1 2025 Awarded	Q1 2026 Registered	Q1 2026 Awarded
Bills	797	1,234	366	3,028	595
Child Related	839	1,171	533	982	390
Clothing	4,297	9,010	6,230	7,352	5,478
Funeral	781	1,455	484	1,567	585
General	9,599	11,828	4,818	8,670	2,588
Housing	6,732	7,874	3,996	7,448	3,905
Illness	612	361	221	308	194
Other Supplement	N/A	243	63	235	137
Urgent Needs Payment	1,086	420	301	525	390
Grand Total	24,743	33,596	17,012	30,115	14,262

Table 2 - The number of Additional Needs Payments awarded, by county in Quarter 1 2019 and registered and awarded by county in Quarter 1 2025 and 2026

County	2019 Q1 Registered	2025 Q1 Registered	2025 Q1 Awarded	2026 Q1 Registered	2026 Q1 Awarded
Carlow	193	474	221	470	192
Cavan	176	555	292	397	175
Clare	785	725	368	664	348
Cork	2,440	2,466	1,078	2,340	1,038
Donegal	528	1,098	600	1,058	559
Dublin	7,692	10,735	5,823	9,676	4,889
Galway	667	1,399	614	1,221	485
Kerry	919	984	436	865	464
Kildare	986	1,285	608	888	321
Kilkenny	359	525	221	486	184
Laois	1,029	1,096	712	571	260
Leitrim	173	275	155	223	107
Limerick	890	1,181	556	1,182	533
Longford	377	538	231	470	192
Louth	429	1,517	899	1,463	724
Mayo	767	1,032	496	927	449
Meath	1.027	1,239	544	1023	459
Monaghan	308	490	306	403	220
Offaly	234	525	192	455	152
Roscommon	406	423	190	353	167
Sligo	583	517	278	613	367
Tipperary	882	947	416	1,032	433
Waterford	916	898	425	861	409
Westmeath	992	901	508	803	386
Wexford	256	942	434	942	409
Wicklow	729	822	407	723	338
Unspecified	0	7	2	6	2
Grand Total	24,743	33,596	17,012	30,115	14,262

Social Welfare Payments

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 361, 362, 364, 365, 366, 367 and 368 together.

The Emergency Response Payment assists in minimising hardship by providing financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who need help to meet emergency costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair.

To the end of March 2026, some €27.45 million had been spent under the scheme since 2009. As the scheme is demand-led, funding is made available under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance for emergency needs.

I wish to assure the Deputy the scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 362 answered with Question No. 361.

Social Welfare Schemes

Questions (363)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

363. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are categories for family composition and circumstances beyond the categories of single, couple and dependent child; if he will give consideration to the additional cost of disability or costs incurred on a household when there is a member unable to work due to illness, injury or disability; if consideration will be given to the heightened risk of poverty faced by single parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33845/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work. Supports are available for a range of contingencies which cover a variety of household types including single people with no children, single parents, and couples with and without children. Claimants with a qualified adult partner and/or a supported child are recognised within the social welfare system as having additional needs because their spouse/partner or children are financially dependent on them. The payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult, and Child Support Payment in addition to the personal rate of payment, reflects these additional household needs. In addition, there are a number of payments such as Working Family Payment, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and the Back to Work Family Dividend which are available to people with children.

Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. That is why the Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to improve the position of disabled people including a commitment to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment.

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.

A public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered was launched on 20 February and ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday 7 April. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,000 submissions received. 87 submissions were from groups and organisations, with 12 from Disabled Persons’ Organisations and Disabled Persons’ Representative Organisations. I want to thank all the contributors for taking the time to make a submission and for sharing their valuable insights with us.

The submissions have helped inform the agenda for the Summit which I will be hosting in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May 2026. It is an in-person event with online access also available.

The Strategic Focus Network Summit and the submissions made through the consultation process will help inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment. This whole of government approach is important as addressing these costs is not simply a matter of income supports alone. Improvements in the delivery of, and access to key services is also needed.

Following the Summit, a briefing paper will be produced outlining the key learnings and any tangible outcomes which will support how the whole of Government delivers in this area going forward and inform the future Action Plans under the strategy. The paper will also feed into the Budget 2027 process.

As you are aware Budget 2026, saw the Government prioritise targeted supports for those most at risk of poverty. In total €28.9 billion will be spent on social protection this year, including over €1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist households and more than €320 million in targeted measures designed to tackle child poverty.

Measures introduced to support families included:

• A €10 increase to both the weekly One Parent Family and Jobseekers Transitional Payment.

• The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state: a weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over and a weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12.

• Extension of the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, to children aged 2 and 3.

• Extension of the Fuel Allowance to families receiving the Working Family Payment. This was paid in March 2026 and backdated to January 2026. Some two thirds of households in receipt of this payment are one-parent households.

• A €60 increase to the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, for all family sizes.

In addition, at the end of March, as part of the package of temporary and targeted measures to help those most vulnerable to rising energy costs, the Government approved the extension of the 2025/2026 Fuel Allowance season by four weeks, until the week ending 1 May 2026. This means that the 470,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance, which include many disabled people and lone parents, received additional financial support of €38 per week, totalling €152.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to enhance supports for lone parents. Officials in the Department of Social Protection will develop proposals in this regard and will be engaging with stakeholders to help inform this work.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 364 answered with Question No. 361.

Question No. 365 answered with Question No. 361.

Question No. 366 answered with Question No. 361.

Question No. 367 answered with Question No. 361.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 361.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (369, 371)

Robert O'Donoghue

Question:

369. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance, particularly in cases where an applicant is an adult in receipt of disability allowance but is assessed on a household means basis due to living with parents and the person is financially independent but cannot live alone due to the impact of a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33936/26]

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Robert O'Donoghue

Question:

371. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline any plans to ensure that individuals in circumstances where the person is financially independent but cannot live alone due to the impact of a disability are not excluded from supports intended to address fuel poverty and vulnerability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33938/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 371 together.

The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

A change in the qualifying criteria such as disregarding the means and circumstances of household members who are not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations. Though disregarding a household member who is not reliant on a long term social protection payment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.

While the criteria for Fuel Allowance is designed to ensure that those who require the support the most receive it, there will always be exceptional cases. It is for this reason that my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers

The 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (370)

Robert O'Donoghue

Question:

370. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given in Budget 2027 to the introduction of greater flexibility or individual means assessment in cases where the person is financially independent but cannot live alone due to the impact of a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33937/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Means assessments generally include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. They also include assessment of property owned other than the family home and capital such as cash, savings, shares, and other investments.

The purpose of the means test on certain welfare payments is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State. The rules contained in Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended, provide that for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the applicant, and his or her spouse/partner or co-habitant where applicable, are assessable for means-testing purposes.

Couples living together in a household can be assumed to pool resources, at least to some extent. This assumption means the delivery of income support must take account of total household means, rather than just the means of the claimant, in determining how to target income support.

The same rationale is apparent in the rate structure for the majority of social welfare payments – the headline payment rate made to the second adult in the household is almost always lower, usually set at two thirds of the primary claimant’s maximum rate. The IQA rate structure and the means test both take account of household circumstances. If a person’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant works, their weekly earnings are assessed in line with the legislation governing means-tested payments.

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 means assessment would need to encompass the other schemes affected and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

Question No. 371 answered with Question No. 369.

Departmental Staff

Questions (372)

Micheál Carrigy

Question:

372. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of civil and public servants employed by his Department in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [33958/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department employs both permanent and temporary civil servants located in offices across the State. The table below outlines the numbers of full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants employed by the Department in each of the past ten years.

Year Ended	Total FTE Civil Servants
Dec-16	6,416.37
Dec-17	6,347.12
Dec-18	6,346.29
Dec-19	6,044.83
Dec-20	6,402.26
Dec-21	6,435.33
Dec-22	6,628.08
Dec-23	6,801.48
Dec-24	7,037.42
Dec-25	6,961.08

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (373)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total Exchequer expenditure incurred to date, by year since 2022, in respect of accommodation, income supports and associated services for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine; the estimated full-year cost for 2026; and the projected expenditure liability to March 2027. [33602/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I can advise the Deputy that the total expenditure by year since 2022 on Ukraine Accommodation and associated costs by the Department is as follows:

Year	€000
2022	514,571
2023	1,489,725
2024	1,210,415
2025	719,475

Please note that the 2022 outturn does not reflect the full costs which arose in 2022. A backlog of invoices arose in 2022 and early 2023 which were cleared as 2023 progressed.

This includes all expenditure incurred in this area by what is now the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, prior to the transfer of functions from that Department to the Department of Justice with effect from 1 May 2025 (S.I. No. 159 of 2025).

The expenditure includes payments in respect of accommodation, catering, facilities management, transport, IT, administration and other associated costs.

The allocation for 2026 in the Revised Estimates for the same costs is €606,995,000. The Department continues to monitor expenditure as the year progresses.

The projected expenditure liability for 2027 is not currently available and will depend on a number of factors which have yet to be determined. However, it is likely to be below the 2026 allocation.

The Deputy may wish to note that while my Department assists with the whole-of-Government response to the Ukraine crisis, other Departments and Agencies are also involved. In particular, it is to be noted that income supports and associated services are provided by the Department of Social Protection.

International Protection

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 375, 385 and 386 together.

Ireland intends to continue to support people from Ukraine who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

Proposals have been developed for Government in line with a recent EU Council Recommendation for a co-ordinated approach to transition people out of Temporary Protection across the EU.

Ireland is advancing the four sets of measures outlined in the Recommendation:

• Promote and facilitate the transition to other legal statuses before the end of temporary protection;

• Pave the way for a smooth and sustainable reintegration in Ukraine;

• Ensure information provision to displaced people and

• Ensure coordination, monitoring and exchange of information among Member States and with the Ukrainian authorities.

The Government will also be considering proposals to phase out state-funded accommodation that has been provided to people from Ukraine since 2022.

Any changes that are approved to this accommodation model would be introduced on a phased basis, with information and support provided to residents. The proposals will also consider ongoing supports for people with particular circumstances that would make it difficult for them to manage in independent accommodation.

There are about 16,000 people in commercial State-supported accommodation and over 40,000 people in subsidised accommodation in private homes.

The number of people living in state-provided accommodation has reduced considerably over recent years, as people source their own accommodation or move away. The Government has actively supported these moves to independence and greater integration.

While temporary protection is in place until March 2027, there may be further extensions to the directive which will be agreed at EU level.

Question No. 375 answered with Question No. 374.

International Protection

Questions (376, 378)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any verification, audit or assurance mechanisms are in place to assess claims relating to lack of safe housing in Ukraine; the body responsible for such oversight; and whether any audits or reviews have been conducted to date. [33605/26]

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Ken O'Flynn

Question:

378. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any formal assessment of housing availability, safety conditions, or regional stability in Ukraine for the purpose of informing Irish Government policy on return; and if so, to provide details of such assessments. [33611/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 378 together.

In 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council extended Temporary Protection until March 2027. This extension is due to the ongoing uncertainty and volatility of the situation in Ukraine, and the related need for ongoing protection in the EU. There may be further extensions to the directive which will be agreed at EU level.

Ireland supports a harmonised EU-wide approach to exiting Temporary Protection, so that when this transition occurs, it does so consistently and appropriately across the EU.

Ireland remains supportive of the European Commission’s role in leading the dialogue on exit strategies. The Department cannot pre-empt the outcome of future discussions and decisions of the EU in this regard.

The Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs met recently and discussed this transition and a proposal is being developed for Government consideration in the coming weeks. The Government will also consider proposals being developed to phase out State-funded accommodation, which has been provided to people from Ukraine since 2022.

These proposals will align with the EU Council Recommendation concerning a co-ordinated approach to transition people out of Temporary Protection across the EU. Ireland is advancing the four sets of measures outlined in the Recommendation:

* Promote and facilitate the transition to other legal statuses before the end of temporary protection;

* Pave the way for a smooth and sustainable reintegration in Ukraine;

* Ensure information provision to displaced people and

* Ensure coordination, monitoring and exchange of information among Member States and with the Ukrainian authorities.

Ireland’s objective is to achieve a coordinated and orderly exit from temporary protection through advancing the above measures.