Written Answers Nos. 754-773
754. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider allowing S contributions count towards PRSI contributions for Illness Benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39519/26]
View answerIllness Benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. The person must have made the required number of contributions under class A, E, H or P to qualify. In general, self-employed people make PRSI contributions at class S which does not provide entitlement to Illness Benefit.
Self-employed contributors pay class S PRSI at a rate of 4.2%. This is 11.25 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.45% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors do have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors.
The only benefits that class S PRSI does not provide access to are Health and Safety Benefit, Illness Benefit and Occupational Injuries Benefits. Self-employed contributors who are ill may qualify for Invalidity Pension.
In circumstances where people are ill but do not qualify for Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, my Department provides means tested supports under the Disability Allowance scheme and the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. An Additional Needs Payment may also be available to people who have expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
The Programme for Government includes an action to explore the option of giving self-employed workers access to Illness Benefit by means of making a higher PRSI contribution. My Department has commenced work in this regard and this proposal will be progressed over the lifetime of the Government.
Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
755. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to workers who temporarily leave the workforce due to unemployment, caring responsibilities, illness, or other life circumstances, and cannot access the PRSI treatment benefit scheme when they return to work, which can leave working people with many years of PRSI contributions losing access to support for dental bills because of a temporary break in employment; if his Department are considering any alternatives to make this scheme more inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39572/26]
View answerTreatment Benefit is a social insurance scheme provided by the Department. Under this scheme, eligible contributors can access dental and optical services, and grants towards certain medical appliances (hearing aids, medical lenses or wigs).
To qualify for most social insurance payments in Ireland, a person must satisfy two conditions, first have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid since they started work and secondly, they must have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant or governing contribution year. The Governing Contribution Year is the second last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim is made. The reason for the requirement to have paid contributions in the manner set out in legislation is to demonstrate a person's attachment to the workforce.
Individuals who temporarily leave the workforce due to ill health, caring responsibilities or unemployment may be awarded credited contributions which may help them to qualify for Treatment Benefit. If a person qualifies for Treatment benefit at age 60-65, they keep that entitlement for life.
In addition, depending on a person's circumstances they may qualify for Treatment Benefits based on the social insurance records of their spouses, partners, or cohabitant, if they don’t have enough of their own PRSI contributions.
Any changes to the current system would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, taking account of the prevailing economic circumstances, and in particular the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
756. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the Programme for Governments commitment to reform the disability allowance payment and remove anomalies in the current means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39577/26]
View answer757. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the means testing arrangements attached to disability allowance, particularly the assessment of a partner's income; whether consideration is being given to reforming the current system in light of concerns regarding financial autonomy, equality, independent living and the risk of financial dependency for disabled people; if he acknowledges concerns that the current arrangements may disproportionately impact disabled adults who are unable to work due to illness or disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39704/26]
View answer758. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the work he is doing to reform the disability allowance means test including whether a partner's income should form part of this means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39752/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 756, 757 and 758 together.
Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. Both the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2030 include significant commitments in this regard.
Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. It is a means-tested payment for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66. In order to be eligible, the disability must be expected to last for at least one year.
In common with other income support payments, Disability Allowance is intended to help a person who cannot derive sufficient income from employment - in the case of Disability Allowance this is due to the fact that the person is disabled.
The purpose of a means test is to ensure that scarce exchequer resources, derived from taxation, are directed to those with the greatest need. Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and their spouse or partner where applicable, is assessable. This recognises the fact that couples operate as a single household and can share living expenses in a manner not available to a single-person. The application of a household means test directs income supports to households with fewer resources and supports an economically sustainable and socially equitable allocation of scarce resources.
Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by my Department. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to €20,000 for most social welfare payments. A person’s family home is not assessed as means.
The earnings disregard for Disability Allowance has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. A person can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of Disability Allowance. In fact, a person can earn up to €527.60 a week and still retain a minimum rate of Disability Allowance and their secondary benefits.
The Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 - 2030 both contain a commitment to reform the Disability Allowance Payment and remove anomalies in the current means test for the payment. 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.
The Government recognises the additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
I recently ran a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,000 submissions received.
The submissions helped inform the agenda for the Summit which I hosted on the 13th of May 2026. It was an in-person and on-line event attended by many people with disabilities, Disability Person Organisations and other advocacy groups as well as representatives of many Government Departments and members of the Oireachtas together with senior Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance highlights that while the work on the cost of disability has been led by my Department the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Department's and agencies.
Following the Summit, a briefing paper will be produced outlining the key learnings. These will inform the approach that will be taken including, in relation to measure for inclusion in the next round of Actions Plans under the Strategy, and the measures that may be taken as part of Budget 2027. While the issue cannot be resolved in one budget cycle I, and my Government colleagues intend, to the best of our ability, to use the resources available in Budget 2027 to make a meaningful difference.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
759. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an otherwise valid ARP claim may be refused solely because his Department's internal “one-application-at-a-time” restriction prevented an applicant from submitting an ARP application that was attempted on 1 March 2026, in respect of a hosting arrangement that commenced on that same date which was prior to the legislative change that took effect on 3 March 2026. [39873/26]
View answer760. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is entitled, in such circumstances, to treat the later date of receipt (arising only because the system blocked the earlier submission attempt) as the legally relevant date for determining eligibility under the amended ARP rules. [39874/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 760 together.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced to recognise the contribution of members of the public who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Temporary Protection Beneficiaries displaced by the war in Ukraine. The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
I can confirm that the ARP online application system allows a person to apply for more than one property within a single application. If the Deputy can supply details of the application concerned, my officials will examine the case. Details can be sent to arp@welfare.ie.
761. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine an application for disability allowance submitted to his Department by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/26]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 13 May 2026. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
On completion of the necessary aspects of this application, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
It is open to the person concerned to apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance, while awaiting a decision on their DA application.
762. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the rules around eligibility for fuel allowance while on long-term SWA; if an individual is eligible for fuel allowance if they are waiting for a decision on another payment whose application has been ongoing for two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39948/26]
View answerA person receiving Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while awaiting a decision on a claim for another social welfare payment cannot be awarded the Fuel Allowance Payment. Furthermore, Fuel Allowance is not payable if an applicant is living with a person who is in receipt of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance pending award of a social welfare payment.
The reasoning for this is that the person receiving Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while awaiting a decision on a claim has not established their entitlement to the primary social welfare payment and also to ensure that moving from Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance to a primary social welfare payment doesn't result in a reduction in supports.
Fuel Allowance will be awarded, if appropriate, with the primary social welfare payment from the date of receipt of application.
Finally, while Fuel Allowance is not payable to a person receiving Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while awaiting a decision on a claim, my Department does provide Additional Needs Payments as part of the overall Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. 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.
763. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the mandatory retirement age for firefighters from 62 years-of-age to the State pension age of 66; if any review of the current retirement age arrangements has been undertaken or is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40009/26]
View answerThe retirement age for firefighters falls under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which has responsibility for the employment conditions for firefighters. More broadly, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has responsibility for employment in the public sector, including retirement ages for the wider public sector.
764. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the protections that are in place in respect of investments made by the three companies selected by the national automatic enrolment retirement savings authority to manage future funds; if the State guarantees are applicable to investments; and the degree to which he and or the authority can protect persons investments in the context of economic shocks and or downturns. [40022/26]
View answer765. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the costs to date in establishing My Future Funds; and the cost of engaging three companies to manage investments [40023/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 764 and 765 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with access to a quality assured retirement savings scheme, thereby giving greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income.
The new system - known as MyFutureFund - commenced on the 1 January 2026. Over 800,000 employees that weren't actively contributing to a qualifying pension or PRSA through payroll were eligible and were automatically enrolled in My Future Fund. The scheme is managed by a new statutory body, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), which operates under the aegis of my Department.
MyFutureFund is designed to be self-financing based on administration fees paid by all contributing participants and consequently the operation and continued development and evolution of the system will not require Exchequer expenditure. While seed funding is being provided to NAERSA by my Department to cover its initial set up costs, this will be repaid through an appropriation-in-aid approach when the administration fees generate a surplus income. This administration fee has been set at 55 cents per week on the basis of a detailed financial model on likely participation levels and operating costs, which took into account the sensitivity of these variables to change.
With regard to NAERSA's budget, a contract was signed on 9th October 2024 with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the provision of a managed service to administer the AE system on behalf of NAERSA. The cost of this contract will be in the region of €10 million p.a. over a 10 – 15-year period. NAERSA's annual staffing and corporate costs are estimated to be in the region of €10 million per annum.
Regarding the three investment managers, Amundi, Blackrock and Irish Life Investment Managers, the State has not borne any costs in relation to their management of investments. An investment management fee is charged to participants by the investment managers. This fee is less than 0.04% of assets under management (AUM). This is considerably lower than charges typically available in the market (typically 1.5% or higher) and consequently provides excellent value to the participants of MyFutureFund.
With regard to the State's costs in My Future Fund, these relate to the State 'top-up' to participants' contributions, which will be provided at a rate of €1 for every €3 saved by the employee. This State top-up is being provided instead of tax relief on contributions. The projected cost of the State top-up for this year is €154 million.
MyFutureFund is part of the supplementary retirement system, all of the fund including not just the employee but also the employer and state contributions, is the property of participants. The addition of a State contribution as well as an employer contribution provide a very significant buffer to protect the participants’ own contribution from downside risk. In addition, participants not only have the right not to participate but (via opt-out and suspend opportunities) but to choose between investment options.
As is the case, not just in Ireland but generally, retirement savings schemes including PRSA and occupational pensions, which benefit from State contributions or tax reliefs not available for standard savings accounts, do not attract an additional State guarantee. The provision of such a guarantee was not proposed as part of the very detailed and comprehensive design and development process. To provide a state guarantee in the case of MyFutureFund would likely be seen, and challenged, as State-aid favouring the auto-enrolment system over other retirement savings vehicles already in the market.
When procuring investment managers, considerable care was taken to ensure that the investment managers selected demonstrated a significant track record of success in managing pension investments, that the investment plans they offer are properly regulated and that they are rated under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). In addition, MyFutureFund uses a pooling system whereby participants get the benefit of the average return, for their preferred investment option, from across the three investment managers – this significantly dilutes the risk of one investment manager underperforming. NAERSA will also continuously oversee the performance of the procured funds through its investment management committee and will ensure there are systems of quality assurance with regards to the procured funds.
On this basis, MyFutureFund participants can have confidence that their investments will be invested in a responsible manner.
766. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the homemakers scheme and grant those in the scheme, who are on a reduced contributory pension, the full rate of the contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40117/26]
View answerMy Department provides State Pension payments through the State Pension (Contributory), which is a contributory payment based on a person's social insurance record and the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is means-tested social assistance payment. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right.
The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the social insurance contributions paid by workers and employers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. To qualify for this payment a person requires 520 (equivalent to 10 years) paid contributions.
The current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition and support to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is done through PRSI credits and through Homemaking Disregards under the Yearly Average method of calculating rate of pay, and through HomeCaring Periods under the Total Contributions Approach (TCA).
The Homemakers Disregard Scheme was introduced in April 1994 for use in the Yearly Average calculation. This allowed an applicant to apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since April 1994 spent caring for children under age 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation under the Yearly Average calculation method.
HomeCaring Periods were introduced under TCA. Up to 20 years of HomeCaring periods can be considered and this includes periods prior to 1994. Therefore, those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits and HomeCaring periods combined, qualify for a maximum State Pension (Contributory) where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. The maximum 20 years on HomeCaring periods was endorsed by the Commission on Pensions in its final report, published in 2021, and there are no plans to change this.
Since January 2024, Long-Term Carers Contributions (LTCCs) can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years (1040 weeks) or more, and these contributions can be used towards the calculation of their State Pension (Contributory) entitlement. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents, to cover gaps in their contribution record. These Long-Term Carers Contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can, where there are gaps in paid contributions, be used to satisfy the minimum 520 qualifying contributions condition. LTCCs are available to those who reach 66 since 1 January 2024 and those already over aged 66 at that date.
For those 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, the State Pension (Non-Contributory) is available. This is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State.
As with all other social assistance schemes, payments are based on an income need. The means test used plays a critical role in ensuring that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
Finally, where a person's spouse or partner is in receipt of a State Pension (Contributory), they can also apply for an increase for a Qualified Adult, amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory). This will be based on the Qualified Adult's means. The Increase for a Qualified Adult will automatically be paid directly to the adult dependent unless the adult dependent chooses to have it paid with the spouse's or partner's payment instead.
The combination of these measures means that no person with a viable income need falls outside these schemes.
767. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the living alone increase per year from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40163/26]
View answerThe number of recipients of Living Alone Allowance for each of the years 2020 - 2026 are given in the table below. These figures are as of 31 December each year for 2020 - 2025 and as of 30 April 2026 for April 2026.
|
Year |
LAA Recipients |
|
2020 |
218,728 |
|
2021 |
224,821 |
|
2022 |
233,685 |
|
2023 |
241,450 |
|
2024 |
248,671 |
|
2025 |
255,698 |
|
End April 2026 |
258,035 |
768. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the telephone support allowance per year from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40165/26]
View answerThe Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also receiving both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to support the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, by helping them maintain access to personal alarms or phones for security.
|
Year |
Telephone Support Allowance |
|
2020 |
136,564 |
|
2021 |
137,243 |
|
2022 |
144,082 |
|
2023 |
155,023 |
|
2024 |
159,227 |
|
2025 |
163,361 |
|
April 2026 |
164,449 |
769. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the fuel allowance per year from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40167/26]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season from September to April at the weekly rate of €38 from January 2026 or, if preferred, by way of two (lump sum) instalments, one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
Recipients of Working Family Payment were eligible for Fuel Allowance since the 1st of January 2026. There are currently 48,992 supported by Working Family Payment and receiving Fuel Allowance for the month of April 2026.
The table below details the numbers receiving weekly and instalment payments for the past six years:
|
Year |
Fuel Allowance |
|
2020 |
375,269 |
|
2021 |
366,793 |
|
2022 |
386,846 |
|
2023 |
411,395 |
|
2024 |
413,921 |
|
2025 |
420,646 |
|
April 2026 |
468,830 |
770. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the household benefits package per year from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40169/26]
View answerThe Household Benefits package is an important support that assists over 500,000 households with the cost of energy and television licences. The scheme is available to all individuals aged 70 or over, regardless of their means or household composition. It is also available to individuals aged between 66 and 69, and to those under age 66, subject to meeting specific qualifying conditions, such as being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.
The scheme is structured on a per-household basis, meaning that only one package is payable per dwelling, regardless of the number of qualifying individuals residing therein.
The total number of households in receipt of the Household Benefits package nationally at year-end for each of the past five years is as follows.
Figures for 2026 are not currently available.
771. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of the pension entitlement of a person (details supplied) could be carried out [40172/26]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision, as the person concerned has failed to establish that he has the minimum required (qualifying) contributions necessary for consideration of an application for mixed-insurance pro-rata State Pension (Contributory).
The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in the coming days.
772. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update in relation to an appeal (details supplied). [40210/26]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an appeal on 5th February 2026 in relation to a decision they received on their application for Disability Allowance. Having considered all of the available evidence the Appeals Officer found the means of the person concerned had been calculated correctly by the Department and the appeal was subsequently disallowed on 30th March 2026.
If the person concerned has additional information not previously submitted for consideration which was relevant at the date the claim was made that they now wish to bring to the attention of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, they may do so by completing an SWAO2 form to request a review under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
If the person concerned thinks the decision was erroneous by reason of a mistake as to the facts or the law it is open to them to request a review under Section 318 by submitting a written statement of the grounds on which a review of the decision is sought and include any new evidence that was not previously considered.
773. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the correspondence (details supplied); whether a dependent child aged 21 and in full-time third-level education can be included as a qualified child on a jobseeker's allowance claim; whether the person concerned is entitled to claim jobseeker's allowance in their own right during the summer months [40299/26]
View answerThe Child Support Payment is an extra amount for a qualified child paid to people in receipt of a long term social welfare payment. Where a child is in full time education the Child Support Payment may be paid until the child reaches 22 years or until the end of the academic year in which they turn 22.
The person concerned was awarded Child Support Payment when his Jobseekers Allowance claim was initially awarded. Payment of Child Support Payment ceased in July 2023 when the child reached 18 years of age. No application was received to have the Child Support Payment retained. The person concerned may now submit an application, providing the required details and the application will be considered.
Social Welfare legislation provides that a person shall be disqualified from receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance while attending a course of study including school/college holiday periods.
