My Department has made significant progress on the Programme for Government commitments under its remit. Due to the large number of commitments, it is not possible to include them all in this response, so they will be provided to the Deputy electronically and in tabular format as requested. Updates on a range of commitments are set out in the table below.
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Programme for Government Commitment where DSP is a major stakeholder
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Update – May 2026
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Set an ambitious child poverty target ensuring a focus on inequality.
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This commitment has been delivered. A new Child Poverty Target was approved by Government and announced in September 2025.
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Examine the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers.
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This commitment has been delivered. From June 2025, Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility has been extended to include children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid.
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Continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, reduce food waste and utilise recyclable packaging.
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The Hot School Meals Programme was extended to all primary schools from September 2025 supporting 3,200 schools benefitting more than 550,000 children. Across all meal types there some 3,700 schools and 682,000 children eligible for the School Meals Programme. The Department continues to work with small schools who have difficulty securing a supplier.
The Department has seconded a CORU-registered dietician for the School Meals Programme who is under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health. One of their main tasks is an in-depth review of school meal supplier menus and their compliance with the nutritional standards. The issue of waste and recycling has been written into the Call for Tender and other procurement templates.
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The Government will protect core welfare rates while ensuring that available resources are targeted at vulnerable groups who are unable to work such as carers, people with disabilities and pensioners.
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Core welfare rates were protected in Budget 2026, with an above inflation increase of €10 per week in the maximum weekly personal rates of payment. Additional supports were provided such as the largest ever increase in the Child Support Payment, the largest ever increase in the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance, and increases in the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, among others.
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Maintain the State Pension Age at 66.
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Social welfare legislation provides for 66 as the State Pension Age.
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Safeguard the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund by fully implementing the PRSI Roadmap 2024 – 2028.
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The increases agreed as per the PRSI roadmap from 2024 to 2028 were legislated for in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, which was enacted in July 2024. The first increase of 0.1% across all PRSI rates became effective from 1 October 2024. The second increase of 0.1% on all rates became effective from 1 October 2025.
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Progressively increase weekly pension payments.
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Budget 2026 provided for a €10 increase in the maximum weekly personal rates of payment across pension schemes from January 2026.
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Examine improvements to key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Allowance to support vulnerable groups.
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Budget 2026 provided for a number of improvements to the Fuel Allowance scheme. This included:
• A €5 increase in the weekly rate of payment;
• An extension in the eligibility of Fuel Allowance for recipients of the Working Family Payment; and
• People in receipt of Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can retain Fuel Allowance for five years after exiting their payment to take up employment.
Furthermore, in response to the energy crisis arising from the conflict in the Middle East, the Government extended the fuel allowance season by a 4 week period until the week ending 1st May 2026. This will provide an additional €71 million to vulnerable households to contribute to their energy costs.
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Continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
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Budget 2026 provided for the largest ever increase in the carer’s allowance income disregards – an increase of €375 per week to €1,000 for single people, and an increase of €750 per week to €2,000 for a couple. This measure will come into effect in July 2026 and means that a carer in a two-adult household with an income of over €100,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment. The latest changes are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to eliminate the means test over the lifetime of its term, and will do so in a progressive manner as part of the annual Budget process.
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Introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment.
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Being progressed under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People – Strategic Focus Network summit was held in May with a view to bringing a proposal to Govt before the summer recess in preparation for Budget 2027.
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Progressively increase weekly Disability Payments and the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
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As part of Budget 2026 measures announced:
• a €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance, and,
• €10 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2026. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate.
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Review the minimum hours requirement under the Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities and examine an increase to the payment rate.
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As a result of reviewing the subsidy rate, Budget 2026 provides that from April 2026:
• The two lower rates of €6.30 and €6.93 are being combined and increased to €7.50;
• The two middle rates of €7.56 and €8.19 are being combined and increased to €8.50; and
• The two higher rates of €8.72 and €9.45 are being combined and increased to €10.
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Examine the eligibility criteria for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
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Eligibility for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was extended to children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid from June 2025. As part of Budget 2026 measures, Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance extended to eligible children aged 2 and 3.
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Set a new child poverty target and examine ways to lift more children out of child poverty.
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New Child Poverty Target approved by Government and announced in September 2025. The successor to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion is being developed.
Budget 2026 provides for a package of measures to tackle child poverty and to support families. The package includes:
• the largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the State,
• increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds of €60 per week, for all family sizes,
• families receiving the Working Family Payment qualify for the Fuel Allowance for the first time,
• expansion of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to 2 and 3 year olds for eligible recipients,
• extension of the Back to Work Family Dividend for people in receipt of Disability Allowance and Blind Pension; and
• increase of €20 per month in the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
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Explore a targeted Child Benefit Payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports to reduce Child Poverty such as the Working Family Payment and Child Support Payment.
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A public consultation on on Potential New Working Age and Targeted Child Payments was launched in April, with a closing date of 12 June 2026.
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Expand the eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
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This commitment has been delivered as part of Budget 2026 - families receiving the Working Family Payment qualify for the Fuel Allowance.
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Increase core welfare payments, ensuring that resources are also targeted at people who are unable to work.
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Budget 2026 provided for a €10 increase in the maximum weekly rates of core welfare payments.
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Progressively increase the Child Support Payment
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The 2026 Budget package included the largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the State, with a weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over (a 26% increase), and a weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12 (a 16% increase). This brings the total annual value of the Child Support Payment to €3,016 for each child under 12 and €4,056 for each child 12 and over.
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Enact legislation to give entitlement to unmarried cohabitants to a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension.
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The Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025 was enacted on 21 July 2025. The provisions of the Act commenced from that date.
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Complete the roll-out of Hot School Meals to all Primary Schools in 2025.
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All primary schools are eligible for the Free Hot School Meals Programme from September 2025. All the procurement templates provided by the Department of Education Schools Procurement Unit were revised by the Department of Education in consultation with the Interdepartmental working group for the Schools Meals Programme and were published on 15 August 2025. New schools joining the programme can avail of the cold lunch option until procurement for Hot Schools Meals has been completed.
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Implement the Summer 2025 Holiday Meals pilot project and evaluate this initiative aimed at closing the nutritional gap during school closures.
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As part of Budget 2025, €1.3 million was allocated for a Holiday Hunger pilot project to support some 68,000 of our most vulnerable children with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. Applications were received from 914 schools. This initiative supported some 42,200 of the most vulnerable children with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. A joint evaluation of the Holiday Hunger Pilot Project was conducted with the Department of Education and Youth.
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Introduce Pay Related Benefit in March 2025 linking unemployment payments to previous earnings for those who have contributed to the Social Insurance Fund and who lose their jobs.
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Pay Related Benefit for jobseekers launched on 31 March 2025. On 10th March 2026, some 34,301 individuals were in receipt of this payment. The scheme provides a maximum weekly payment of €450, which helps people during the period of uncertainty while they seek new employment.
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Introduce the Auto Enrolment My Future Fund in September 2025 to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement savings.
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MyFutureFund is fully operational. The National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority has assumed responsibility for all matters. Some 800,000 people have been automatically enrolled and over 7,000 have opted in, across over 100,000 employers. Over 99% of employers have registered with payment details.
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Publish a new Employment Strategy focused on intensive engagement and supports to help those most distant from the labour market into the workforce.
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A successor Pathways to Work strategy for the period 2026-2030 is being currently developed and is intended to be published in the summer. Drafting of the strategy is at an advanced stage, informed by the extensive consultation process.
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Increase the number of recruitment fairs and job matching services connecting employers with jobseekers.
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In 2025, a total of 660 events were organised by the Department’s Employer Relations division, compared to 486 organised in 2024. During 2025, over 104,000 jobseekers met with 3,432 employers at these events. A total of 2,361 job matching services were carried out by Employer Relations during 2025, compared to 2,412 carried out in 2024. A total of 135 events have been organised by Employer Relations in Q1 of 2026, compared to 208 organised in Q1 of 2025. During Q1 of 2026, over 18,000 jobseekers met with 765 employers at these events. A total of 309 job matching services were carried out by Employer Relations during Q1 of 2026, compared to 828 carried out in Q1 of 2025.
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Carry out a comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system taking into account the recent Report on Means Testing by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection with a view to creating a fairer social welfare system.
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The Review of Means Testing is at an advanced stage and is expected to be shortly submitted to the Minister for his consideration.
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Provide increased flexibility to local Community Employment (CE), TÚS, and Rural Social Schemes to retain participants for longer when it benefits both the individual and the community.
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The Department has in place increased flexibility to enable participants to remain within their work programme through the provision of temporary extensions. A work programmes participation may be extended where the participant is in continued training/education in the case of CE, or where there is no replacement to fulfil specific community needs. The Department also introduced Rural Social Scheme Review measures to offer 3-year contracts to RSS participants, while those who are 60 years or over may remain on the scheme, provided they maintain eligibility to a qualifying payment, until they reach 66.
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In particular, work to ensure there is some discretion at local level so that vulnerable individuals who have little prospect of entering paid employment are not forced off CE schemes when their three-year term expires.
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The Department introduced increased flexibility to enable CE participants remain within their work programme through the provision of temporary extensions. CE participation may be extended where the participant is in continued training/education in the case of CE, or where there is no replacement to fulfil specific community needs. A facility was also delivered to enable CE projects to claim an additional €1,000 towards their material costs.
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Increase the top-up payment for participants on CE, TÚS, and the Rural Social Scheme in recognition of the important work they do in local communities.
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As part of Budget 2026 measures, a €5 increase in the top up for Community Employment, Tús and Rural Social Scheme participants (from €27.50 to €32.50 per week) was included. Participants will also benefit from the €10 increase in the maximum weekly personal rates of payment, and the increases in the child support payment, where applicable.
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Continue to support and increase the places on successful local programmes such as CE, TÚS and the Rural Social Scheme which do vital work in local communities.
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At the end of March 2026, there were 19,644 participants on Community Employment (CE) and 4,378 on Tús. Work continues on promoting the CE scheme to people receiving a Qualified Adult (QA) payment on a Jobseekers claim and to customers aged over 50 who are signing for 'Credit only'. Currently there are 77 QAs and 322 credit only customers on CE. Tús continues to be actively promoted to 18-year-old customers who have a low probability of exit from the LR. Three recommendations from the RSS review report were implemented from January 2026. At the end of March there were 2,651 participants on RSS, of which 76 joined through the Rural Dweller Pilot, 4 from the Couple using the same herd/fishing number and 13 through the Defined Connection change.
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