Written Answers Nos. 381-400
381. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to awarding an invalidity pension to an applicant (details supplied); the current status of their application; when a decision is likely to be made in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46673/26]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 28 May 2026 and will receive their first payment to their nominated bank account on 25 June 2026. Any arrears due for the period 28 May 2026 to 24 June 2026 will issue shortly after their first payment date. The person referred to was notified of this decision on 16 June 2026.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of extending the parent’s leave and benefit by one week. [46685/26]
View answerThe Department for Children, Disability and Equality has policy and legal responsibility for family leaves, including Parent's Benefit, covering matters such as the duration of the leave. My Department has policy responsibility for the associated benefit, with a provision of over €123 million for 2026.
Parent's Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on Parent's Leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is currently paid for nine weeks per parent at €299 per week.
Extending Parent’s Benefit by one week per parent could result in an additional annual cost of over €13 million. It should be noted that these costings have been calculated using 2026 expenditure estimates. They are based on estimated recipient numbers and take up and are therefore subject to change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the child support payment for over 12s by €5. [46719/26]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the child support payment for children 12 years and over by €5, from €78 to €83, is €29.9 million. This estimate includes full rate and half rate child support payments.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
386. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the child benefit by €5. [46722/26]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the monthly rate of child benefit by €5, from €140 to €145, is €76.0 million.
This costing is based on the estimated number of beneficiaries in 2026 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of number of beneficiaries.
387. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the estimated first year and full year cost of an increase in €10 to each disability-contingent payment, in tabular form. [46723/26]
View answerThe estimated cost of providing a €10 increase to all disability-contingent payments is outlined in the table below. The total cost is estimated at €128.5 million.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
|
Scheme |
€million |
|
Disability Allowance |
€95.19 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€28.93 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€0.95 |
|
Injury Benefit |
€0.15 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
€0.44 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
€2.33 |
|
Blind Person's Benefit |
€0.46 |
|
Total |
€128.45 |
388. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of extending free travel to all recipients of the domiciliary care allowance. [46757/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025 has committed to examining extending the Free Travel scheme to include children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment payable at €360 a month per child. In addition, all recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance qualify for the Carer's Support Grant in June of each year. The current rate is €2,000 per year.
Based on 73,583 children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance, it is estimated that extending the Free Travel scheme to include those children, would cost in the region of €6.42 million in a full year.
The modelling of the cost is complex and needs to take account of multiple factors, including all children under nine already have free travel on public transport and children under 16 benefit from significantly reduced rates. It is also important to remember that it is the parent or guardian who receives Domiciliary Care Allowance - it is not paid directly to the child.
The Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families, has seen the extension of free travel on all Transport for Ireland services to all children between 5 to 8 years of age.
Any expansion of the Free Travel Scheme will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary resources available.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the living alone benefit by €5. [46758/26]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €5 per week is €66.9 million.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
391. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing jobseeker's pay-related benefit, jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's self-employed by €5. [46760/26]
View answerThe estimated first and full year cost of increasing Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Self Employed by €5 is €38.9 million.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
The rate of Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit is dependent on a recipient's previous earnings, number of social insurance contributions and duration on the payment. Estimating the cost of increasing maximum rates across duration and earnings bands is underway, but not yet complete.
392. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of equalising 18-24 years-of-age rates of jobseeker's benefit and allowance with the standard rates. [46761/26]
View answerThe estimated cost of equalising 18-24 years-of-age rates of jobseeker's allowance with the standard rates is €75 million. This includes increases for qualified adult dependents, where relevant.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
393. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing all working age social welfare payments including foster care allowance by €5. [46762/26]
View answerThe total cost of providing a €5 increase to all working age social welfare payments is estimated at €175.1 million.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
Matters relating to the foster care allowance are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality.
394. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing carer's allowance by €5. [46763/26]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of carer's allowance by €5 per week is €20.4 million.
This costing is based on current rates for those under and over 66 years, and assumes people on half rate will receive a proportionate increase.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
Furthermore, these costings include proportionate increases for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. Increasing the payment rates for these schemes to the levels as outlined in the question is likely to increase the take-up of these respective schemes and this additional inflow is difficult to estimate from a cost perspective.
395. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year costs of increasing the working family payment, one parent family payment and jobseeker's transitional by €5.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46764/26]
View answerThe estimated first and full cost of a €5 increase for One Parent Family Payment is €11.3 million.
In relation to Jobseekers Transitional Payment, the number of recipients at the end of April 2026 was 17,693. Using this figure, a €5 increase for these recipients would cost an additional €4.6 million based on the current rate for a full year.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
Working Family Payment differs from schemes such as Jobseeker’s Allowance in that it is based on the difference between household income and a threshold rather than a core rate with additional child and adult payments. As a result, to increase the rate of Working Family Payment would require an increase in the threshold and this would vary by family type.
The number of recipients of Working Family Payment as of the end of May 2026 was 55,617. On this basis a €5 increase per claimant would cost just under €14.5 million for the full year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
396. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing all disability-contingent payments by €5. [46765/26]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing disability-contingent payments by €5 per week is €64.2 million.
This estimate includes the following schemes: Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit, Injury Benefit, Incapacity Supplement, Disablement Pension and Blind Person's Benefit.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
397. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the child support payment for under 12 years-of-age by €5. [46766/26]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the child support payment for under 12 year of age by €5 is €42.2 million. This estimate includes full rate and half rate child support payments.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
398. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of restoring the right to retire to 65 years-of-age. [46767/26]
View answerThere is no set retirement age in Ireland, which varies depending on an individual's employment contract. Matters relating to employment contracts fall within the remit of the Minister of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Following a Government decision in response to the Commission on Pension’s report, the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 was enacted last year.
It is not possible for my Department to provide costings in relation to a right to retire at the age of 65. However, I have provided the estimated cost of reducing the State Pension age from 66 to 65.
It is important to note that the State Pension age was never 65 years of age. The State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) were never paid at 65 years of age. The Deputy may wish to note that there is no requirement for a person to be retired to receive the State Pension.
Actuarial analysis by officials in my Department indicates that, based on the rates of payment in 2026, the full year cost of reducing the State Pension age to 65 would be an estimated extra €550 million for one year. Demographic pressures will increase this additional cost considerably in subsequent years.
This estimate takes account of decreased expenditure arising from the non-payment of working age social insurance payments that would no longer be payable at age 65, including Jobseeker's Benefit, Benefit Payment for 65 year olds, Illness Benefit, and Invalidity Pension.
The Deputy may wish to note that the estimate of €550 million relates to social insurance payments only. High-level estimates indicate social assistance expenditure changes would not markedly alter the estimate of €550 million.
The estimate takes no account of any additional costs to public sector pensions, or potential knock on effects for other Government departments. Matters relating to public service pensions fall within the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The "Benefit Payment for 65 year olds" was introduced to provide a benefit payment for people who are aged 65 and who are required to retire, or who chose to retire, without a requirement to sign on, engage in activation measures or be available for, and genuinely seeking work. This payment was designed specifically to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 years of age but who do not qualify for the State Pension until age 66.
Demographic projections indicate significant increases in the number of future State Pension recipients which will impact on State Pension related expenditure. Clearly, reducing the State Pension age to 65 years of age would be very expensive and would require either considerable additional revenues, or, if introduced on a cost-neutral basis, very significant diversion of funds from elsewhere.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
399. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year costs of the working family payment, jobseeker's transitional, one parent family payment and the existing child support payments; and the number of respective recipients, in tabular form. [46768/26]
View answerThe estimated first year and full year cost of a €1 increase for One Parent Family Payment is €2.3 million, based on 43,418 recipients.
The estimated first year and full year cost of a €1 increase for the Child Support Payment for under and over 12s is €14.4 million, based on 321,021.
In relation to Jobseekers Transitional Payment, the number of recipients at the end of April 2026 was 17,693 based on this figure a €1 increase for these recipients would cost an additional €0.9 million based on the current rate for a full year.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2026.
It should be noted that Working Family Payment differs from schemes such as Jobseeker’s Allowance in that the rate is based on the difference between household income and a threshold rather than a general core rate with additional child and adult payments. As a result, to increase the rate of Working Family Payment would require an increase in the threshold and this would vary by family type.
The number of recipients of Working Family Payment as of the end of May 2026 was 55,617. On this basis a €1 increase per claimant would cost just under €2.9 million for the full year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
Scheme |
Recipients (#) |
Cost (€m) |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
43,418 |
2.3 |
|
Child Support Payment (Over & Under 12's) |
321,021 |
14.4 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
17,693 |
0.9 |
|
Working Family Payment |
55,617 |
2.9 |
400. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of qualified children associated with recipients of the working family payment, one-parent family payment, jobseeker’s transitional payment, and child support payments, in tabular form. [46769/26]
View answer401. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the most recent data on the number of recipient households of working family payment, one-parent family payment, jobseeker’s transitional payment, and the child support payment, by the number of qualified children in the household, in tabular form. [46770/26]
View answer402. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the most recent data on the number of children in respect of whom child benefit is paid where the parent or guardian is also in receipt of working family payment, one-parent family payment, jobseeker’s transitional payment and the child support payment, in tabular form. [46771/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 400, 401 and 402 together.
The table below outlines the total number of recipients, the number of supported children, the number who also received the Child Benefit Payment, and the household composition of supported children for May 2026. The Child Support Payment is not a standalone scheme, but is an additional payment amount for recipients of a social welfare payment with a child dependent.
For May 2026, there are 680,807 recipients of Child Benefit Payments with 1,267,030 beneficiary children. Child Benefit Payments cease when a young adult turns 19. Supported Child payments can remain in place until a young adult turns 22, if they remain in full-time education.
|
Schemes |
Working Family Payment* |
Jobseekers Transitional Payment |
One Parent Family Payment |
|
Recipients |
55,617 |
17,501 |
42,945 |
|
Supported Children |
109,884 |
29,293 |
82,465 |
|
1 Child |
22,578 |
8,886 |
18,141 |
|
2 Children |
18,847 |
6,144 |
14,730 |
|
3 Children |
9,381 |
1,908 |
6,841 |
|
4+ Children |
4,811 |
563 |
3,233 |
A child support payment is not payable on Working Family Payment. This refers to the number of children in families where Working Family Payment is in payment.
The number of children in respect of whom Child Benefit is paid, and their parent or guardian is also in receipt of Working Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment, or One Parent Family Payment, is set out below.
|
|
Working Family Payment |
Jobseekers Transitional Payment |
One Parent Family Payment |
|
Children |
99,130 |
28,201 |
80,676 |
