Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
210. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not collect or publish data on the number of foreign born adults in receipt of means tested social welfare payments; when this data was last reviewed for statistical or policy relevance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47967/26]
View answer211. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not record or publish the nationality or place of birth of qualified adults attached to primary social welfare claims; the number of such qualified adults currently supported by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47968/26]
View answer214. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department intends to introduce improved demographic data collection including nationality, place of birth, and qualified adult status for means tested welfare schemes; the expected timeline for any such reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47971/26]
View answer218. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the legal or policy basis on which his Department has decided not to collect data on the nationality or place of birth of qualified adults or foreign born recipients of means tested welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47975/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 211, 214 and 218 together.
I am satisfied that all necessary data relating to the determination of eligibility for social protection payments is collected by my Department, including in respect of eligibility for the Increase for a Qualified Adult. Neither nationality nor place of birth determine eligibility to social protection payments. It is a core statutory requirement that all claimants, regardless of nationality, must meet the specific criteria for each scheme, which can include the Habitual Residence Condition and/or a means test.
Comprehensive data, including nationality breakdowns, are published routinely by my Department. Quarterly statistics are compiled and published in open-data CSV format, accessible through gov.ie/dsp/statistics, and newly through the CSO's data portal (table DSP03). Annual data is published in PDF format in the Annual Statistics Report, and in excel format. Both the quarterly and annual statistical reports have gone through the Irish Statistical System Code of Practice certification process in conjunction with the CSO, and have been certified as Official Statistics.
The Department operates over 90 schemes and services, each with their own operational rules and eligibility criteria, which are spread across a number of operational systems. Given the scale of the Department's operations, it is not possible to report on every conceivable breakdown of the customers of these schemes and services; however, the information which is made available is kept under review.
The published statistics are prepared on the basis of the recipient customer, as over 96% of claims in payment from my Department do not have an associated an associated Increase for a Qualified Adult. The open data published as part of the Quarterly Statistical Report covers schemes accounting for between 85-90% of Departmental expenditure, while the Annual Report provides a comprehensive breakdown of recipients, beneficiaries, and expenditure across all schemes in the given year.
I am satisfied that the statistical information on Departmental expenditure, and on recipients and beneficiaries, is comprehensive and freely available. I also satisfied that sufficient information is available to produce insights for the day-to-day operation of the Departments schemes and services, for the policy planning and forecasting process, and for public insights into social protection recipients and beneficiaries.
