Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the period of a social welfare payment following the death of a dependent from six to 12 weeks as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50439/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has agreed a number of commitments that are to be achieved over the lifetime of the Government.
I am currently considering options for the Social Protection package as part of Budget 2026. Consideration and decisions in relation to any Social Protection measures as part of the Budget process will be taken in the context of overall funding available, the economic context and the competing Government priorities.
One of the proposals in the Programme for Government is to extend the period of payment after death from 6 weeks to 12 weeks. While in general, across Social Welfare schemes, payment continues for a period of 6 weeks after death, there are some exceptions.
In fact, some Social Welfare payments are already paid for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the recipient.
For Carer’s Allowance, the payment continues for a period of 12 weeks after the death of the person being cared for. In the case of Domiciliary Care Allowance, payment continues for a period of 3 months after the death of the recipient.
A high level estimate of the cost to implement this extension from 6 to 12 weeks across other relevant Social Welfare schemes is being undertaken by my officials but is not yet finalised. This costing will inform budget decisions and will be based on the estimated average number of recipients across all relevant social welfare schemes. It will be subject to change in light of emerging trends, changes in the number of recipients and any projections for future recipient numbers and other relevant data.
102. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed annual cost of the disability support payment. [50674/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAmong the key points made in the Indecon report on the cost of disability in Ireland was the fact that the costs of disability vary based on the type of disability a person has, and the impact that disability has on their daily lives - including through their needs for heating and lighting, transport, medication, therapies and treatment, housing adaptations, and education and employment supports to name just a few.
We know, therefore, that addressing the cost of disability won't be solved simply by providing higher payments via the social welfare system. The delivery of and access to services is also key.
This is one of the reasons why the Taoiseach has set up a Cabinet Committee on Disability and a dedicated programme office within his own Department - to make sure that the Departments and agencies of Government step away from their silos and work together to address this issue.
It is also why the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 takes a whole-of-Government approach. The publication of this strategy is a key Programme for Government commitment. It sets out 123 actions assigned to key Departments.
It also places the responsibility on the Department of Social Protection to lead a cross Government Strategic Focus Network on the issue of the cost of Disability, and to include people with disabilities and their advocates on this network, as partners in the work. I have asked my officials to expedite the establishment of this network with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of 2026.
In the meantime, I am engaged with my colleague Minister Jack Chambers to explore what might be feasible in the forthcoming budget. As the Deputy will be aware, the last number of Budgets, included some specific measures to assist disabled people with the rising cost of living. As part of Budget 2025, for example, a €400 Disability Support Grant for people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension, was paid in November 2024. together with a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025.
In addition, we have taken a range of measures to help people with disabilities secure and maintain employment including changes to the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the implementation of an early engagement outreach process within the Department to link people with disabilities with dedicated employment advisors, and the introduction of a new range of Work and Access supports.
I, and my Government Colleagues, are determined to build on this work through implementing the commitments in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans in the Programme for Government to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment, which will be increased incrementally over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50432/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to introduce a cost of disability payment in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50031/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection pursuant to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent cost of disability payment, the timeline for the introduction of the payment; the details of the planned payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50759/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 127 and 130 together.
The Programme for Government includes a range of commitments in relation to supports for disabled people. This includes a commitment to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment.
Our commitments in the Programme for Government will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
104. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to remove inconsistencies and anomalies in the current jobseeker's allowance scheme which discourage people from taking up employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50698/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the Programme for Government commitment, my Department is examining a new Working Age Payment.
The Programme for Government commits that the Working Age Payment will ensure that individuals will always see an increase in income when they work or take on additional hours. It will do this by addressing inconsistencies and anomalies in the current Jobseeker's Allowance Scheme which may discourage people from taking up employment.
A proposed Working Age Payment model would change the basis for payment, moving away from a ‘days of work’ approach to an income-based approach.
My officials are currently exploring potential models for a new Working Age Payment. It is intended to publish proposals for consultation later in the year.
In the meantime, there are a number of arrangements in place to incentivise and encourage people in receipt of the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme to take up work or to engage in training and development programmes to prepare for work. These include a disregard of €20 earnings per day for up to three days of employment, support under the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme which provides for the retention of the Child Support payments for up to two-years on taking up employment and the continued payment of welfare where a person returns to education and training or moves into self-employment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
105. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the new child poverty target that he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50586/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe setting of a new and ambitious Child Poverty Target is a commitment set out in the Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future. This commitment is also set out in the Government’s national strategy to reduce poverty, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025.
On 10th September last, based on these commitments, and a public consultation process that took place last year, the Government agreed a new Child Poverty Target of 3% or less, based on consistent poverty (which measures at risk of poverty and deprivation), to be achieved by the end of 2030.
This new Target will guide our cross-Government focus to reduce child poverty and ensure investment is targeted at children who need it the most.
The Target is very ambitious, reflecting a reduction of 5.5 percentage points from the current reported child consistent poverty rate of 8.5%, which is based on the Central Statistics Office's Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2024, published in March 2025, that is calculated based on 2023 income data.
In addition, the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach is developing a Dashboard of Indicators of Child Wellbeing, which will enhance the Target and allow for the measurement of child poverty and wellbeing in a holistic manner.
Given the multi-faceted nature of child poverty, a whole of Government focus is essential to deliver the Target. Along with targeted income supports for families and children, which is a key consideration for Budget 2026, we will focus on other key areas such as housing, childcare, education and employment.
This will require significant investment and commitment over the lifetime of this Government and beyond.
106. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection the means by which he is enhancing application processes within his Department, and providing additional resources where necessary, to ensure that individuals receive decisions on their applications in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50711/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently.
I am sure that the Deputy can appreciate how processing times can vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
My Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
I am pleased to report that most claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average, for all the main scheme areas.
My officials continually exploring and considering different options to seek to improve the processing times for those schemes that have not met their target.
107. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the rule that prevents widows, widowers and surviving civil partners from receiving illness benefit when they have made sufficient PRSI contributions. [49998/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason widows/widowers who work full-time and are in receipt of a widow's/widower's pension and pay PRSI and all other taxes are not eligible for illness benefit; his plans to change this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 113 together.
Illness 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. People must have made the required number of contributions under PRSI classes A, E, H or P to qualify.
The widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s pension was renamed the bereaved partner’s pension on 21 July 2025, the date of enactment of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025. This Act extends eligibility to a qualified cohabitant of the deceased person. The pension is a weekly payment to those who have lost their spouse, civil partner or qualified cohabitant and are covered by social insurance.
There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time but, generally, they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. Illness benefit and the bereaved partner's pension are, generally, not payable concurrently.
However, if a person is getting a reduced rate of the pension, they may also get a reduced rate of illness benefit, so that the combined amount of both payments is not greater than the maximum rate of illness benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled.
With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
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, including those referred to in the Deputy’s question, would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context and taking account of social insurance contribution rates and the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
108. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the establishment of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50696/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. The new system - to be known as My Future Fund - will commence from 1 January 2026.
My Future Fund will automatically enroll all employees, aged between 23 and 60 years of age, who are earning €20,000 or more per year (across all employments), and who are not actively contributing to a supplementary pension scheme through their employer's payroll. Those who fall outside the age and earnings threshold will be able to join My Future Fund by voluntarily opting in.
Contributions into 'My Future Fund' will be made by the employee and matched by their employer. In addition, the State will top-up participants' funds at the rate of €1 for every €3 that the employee contributes.
Implementation of 'My Future Fund' is well underway. Most recently I announced the names of the members of the Board, including the Chair, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), which is the statutorily independent body being established under the aegis of my Department to run the new scheme. Staff recruitment is at an advanced stage and this new body, eventually consisting of up to 50 staff, will be based in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. The premises will be ready in the coming weeks and, as it will be in Letterkenny, will be located near the Irish premises of TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), which is the contracted managed service provider to administer the scheme on behalf of NAERSA. I expect that NAERSA will be formally established next month.
Great progress has been made across several other workstreams and with multiple stakeholders, including with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS); with the the Revenue Commissioners, on whose payroll-related data NAERSA will determine eligibility; with Payroll Software Developers who are modifying their systems to calculate and deduct My Future Fund contributions and report on those to NAERSA; and with 3 different investment managers (Amundi, Blackrock and Irish Life Investment Managers) who will invest these contributions in accordance with rules set out in the legislation.
Parallel to these workstreams, a three-phased communications strategy continues to be rolled out. Over the summer we concentrated on raising employee/participant awareness with the ice-cream advertisement over the full range of media platforms. The current focus is on increasing awareness with employers. Thousands of employers and related professionals in HR and payroll have been directly reached through webinars, conferences and in person stakeholder meetings in recent months. Additional campaigns targeted at employers and employees will be run in the coming months in advance of the launch in January 2026, and for some time afterwards as well. An information hub with several useful resources exists at www.gov.ie/autoenrolment.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
109. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50710/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection when he expects to publish the comprehensive review of means test across the social welfare system as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50463/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 146 together.
Means tests are a central part of any social welfare system in ensuring that limited resources are targeted at those who are most in need. Ireland's system of social transfers consistently ranks among the top performers in the European Union for poverty reduction.
A key factor in this achievement is Ireland's use of means testing in targeting resources for the most vulnerable in our society. In addition, research indicates that targeting of supports to more vulnerable cohorts, through means testing, continues to be important even as societal income overall increases.
Means tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. A number of changes to means testing which provide for higher income disregards have been introduced in recent Budgets. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.
Currently, my Department is conducting a comprehensive review of means testing within the social protection system. The aim is to examine various means-tested schemes and identify any issues related to their respective means tests. With over 90 schemes, many of which are means-tested, this is a complex and detailed task.
It is my intention that the review's findings will guide decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future Budgets.
The review is nearing completion and I expect that it will be submitted to me very shortly. Due to the complexity of the review, I will carefully and thoroughly evaluate it to determine the best way to utilise its findings and identify those that warrant further consideration. However, any prospective changes to means testing arrangements will need to be evaluated and considered within the broader context of overall policy and budgetary considerations.
110. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have received the free travel pass since it was extended to persons who are medically unable to drive, by county; the cost of this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme. There are over 1.1 million customers with direct eligibility for Free Travel.
As part of Budget 2024, Free Travel was extended to people who are medically certified as unfit to drive.
From 29th July 2024, the measure extended access to the Free Travel scheme to:
• people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; and
• drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer.
There is no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify for Free Travel for those medically unfit to drive.
Application forms are available to download online at www.gov.ie/ft. Alternatively, application forms are available from any Intreo Centre, or by contacting the Free Travel Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at freetravelqueries@welfare.ie. Information in relation to Free Travel is also available on the Citizen's Information website.
Records held by the Department indicate that 3,478 customers were benefiting from this extension to the Free Travel scheme at end August 2025 (see table by county in the attached document).
Additional funding was allocated to the Free Travel budget for this extension of the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
111. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to support persons with disabilities into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49711/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is very aware of the difficulties that disabled people can face in entering and retaining employment. My Department provides a range of employment supports for disabled people in that regard.
My Department's Intreo service is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports in the State. Disabled people can access mainstream employment schemes such as Community Employment and Tús as well as referral to tailored supports such as Employability, a service that offers a professional job-matching service, on-going support and advice and information on employment supports for disabled people.
In July 2022, my Department launched Early Engagement. The scheme aims to proactively engage with young disabled people or those in the early stages of disability or illness about options for education, training or employment. Over 33,000 people have been contacted and over 4,300 referrals have been made for further education or employment supports since the scheme launched.
In July 2024, my Department launched a new scheme called Work and Access. This scheme offers seven supports to improve access in the workplace for people with a disability. Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and training.
In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme - it is co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme. This programme aims to support disabled people into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects. So far, 4,005 people have engaged with the programme and it aims to support over 13,000 disabled people over its lifetime.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire disabled people through a subsidy. In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible and flexible. As a result, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. The scheme was expanded to those on Partial Capacity Benefit and to the community and voluntary sector.
An additional €3.7 million has been allocated to the scheme. In June this year, we launched the revamped scheme. A media campaign to raise awareness of this very beneficial scheme for employers and employees followed the launch.
Notwithstanding these improvements, the Government recognises that more needs to be done to support disabled people into employment. The Programme for Government commits to examining ways to make it easier to regain Disability Allowance if employment ceases and to expanding successful programmes like WorkAbility.
In addition, the Government recently launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. This strategy prioritises a cross-government approach and my Department, alongside the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will lead the employment pillar, focused on improving access to the workplace for disabled people.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in light of the prevailing policy and budgetary context.
112. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to undertake a review of the hot school meals scheme, specifically to examine the quality and nutritional value of the food being provided; whether the current levels of food waste associated with the programme are justifiable; and the steps being taken to ensure the scheme is regularly reviewed and held accountable to deliver best outcomes for children. [50592/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since the scheme's inception and were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:
• Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
My department established an interdepartmental working group, which includes the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Youth, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, to oversee and make recommendations on the operation of the School Meals Programme.
I have directed that a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards be undertaken. This will be conducted by a newly recruited dietician in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards to be submitted to me by the end of this year. In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, was removed from the school menu from September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted, as an option, once a week at most when selected by the child’s parents.
As the primary relationship is between the school and supplier my department does not have data in relation to uncollected school meals. All suppliers have a meal cancelation policy.
In terms of packaging and waste, under tender documentation, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively address environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. Depending on the school size and school meal requirements, the school will decide on the method and logistics that best meets their needs in line with environmental standards.
In addition, under tender documentation requirements, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities, and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices. The supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used. My department does not collect details of the amount of additional waste school meals. This is managed at school level.
Under the Programme for Government, I will 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, the reduction food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
My department has an oversight role in relation to the School Meals Programme and conducts regular inspections of schools which includes reviewing the menu. Under the existing audit process, some 400 schools are inspected onsite annually by that department. In total, 121 desk assessments were carried out in 2024. This represents a 20% total check on schools. For 2025, 400 schools will be inspected and the desk assessments will be increased to circa 250 cases as more schools become eligible to join the programme. Ongoing audits can increase or decrease based on risk assessments levels.
These inspections assist this department in ensuring standards are being met in relation to different areas of the School Meals Programme.
114. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to 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. [50748/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department offers a range of employment schemes and other supports to encourage long-term unemployed people to return to work, while also assisting communities across the country in the provision of vital services. They are targeted at people who have been on an unemployment payment or certain other social welfare payments for a specific period of time.
Community Employment (CE) and Tús are employment activation measures designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The Rural Social scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
There are currently 19,557 participants on CE, 4,572 participants on Tús and 2,619 participants on the RSS. Government investment in the schemes will amount to over €515 million in 2025.
The weekly rate of pay on CE/Tús/RSS is determined by the underlying social welfare payment which would be payable to the participant based on their household composition and financial circumstances, plus the weekly top up rate of €27.50. Participants may also be entitled to increases in relation to a qualified adult or qualified children or fuel allowance.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ‘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'. This commitment will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in the annual budget context and in light of available resources.
Any changes to the rates of these schemes including an increase to the current €27.50 per week top up amount will have budgetary implications and would need to be considered in the Department's overall policy and budgetary context.
115. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to address delays in processing illness benefit and invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50783/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of health-related schemes, can take longer to process.
My Department continually strives to process applications within or below the target processing times set for each scheme.
To enable my Department to make timely and fair decisions on applications, applicants should ensure that they complete the application fully and attach all the supporting documentation required. It is particularly important that an applicant provides, at the outset, all the relevant details to best support their claim. This will eliminate the requirement for a Deciding Officer to have to revert to an applicant for clarifications or missing information.
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to providing a timely service and improving times and I am pleased to say most schemes are better than or within target. The desire to process applications quickly must be balanced with ensuring decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions.
The table below shows the average processing times at the end of August 2025 for Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension.
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to Award |
Target |
Measurement |
Recorded Processing Times |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6 |
90% |
In 10 weeks |
94% |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
90% |
In 1 week |
95% |
116. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of active cases of social welfare fraud investigation currently ongoing in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50827/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s Compliance and Anti Fraud Strategy sets out a range of measures designed to prevent and detect fraud, ensure effective oversight of schemes, recover any overpayments identified and to pursue the prosecution of offenders where appropriate.
Where suspected fraudulent activity is identified, each individual case is examined and the Department then decides on the most appropriate course of action, up to and including prosecution, if warranted.
Data is not available on active suspected fraud cases under investigation. Investigations are only categorised as suspected fraud when a Deciding Officer has examined the case in detail and is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that a person deliberately provided false or misleading information or willfully concealed relevant information in relation to their entitlement. The Deputy will appreciate that there is a high evidential standard to be met in such cases.
During 2024, almost 115,000 overpayments were raised with just over 6,000 being categorised as suspected fraud, with overpayments raised to a value of €24.3m in respect of these cases.
117. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any plans there are for work activation and disability access to work, including any improvements or streamlining planned for schemes such as the reasonable accommodation scheme and the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50111/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of employment supports to facilitate access to the workplace for disabled people.
My Department's Intreo service is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports in the State. Disabled people can access mainstream employment schemes such as Community Employment and Tús as well as referral to tailored supports such as Employability. This is a service that offers a professional job-matching service, on-going support and advice on employment supports for disabled people.
In July 2022, my Department launched Early Engagement. This aims to proactively engage with disabled people in the early stages of disability or illness about options for education, training or employment. Over 33,000 people have been contacted and over 4,300 customers have been referred to employment and further training opportunities. Engagement with the scheme is entirely voluntary.
In July 2024, my Department launched a new scheme called Work and Access following a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness Support Scheme. The review recommended to merge the two schemes into a single, flexible scheme and to expand and improve the supports offered under the new scheme. The new scheme now offers seven supports to improve access to the workplace for disabled people. Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and training. A media campaign ran last year to raise awareness surrounding the new scheme and my officials have been promoting the scheme around the country.
In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme - it is co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme. This programme aims to support disabled people into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects. The programme aims to support over 13,000 disabled people over its lifetime.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire disabled people through a subsidy. In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to update the scheme and make it more accessible to disabled people and their employers. As a result, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. The scheme was expanded to some of those on Partial Capacity Benefit and to the community and voluntary sector. In June this year, we launched the reformed scheme. A media campaign followed the launch.
Notwithstanding these improvements, the Government recognises that more needs to be done to support disabled people into employment. The Programme for Government commits to review the minimum hours requirement under the Wage Subsidy Scheme and examine an increase to the payment rate. It also commits to expanding successful programmes like the new Work and Access scheme.
In addition, the Government recently launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. This strategy prioritises a cross-government approach. My Department, alongside the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will lead the employment pillar, focused on improving access to the workplace for disabled people.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in the context of the annual budget process and in light of the resources available.
118. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the policy whereby a person in receipt of the State pension is only entitled to half-rate carer’s allowance, even when continuing to provide full-time care; and if he accepts that this creates an inequity compared to younger carers who are entitled to the full rate. [50003/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance is the main income support scheme for family carers in the community. Under the one payment per person rule, people eligible for multiple social welfare payments typically receive the higher of the available options. This reflects the fact that payments are intended as an income support that arises due to a specified contingency that eliminates or significantly restricts a person’s ability to earn an income from employment.
However, as an exception to this rule, where a person is receiving a social welfare payment such as State Pension, and also caring for 35 hours or more per week, they can also receive a payment equivalent to up to half the Carer’s Allowance rate. This means that a person currently in receipt of a Carer's Allowance who may have an underlying entitlement to another social welfare payment can transfer to that payment and continue to receive a payment the maximum of which is up to a half-rate Carer's Allowance. This arrangement applies to almost all weekly social welfare payments and to people in receipt of increases for a qualified adult.
Therefore, carers of pension age receive an increase in their support payments because they can simultaneously receive both the State Pension and another payment which is equivalent to a half-rate Carer's Allowance which is paid at a higher rate for those over 66.
In addition, carers receiving the Half-rate Carer’s Allowance also benefit from the €2,000 annual Carer’s Support Grant.
The Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to support carers of pension age. These include progressively increasing weekly pension and carer payments and continuing to increase the annual Carer's Support Grant.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in the overall budgetary and policy context.
119. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the domiciliary care allowance from 16 to 18 in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50032/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.
As part of Budget 2025, the payment increased by €20, to its current rate of €360.
In August 2025, more than 60,502 families were in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of over 68,500 children. Claims have doubled since 2015.
Domiciliary Care Allowance stops being paid when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name. If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care they can then retain, or apply for, a carer's payment.
One of the key proposals in the Green Paper on Disability Reform was to extend the upper age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the lower age limit for Disability Allowance to 18 years of age. The Green Paper was a consultation document. Based on the feedback received during the public consultation, the Green Paper was withdrawn.
120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on removing the means test for carer's allowance; whether a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the abolition of means test for carer's allowance. [50775/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to significantly increase the income disregards for carer’s allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50585/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 123 and 167 together.
The Programme for Government has clearly set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing 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.
This is a major change to the Carer's Allowance scheme and to the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable and which does not unduly limit our scope to support other vulnerable groups in society.
It is also important to note that we are in the process of easing the means test. The latest change occurred in July when the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance was increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This was as a result of a Budget 2025 measure. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively, or 88%, since June 2022. Such improvements mean that many more carers can avail of Carer’s Allowance or potentially receive a higher rate of payment.
The latest increases mean that a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €69,000 will still retain their full carers payment and even with an income of €97,000 will retain a partial payment.
I will consider any further improvements to the Carer's Allowance means test in light of the commitment contained in the Programme for Government and within the context of the upcoming Budget and in light of available resources.
