Written Answers Nos. 121-140
121. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed; the estimated increase in PRSI rates which would be required to meet this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50441/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed contributors pay class S PRSI at a rate of 4.1%. This is 11.15 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.25% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors do have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors.
The cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed was considered as part of the last Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund as at 31 December 2020 which was published in March 2023. The review found that if the benefit was extended to all self-employed contributors from 2024, the annual cost to the Social insurance Fund would be around €87 million by the end of 2030. The PRSI class S rate would need to be increased by 0.48 percentage points to cover the cost of this extension to the self-employed.
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. This work includes analysis and assessments of potential costings and the appropriate PRSI rates required in those contexts.
Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
122. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider a revision of the TÚS programme guidelines for people in receipt of disability allowance, in order to allow them to remain on the scheme for up to 24 months, or more, if they wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50591/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is a community work placement programme which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús is focused on jobseekers that are unemployed for twelve months or more with the targeted activation of this cohort aiming to provide additional assistance and a renewed impetus to these jobseekers who could otherwise be in danger of falling into persistent long-term unemployment.
Regardless of the participants qualifying criteria, each Tús contract is for a maximum of 12 months. This time limit is set to ensure that the available placements are open to as many people as possible and ensure that the Tús programme compliments the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies.
In August 2022, the Department introduced a measure to allow a percentage of Tús participants due to exit to be further extended, in certain circumstances, for a maximum of six months.
My Department offers further opportunities to Tús participants who are still unemployed on completion of their Tús placement, through the Community Employment (CE) scheme. The commencement of a CE placement is available as a progression path for a jobseeker, and this can be accessed with the assistance of an employment personal advisor in their local Intreo office.
My Department continues to review all of its activation programmes to ensure the best outcomes for all concerned. However, currently there are no plans to extend the scheme for more than 12 months for people in receipt of Disability Allowance. Government recognises the value of the Tús programme as a positive initiative involving a large number of placements engaged in valuable service delivery to individuals and communities across Ireland, whilst also enabling the long-term unemployed to up-skill themselves for prospective future employment.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
124. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider changing the means-test for the state pension (non-contributory) from gross to net income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, 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.
My Department has over 90 schemes of which a significant number are means-tested schemes, each with their own means test, on both a statutory and non-statutory basis. The means test for any scheme, including State Pension (Non-Contributory), plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring.
Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.
When assessing income from employment for the purposes of social assistance schemes, PRSI contributions, pension contributions and trade union subscriptions are deducted from gross earnings. These deductions from insurable employment are set out in Chapter 6 of Part 3 of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2007.
If overall net rather than gross income was assessed for State Pension (Non-Contributory), it would mean that changes in tax rates or tax reliefs could change the claimant’s entitlement and significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment and inevitably prolong the assessment process.
People pay varying amounts of tax depending on their level of earnings and personal circumstances. Allowing taxation as a deduction in the means test could mean that the social welfare system, in effect, refunds a person's tax liability. Also, a person may see the benefit of a reduction in their tax bill, which would increase their net pay, eroded through an associated reduction in their social welfare payment.
It would also have significant budgetary implications and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes.
125. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the report on benchmarking and indexing working age social protection rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50573/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 contains a commitment to "Consider and prepare a report for Government on the potential application of the benchmarking approach to other welfare payments".
The roadmap also includes a commitment to develop a benchmarking approach for use in adjusting the value of State pension payments. It is worth noting that indexing weekly social protection rates to only one measure, such as inflation, presents a challenge as it can widen the income gap between those dependent on social protection payments and other people in society.
The smoothed earnings approach proposed by the Department to index the rate of State Pension payments was subsequently endorsed by the Commission on Pensions and addresses this challenge as it links the pension rate to 34% of average earnings, and allows for variation in periods where inflation exceeds earnings growth.
In 2022 the Government decided that the Minister for Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate of pension payment calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of Budget discussions, on an annual basis, starting from September 2023.
Since then, this calculation has been prepared and submitted annually to Government as part of preparations for the Budget.
A report on the benchmarking and indexing of working age social protection rates is being undertaken by my Department.
The Government has also committed, under the Programme for Government - "Securing Ireland’s Future", to increase core welfare payments, ensuring that resources are also targeted at people who are unable to work over the lifetime of the Government.
126. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the capital element of the means test for the non-contributory pension, which has not been updated in many years and unduly penalises people with savings or a small parcel of land. [50761/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMeans testing payments ensures that the State’s limited resources are directed towards those who are in the most need of financial support.
The means test examines cash income (including income from work) and capital (savings and investments), as well as property that someone does not personally use. The house in which a customer resides – their principal residence or home - is not assessed.
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, 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 specific capital rules for the scheme are set out in schedules to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended.
Where someone owns property, or has investments, or any other form of capital, the value of the capital is assessed using a standard formula (set out in the table below), regardless of whether the person is getting an income from the property or investment.
|
Capital |
Weekly means assessed |
|
First €20,000 |
Nil |
|
Next €10,000 |
€1 per €1,000 |
|
Next €10,000 |
€2 per €1,000 |
|
Balance |
€4 per €1,000 |
Different formulae are used to calculate weekly means assessed for schemes such as Disability Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Any prospective changes to means testing arrangements will need to be evaluated and considered within the broader context of overall policy and budgetary considerations.
128. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his views, in light of a report (details supplied) showing almost half of families cutting back on essentials, whether he accepts that successive Governments have failed to protect families from rising cost-of-living pressures; and if he will introduce a dedicated cost-of-living package in Budget 2026. [50754/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe increases in consistent poverty rates, as reported in March 2025 by the Central Statistics Office in its Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2025, are disappointing and reinforce the need for targeted supports to those most in need.
It is also important to recognise that the CSO data is based on data collected in 2023 and therefore does not reflect the Government’s full response to the cost of living in recent years.
Overall, the last two Budgets each contained the largest social welfare packages in the history of the State and included significant increases to core social welfare rates. These measures have not yet been included in the latest CSO data, nor has the Government's significant investment in non-income supports for families during this time, such as Hot School Meals, free schoolbooks and increased childcare support.
However, the Government also recognises that more remains to be done in reducing consistent poverty and we are determined to make an impact during the lifetime of this Government.
For Budget 2026, we have emphasised the importance of directing support to families with children where it is most needed. We know, based on research, that increases in the Child Support Payment and the Working Family Payment are highly effective in tackling child poverty. These payments provide targeted assistance directly linked to household income and are paid in addition to the universal Child Benefit. The Government is considering many inputs and policy considerations, including the Barnardos report, in the context of framing Budget 2026.
129. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his views in light of the latest ESRI report, that successive Governments have failed to reduce child poverty; and that only radical measures will turn the tide. [50753/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing child poverty is a key commitment of this Government.
Based on this commitment, on 10th September last, the Government agreed a new Child Poverty Target of 3% or less, based on consistent poverty, 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.
It is important to note that until the release of the SILC in March 2025, consistent poverty in children had been on a downward trend, peaking in 2013 at 12.7% and falling to its lowest level in 2023 at 4.8%, before increasing significantly in 2024 to 8.5%.
Furthermore, it should be noted that while this latest child poverty data is very disappointing, it is based on 2023 income data and therefore does not reflect the Government’s full response to child poverty in recent years.
Overall, the last two Budgets each contained the largest social welfare packages in the history of the State and included significant increases to core social welfare rates. These measures have not yet been included in the latest CSO statistics, nor has the Government's significant investment in non-income supports and services during this time, such as Hot School Meals and free schoolbooks.
For Budget 2026, the Government has emphasised the importance of directing support to families with children where it is most needed. We know, based on research, that increases in the Child Support Payment and the Working Family Payment are highly effective in tackling child poverty. These payments provide targeted assistance directly linked to household income and are paid in addition to the universal Child Benefit. In line with our cross-Government approach to this issue, in addition to income supports, we will focus on key areas such as housing, childcare, education and employment.
Tackling child poverty is a commitment of this Government and is an issue that will require continued attention on a cross Government basis, and I am committed to achieving real progress in reducing child poverty in Ireland.
131. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for his decision to remove the credit option for the household benefits package from December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50599/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HBP) comprises of the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The decision to remove the credit payment option for new customers of the HBP has been taken following a following an examination of customer behaviour and trends over several years. An increasing number of new customers were opting for the cash payment option even where the credit payment option was available. The credit payment option will remain for those customers who already receive their payment in this way as long as there is no change in their circumstances.
The decision also ensures that customers of all domestic energy providers are treated equally, and that no supplier would have a perceived advantage over competitors in the domestic energy market. This was a concern previously raised by the some energy providers and Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The decision also means that Household Benefits Package customers can move freely between energy providers, thereby taking advantage of the best deals in the energy market, without there being any change in the way their HBP payments are made.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend illness benefit to self-employed workers, recognising that illness can prevent them from earning a livelihood in the same way as PAYE workers; if he will outline plans under consideration to address this gap in social protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50825/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness 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 people pay contributions to the Social Insurance Fund at a lower rate of 4.1%. This is 11.15 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.25% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors do have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors including;
• Adoptive Benefit;
• Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds;
• Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension;
• Carer’s Benefit;
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory);
• Invalidity Pension;
• Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed);
• Maternity Benefit;
• Parent's Benefit;
• Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension);
• Paternity Benefit;
• State Pension (Contributory); and
• Treatment Benefit.
As a result, the only benefits that class S PRSI does not provide access to are health and safety benefit, illness benefit and occupational injuries benefits.
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. 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.
133. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has analysed the impact on child poverty of the previous Minister's decision to more than double penalty cuts to jobseekers' payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50504/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe poverty data used by my Department is the official poverty data published annually by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC).
It is important to note that until the release of the SILC in March 2025, consistent poverty in children had been on a downward trend, peaking in 2013 at 12.7% and falling to its lowest level in 2023 at 4.8%, before increasing significantly in 2024 to 8.5%.
Furthermore, it should be noted that while this latest child poverty data is very disappointing, it is important to recognise that it is based on 2023 income data and therefore does not reflect the Government’s full response to child poverty in recent years.
Overall, the last two Budgets each contained the largest social welfare packages in the history of the State and included significant increases to core social welfare rates. These increases have not yet been included in the latest CSO poverty statistics, nor has significant investment in non-income supports and services, such as Hot School Meals and free schoolbooks.
In relation to reduced rates for Jobseeker schemes, this occurs when a person does not engage with my Department’s Public Employment Service. This measure has been in place since 2011, and Budget 2025 increased that rate.
As part of the requirements of the Jobseeker schemes, recipients of these payments have a responsibility to seek employment and to engage with my Department’s Public Employment Service. Where they do not, payments are reduced and are immediately restored as soon as the person reengages.
We know that securing quality and employment is one of the best routes out of poverty and to prevent poverty. The aim of reduced rates is to encourage people to engage with the Public Employment Service. It is essential that people are supported in their efforts to seek employment and my Department provides this through Intreo, the Public Employment Service, that includes the provision of tailored support through education, training, upskilling and work placements, as well as programmes like CE and TUS.
134. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50782/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits and the Living Alone Increase to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year and I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that these benefits continue to target vulnerable groups. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
There have been significant improvements made in recent years to the Fuel Allowance Scheme. These improvements have resulted in many more households qualifying for the payment.
In 2023, the enhanced Fuel Allowance measures for people aged 70 years and over were introduced. Disablement Benefit and Half-rate Carers Allowance payment were disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. Disablement Benefit no longer prevents a household from receiving the Fuel Allowance payment.
In 2024, the allowable means for those aged 70 and over was increased to €512 a week for a single person and to €1,024 a week for a couple. Periods spend on Community Employment, Tús or the Rural Social Scheme can now be used to satisfy the 312-day requirement for Fuel Allowance.
In Budget 2025, Carer’s Allowance became a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, and the enhanced over 70’s Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions were extended to people aged 66 and over. The allowable means for those aged 66 and over was increased to €524 a week for a single person and to €1,048 a week for a couple.
The recent expansions to the Fuel Allowance Scheme have resulted in the Budget for the scheme increasing significantly with an estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2025 of €400.5 million compared to an expenditure of €290.45 million in 2020.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Counties Cavan and Monaghan availing of companion passes; the measures in place to promote this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50749/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under the age of 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by private transport operators countrywide.
The number of people in county Cavan in receipt of a Free Travel Companion Public Services Card (PSC) totals 6,994, while the number of people in county Monaghan in receipt of a Free Travel Companion PSC totals 5,885.
There are currently over 1.14 million customers with direct eligibility to Free Travel. This increases to some 1.9 million customers when spouses and companions are included. The budget allocation for free travel in 2025 is €107.6 million.
As part of Budget 2025, my government announced that from September 2025, all those in receipt of Free Travel aged 70 years or over will have an entitlement to a Free Travel Companion PSC. The first part of this project was to write to all those aged over 70 with a free travel entitlement of Single / Married to inform them that they would have an entitlement to a Free Travel Companion PSC.
The second part of this project is to issue Free Travel Companion PSC's to all these customers who have a valid (in date) Free Travel PSC. This is ongoing and will continue until over 300,000 Free Travel Companion PSC's have issued, In addition, over 200,000 customers aged over 70, whose current Free Travel PSC's have expired, were advised that they need to renew their PSC. Their PSC's can be renewed either online or by visiting their local PSC Centre. When these customers renew their PSC, they will be issued a Free Travel Companion PSC.
The effective date of this measure is 29 September 2025 and I will be making a press announcement to mark the introduction of this scheme extension before that date. The measure will also be promoted through my Department's social media platforms.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify whether his Department intends to introduce a targeted, second tier payment of child benefit in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50030/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes the commitment to explore a targeted child benefit payment and examine the interaction this would have with existing targeted supports like the Working Family and Child Support Payments. Officials in my Department are working on this commitment.
The ESRI has proposed a model for a Second-Tier Child Benefit which would abolish the existing Child Support Payment and remove core conditions for the Working Family Payment, involving a cost of €770m a year. It is important to note that the second-tier payment, as proposed by the ESRI, involves an entire re-engineering of current working age supports.
The ESRI analysis states that under its proposal, up to 100,000 children could see losses in household income, while 233,000 would experience gains. Further work is required to definitively quantify the number of people affected either way.
The impacts of any new second tier payment on work incentives, the labour market and existing Child Support Payment recipients needs to be carefully analysed. This work is complex and will take time to complete.
For Budget 2026, the Government has emphasised the importance of directing support to families with children where it is most needed. The Government is committed to reducing child poverty and is looking at all options in this regard. There are a wide range of possible approaches, and we want to ensure these are given full consideration in the context of the budget.
137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any process by which former partners who were divorced or separated from the bereaved ie, widows; widowers; surviving civil partners and surviving cohabitants, who are not covered by the bereaved partners pension may access compensation or financial assistance for funeral costs; the costs of raising the bereaved's children; if he will consider making such supports available to this cohort in light of the financial hardship incurred on them by the loss of their former partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50388/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025 was enacted on 21 July 2025.
The provisions of the Act which introduced the Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension were as a result of the Supreme Court decision on the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a Widower's Contributory Pension. In simple terms, the Court found that section 124 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) was inconsistent with the Constitution insofar as it excluded the claimant from the category of persons entitled to a Widower's Contributory Pension. The Supreme Court recognised that legislation was necessary in order to give effect to its decision.
In developing the legislative response, the basis upon which earlier rules for the scheme were framed, including (a) the entitlement of divorced partners, at the time when divorce was first introduced, and, (b) rates of payment based on an earlier marriage, had to be considered in light of new rights to the payment created for surviving qualifying cohabitants.
In this regard, the new legislation underpinning the Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension sets the qualifying criteria for ongoing relationships equally on a marriage, civil partnership or a relationship of qualified cohabitation that has not ended via divorce or broken down for more than two years at the date of death.
Where a parent may not be eligible for the Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension, they may be entitled to a range of other payments made by my Department to parents such as Child Benefit, Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. While each of these payments have their own qualifying criteria, the civil status of each applicant is not a factor. In addition, for those parents who are parenting alone, they can access the means tested One Parent Family payment.
Under the Supplementary Allowance scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. This is a more targeted and efficient manner of assisting people with bereavement expenses in addition to the range of supports already set out.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
138. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans in place for the pension auto-enrolment; the means by which they are proceeding; and if the deadline of the 1 January 2026 is still achievable. [50837/25]
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.
Implementation of 'My Future Fund' is well underway. Most recently I announced the names of the members of the Board, including its Chair, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), which is being established under the aegis of my Department to run the new scheme. Staff recruitment is at an advanced stage and this new body will be based in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in the coming weeks.
Great progress has been made across several other workstreams and with multiple stakeholders, including with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which is the managed service provider contracted to administer the system; 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.
139. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the appeals process and criteria for carer's allowance and disability allowance, in light of cases where families providing full-time care have been refused supports despite clear evidence of need, particularly in rural areas where access to services is limited (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50809/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my Department provides income support to carers in the community.
The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to people whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because they cannot work full-time due to their caring responsibilities.
The principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that a means test is satisfied, and that full-time care and attention is required and being provided. Full-time care is set out in legislation as the provision of care for not less than 35 hours over a minimum of five days per week.
The provision of full-time care and attention requirement is moderated somewhat by allowing a carer to work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hours a week and still qualify for a payment. Effectively this is half a working week. During this time adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
When assessing an application for Carer’s Allowance, the Department must be satisfied that the carer meets the criteria as set out in legislation. This includes ensuring that care is being provided for not less than 35 hours per week and that the carer is not engaged in employment or self-employment for more than 18.5 hours. The same legislation applies to a claim being processed by the Department and a claim where the decision has been appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
When a Social Welfare Inspector is assessing a claim for Carer's Allowance from a farmer, they complete a Means Reporting Form and an IN93 form. The latter looks at the income and expenses on the farm. Where necessary, my Department refers to the Tegasc Farm Management Handbook, which provides guidance on how to calculate the standard labour requirements for the agricultural enterprise in question.
It is important to note that where a person disagrees with the Department’s calculation of labour hours, they can provide supporting evidence to challenge the assessment and any such information will be considered.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
140. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the voucher scheme run by the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Interpreting Service and Citizens Information Board to persons under the age of 18, as the scheme is presently only available to ISL users over the age of 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50431/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, the State recognises the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language and the corresponding duty on all public bodies to provide Irish Sign Language users with free interpretation when availing of, or seeking to access, statutory entitlements and services.
The Act assigns responsibilities to the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the funding of a scheme of accreditation for ISL interpreters (Section 7) and the provision of funds to facilitate ISL users with access to specific events, services and other activities, as specified in guidelines (Section 9).
I assigned the implementation of this important responsibility to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the statutory body under the aegis of my Department, which in turn assigned delivery to its relevant funded company, the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS).
Following a four-month pilot of an "ISL Voucher Scheme" in 2021 by SLIS, supported by my Department and CIB, I was delighted to see the commencement of the Scheme on a permanent basis from 2nd October 2023.
From the 1st January to the end of August 2025, SLIS administered 425 vouchers to applicants for ISL interpretation for a variety of activities, such as private medical appointments, private legal meetings, educational and training courses, and events with family, friends and the community.
As stipulated under the ISL Act, SLIS developed and published Guidelines in 2024 for the Scheme. As part of this, a Fair Usage Policy was developed to ensure as many eligible people across Ireland as possible can access and benefit from this service. The Fair Usage Policy was also developed given that, like most government funded schemes, the ISL Voucher Scheme has an annual allocated budget.
In relation to your specific issue raised, this Voucher Scheme is available for users of ISL who are aged 18 years old and older, as set out in the scheme’s Guidelines. There are specific legal and policy obligations when providing services to children and young people under 18 which are shaped by national legislation, international conventions, and sector-specific standards. Providing services to persons under 18 is therefore outside of the remit of SLIS.
