Written Answers Nos. 161-177
161. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Cork county that have made contact with his Department due to recent changes to the procurement system under the school meals scheme; if the Department is working with each of these schools to ensure that their school meals can continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50806/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
There are 79 schools to date where the supplier The Lunch Bag and Fresh Today - who have the same CEO - withdrew school meals service. There was a total of six schools from Cork. These schools were contacted by my officials and were given advice on how to continue with the School Meals Programme, including through the expedited procurement of an alternative supplier or the provision of cold lunches in the meantime.
The programme is designed so that meals are provided by contracted food business operators. This ensures responsibility for food safety and legislative compliance is placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves. This also ensures children benefit from a reliable, high-quality service, while schools are protected from having to take on responsibilities more appropriate to the providers, who will have the necessary expertise and experience in food provision. However, if a school decides to be a food business organisation doing so brings with it significant additional legal risks, insurance implications, costs, training, operational and employer responsibilities.
The recent refinements to the procurement system, which underpins the programme, strengthens it by ensuring consistent standards across all participating schools. They also reflect the combined input of several Government Departments and State agencies, ensuring that schools and providers operate safely and compliantly across areas such as food safety, health and safety, fire safety, and building regulations.
No new legislation has been introduced or application of the law changed.
Any school that is currently under contract can continue to utilise their food business operator.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
162. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Kilkenny currently in receipt of the bereaved partner’s (contributory) pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50594/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBereaved Partner's Contributory Pension is a weekly payment to the widow, widower, surviving civil partner or surviving qualified cohabitant of a deceased person. It is available to those who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions, either on their own record or on that of their deceased spouse or partner, subject to certain criteria.
There are currently 2,398 customers in Kilkenny in receipt of a Bereaved Partner's Contributory Pension.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
163. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to address the risk of more people falling into energy poverty this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50845/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of financial supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.
The supports provided by the Government are cross-departmental and, in this regard, my Department is represented on the Energy Poverty Action Group, with the overall strategy to combat Fuel Poverty and Energy Poverty under the remit of the Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment.
With regard to income supports my Department provides a range of schemes to assist with energy costs. These include:
• The Fuel Allowance which is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks giving a total per recipient of €924 each year from October to April at an estimated cost of €400 million in 2025.
• Electricity or gas allowances under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost in 2025 of €224 million.
• A special heating supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.
• Additional needs payments to help meet an essential once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources.
The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely and how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments who are at risk of fuel poverty.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children/families who will qualify automatically for back to school clothing and footwear allowance, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50489/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are returning to full-time second level education and in respect of whom a Child Support payment is being paid.
Each year, through a matching process, families are identified as having an entitlement to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and are awarded the allowance automatically. This year, families were notified of their automatic award before the online application opened on 9 June.
The number of families and children who qualified automatically for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, by county, is set out in tabular form below.
|
County |
Number of families awarded automatically |
Number of children benefiting automatically |
|
Carlow |
1,887 |
3,249 |
|
Cavan |
1,901 |
3,501 |
|
Clare |
2,547 |
4,590 |
|
Cork |
10,644 |
18,410 |
|
Donegal |
5,057 |
9,078 |
|
Dublin |
30,394 |
52,216 |
|
Galway |
5,036 |
9,210 |
|
Kerry |
3,676 |
6,174 |
|
Kildare |
4,651 |
8,197 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,698 |
2,964 |
|
Laois |
2,128 |
3,861 |
|
Leitrim |
960 |
1,693 |
|
Limerick |
5,029 |
8,900 |
|
Longford |
1,542 |
2,892 |
|
Louth |
4,705 |
8,376 |
|
Mayo |
3,256 |
5,919 |
|
Meath |
3,987 |
7,062 |
|
Monaghan |
1,539 |
2,816 |
|
Offaly |
2,112 |
3,720 |
|
Roscommon |
1,492 |
2,830 |
|
Sligo |
1,640 |
2,961 |
|
Tipperary |
4,258 |
7,579 |
|
Waterford |
3,599 |
6,236 |
|
Westmeath |
2,443 |
4,344 |
|
Wexford |
4,608 |
8,026 |
|
Wicklow |
3,229 |
5,505 |
|
Total |
114,018 |
200,309 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
165. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons over 66 years of age who have qualified for the fuel allowance since the expanded means test for over 66s was introduced, by county, in tabular form; the cost of this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50440/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season - from September to April - at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum instalments - one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
It was a key priority of mine, and of the Government, to expand the reach of the Fuel Allowance payment this year. In Budget 2025, a more generous means test was extended to those aged over 66, with a higher means threshold of €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Applicants aged over 66 no longer need to be receiving a qualifying social protection payment and the threshold for the capital disregard increased from €20,000 to €50,000. For those aged under 66, the means threshold is now €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory r the household.
In relation to the number of individuals by county, the Fuel Allowance scheme supported the following number of households for individuals aged 66 and over in August 2024 and August 2025:
|
County |
Aug-25 |
Aug-24 |
|
Carlow |
3,436 |
3,241 |
|
Cavan |
4,272 |
4,071 |
|
Clare |
6,458 |
6,128 |
|
Cork |
25,240 |
24,114 |
|
Donegal |
11,271 |
7,837 |
|
Dublin |
45,078 |
45,569 |
|
Galway |
12,417 |
11,844 |
|
Kerry |
8,757 |
8,353 |
|
Kildare |
8,191 |
7,676 |
|
Kilkenny |
4,508 |
4,323 |
|
Laois |
3,455 |
3,309 |
|
Leitrim |
2,315 |
2,199 |
|
Limerick |
10,309 |
9,897 |
|
Longford |
2,667 |
2,522 |
|
Louth |
6,878 |
6,490 |
|
Mayo |
9,369 |
8,988 |
|
Meath |
7,503 |
7,071 |
|
Monaghan |
3,552 |
3,400 |
|
Offaly |
4,198 |
3,987 |
|
Roscommon |
3,873 |
3,684 |
|
Sligo |
3,905 |
3,693 |
|
Tipperary |
9,810 |
9,331 |
|
Waterford |
7,069 |
6,766 |
|
Westmeath |
4,386 |
4,150 |
|
Wexford |
9,640 |
9,144 |
|
Wicklow |
6,399 |
6,060 |
|
Not Specified |
11 |
103 |
|
Total |
224,967 |
213,950 |
The estimated annual cost of this expansion was €10,179,708.
It should be noted that the number of recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme, as their circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
166. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on introducing a new working age payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50697/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits that the new 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 will addressing inconsistencies and anomalies in the current Jobseekers Allowance Scheme which may discourage people from taking up employment.
My officials are currently exploring a range of potential models for a new Working Age Payment and it is intended to publish a Strawman proposal for consultation later in the year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing means-testing for access to social protection supports e.g. fuel allowance and the household energy package, for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis; if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) funded research in which people reported energy hardship in households where people are receiving palliative care in the home, including struggling with their fuel bills; if he will consider extending access to these social protection supports on the same basis as people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis get access to an end-of-life medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50384/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the research carried out by the Irish Cancer Society on the reported energy hardship in households in which people are receiving palliative care. I am committed to working towards solutions to support this cohort of people.
In July of this year, I met with officials from the Irish Cancer Society to discuss their concerns and also to discuss the challenges in relation to providing access to particular schemes solely based on an end-of-life cancer diagnosis.
In general, access to the Household Benefits Package and the Fuel Allowance payment for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary social protection payments, many of them illness related. Entitlement to these primary social protection payments is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned.
Extending the eligibility to include automatic entitlement to the Household Benefits Package and Fuel Allowance for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis would change the nature of the schemes, would require additional funding and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and 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.
I fully understand the financial challenges associated with such a diagnosis and it is important to note that Additional Needs Payments are available through my Department for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. In addition, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement can be paid throughout the full year.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie/.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
169. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding the hot school meals scheme, the steps he is taking to measure the food that is wasted; the steps he is taking to minimise the food that is being wasted; the measures in place to mandate those with contracts to provide free schools meals are mandated to minimise food waste; the steps he has taken to treat it as food surplus for redistribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50846/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Under the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. My department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Programme in their school including handling the procurement process.
The Schools Procurement Unit under the Department of Education and Youth, provides guidance to schools for all procurements including the School Meals Programme.
In terms of packaging and waste, under tender documentation, and as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, 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 wastage from school meals as this is managed at school level under the relevant contract.
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 of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
170. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and types of oral hearings completed by the Appeals Office to date in 2025, in tabular form; to outline whether there are plans to increase the number of oral hearings carried out by the Appeals Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50110/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOral hearings on social welfare appeals can be held virtually, in person or by phone. There have been a total of 103 oral hearings completed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office as of the end of Quarter 2 2025. The breakdown of the different types of oral hearings completed is as follows:
There have been 34 oral hearings held virtually.
There have been 17 oral hearings held in-person.
There have been 52 oral hearings held by phone.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that when a case is assigned to an Appeals Officer, the Appeals Officer will examine the documentary evidence presented and consider if the appeal can be properly and fairly decided by way of a summary decision.
Where it is not possible to decide the appeal by way of summary decision, an oral hearing will be held. The appellant is generally given 2-3 weeks advance notice of the date of the oral hearing. At any time during the appeal process, up to and including the oral hearing of the appeal, an appellant can submit additional information, which affords them the opportunity to strengthen their case.
A recently completed Appeals Modernisation Programme has resulted in significant changes and technological advances across the Department and in the appeals process. Appellants now have the ability to easily transmit additional documentation and evidence to the relevant scheme area or the Appeals Office through the MyWelfare platform. This can mean that evidence that previously would not have been available to the Appeals Officer until an oral hearing can be provided earlier in the process and result in an Appeals Officer being able to decide a higher number of cases on a summary basis. It can also mean that scheme areas in the Department can use this additional information when considering revising a decision before an appeal has been examined by an Appeals Officer. In these cases there is obviously no need for an oral hearing.
The increasing ease with which an appellant can make contact and provide evidence prior to appeal has reduced the number of situations where there are unresolved conflicts in the documentary evidence presented in an appeal. This has allowed for an increase in the number of summary decisions.
Under the Social Welfare Appeals Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 744 of 2024) which came into effect on 28 April 2025, there is now, for the first time, a legal entitlement for an appellant to request an oral hearing. In addition, where an Appeals Officer decides that a hearing is no necessary they must provide the appellant requesting the hearing with reasons in writing as to why this is so. These new rights and obligations are intended to provide assurance to appellants that their concerns and contentions will be properly considered.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
171. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected number of recipients to benefit from the fuel allowance payment in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50772/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season from September to April at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum instalments, one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
In Budget 2025, a more generous means test was extended to those aged over 66, with a higher means threshold of €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Applicants aged over 66 no longer need to be receiving a qualifying social protection payment and the threshold for the capital disregard increased from €20,000 to €50,000. For those aged under 66, the means threshold is now €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory for the household.
At end August 2025, there were 410,000 households in receipt of a Fuel Allowance, which is an increase of over 8,000 from end August 2024.
Based on the trend over the last 3 years, it is estimated that an additional 15,000 households may qualify for Fuel Allowance by the end of 2025.
It should be noted that the number of recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme, as their circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the national campaign to raise awareness of 'My Future Fund'. [50672/25]
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.
The national campaign to raise awareness of 'My Future Fund' is well underway, with the current focus being on awareness raising 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, most recently at the National Ploughing Championships. The second phase of the strategy commenced this summer with the launch of an advertising campaign on multiple media platforms. You may have seen the 'It all adds up' ice-cream advertisement that rolled out as part of this. Additional campaigns targeted at employers and employees will be run before and after the launch in January 2026.
There is a very good, up-to-date information hub available to anyone who wants to learn more about My Future Fund and how it will work. This is at www.gov.ie/autoenrolment, and it includes links to information videos on the Department of Social Protection's YouTube channel.
I would like Deputies to help spread the news that this is coming in January. A key message is that any employee who is aged between 23 and 60, who earns over €20,000 per year across any number of jobs, and who is not actively paying into a pension scheme through their employer’s payroll, will be automatically enrolled.
A second key message is that employers who have workers that meet this criteria will need to comply with the legislation to transmit the savings contributions to NAERSA. The contribution rates are set and will start at 1.5% of the employee’s gross earnings. This will have to be matched by the employer. And the State then will top that up. In short, for every €3 a worker contributes, another €3 will be put in by the employer, and the State will put in another €1. That will all then be invested for the worker who can access it at the age of 66, alongside the State Pension.
This coming December, NAERSA will need employers to log on to an online portal that will be made available to them, and upload their details and payment method. There is nothing else for employers to do apart from inform their enrolled employees, and there are no other associated costs for them.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for job seekers allowance or job seekers benefit who listed their previous employment as agriculture, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025. [49654/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit claims where the employment immediately prior to the claim commencement was in Sector A - Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (based on NACE Rev 2.1) are set out in the table below. Please note these numbers refer to recipients, not applicants, as this data is only available for awarded claims.
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
August 2015 |
102 |
|
August 2016 |
524 |
|
August 2017 |
491 |
|
August 2018 |
523 |
|
August 2019 |
429 |
|
August 2020 |
389 |
|
August 2021 |
366 |
|
August 2022 |
481 |
|
August 2023 |
417 |
|
August 2024 |
468 |
|
August 2025 |
281 |
174. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Department is currently evaluating increasing the carer's allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and remains fully committed to supporting carers in that role.
The Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers. In 2025 the expenditure on the Carer’s Allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.24 billion. There are currently almost 102,000 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, an increase of almost 14% in the last five years alone
There have been significant improvements made to the Carer’s Allowance means test in recent years. These changes have impacted positively with many more carers availing of the payment and potentially receiving a higher rate of payment. The latest improvement 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.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly further 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.
Other improvements to the Carer's Allowance means test have allowed carers to have a higher level of savings, up to €100,000 in savings in the case of a couple, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment.
As a result of Budget 2025, from January 2025 there was a €12 increase in the personal weekly rate of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. This was the fourth successive rise in weekly rates, which have risen by €41 over the past four years.
Is is important to note that recipients of Carer's Allowance are also eligible for the annual Carer's Support Grant in respect of each person for whom they are providing care. The grant was increased by €150 in Budget 2025, bringing it to €2,000 - its highest ever rate.
My colleagues and I in Government are committed to building on the extensive improvements we have made in order to make a difference in the lives of carers and those they care for. The Programme for Government contains a number of additional commitments to improve the supports available to family carers. These include commitments to continuing to increase the Carer’s Support Grant and to progressively increase weekly carer support payments. In addition, the Government has committed to examining how carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person can be better supported.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government and in light of available resources.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the extension of the free travel companion pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50695/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public transport services and on private transport services operating the Free Travel scheme.
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 Public Services Card (PSC). The effective date of this budget measure is 29th September 2025. This means those aged 70 or over with an entitlement to Free Travel can have another person, aged 16 or older, travel with them for free on all transport services provided as part of the Free Travel scheme.
Some of those aged over 70 already hold an entitlement to Free Travel Companion. Since the beginning of March 2025, my officials have written to all customers eligible for Free Travel aged over 70, who do not already hold an entitlement to Free Travel Companion, to inform them of their entitlement to Free Travel Companion from September 2025.
For those whose current Free Travel PSC has already expired, these customers were advised that they need to renew their PSC either online or in person at their local PSC Centre to avail of their Free Travel Companion entitlement.
For those whose current Free Travel PSC has not expired, my Department is in the process of issuing new Free Travel Companion PSC's to these customers by post. It is expected that all those in this cohort, who have yet to receive their Free Travel Companion PSC's, will receive their new PSC's in the coming weeks.
It is estimated that up to 525,000 Free Travel customers over the age of 70 may benefit from this budget measure.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
176. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office's child poverty target. [48905/25]
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 and will be an important focus in framing Budget 2026.
177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the roll out of the auto-enrolment pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50750/25]
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 the 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.
