Written Answers Nos. 621-640
621. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount expended on cloud storage solutions in the past five years and to date in 2025; and if he will provide the data storage supplier, in tabular form. [51371/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe amount the Department expended on cloud storage solutions over the past five years and to date in 2025, is highlighted in the tabular format below:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2021 |
€2,000 |
|
2022 |
€4,000 |
|
2023 |
€6,000 |
|
2024 |
€53,000 |
|
2025 |
€205,000 |
For operational and security reasons, the Department does not disclose arrangements in place in relation to cloud suppliers and services.
622. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding a jobseekers application which was submitted in June 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51400/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for Jobseekers Allowance on the 01/07/2025.
The weekly means in this case were assessed at €179 which is in excess of €153.70, the weekly rate for a person in their circumstances. Means in this case were derived from parental income as the customer is under 25 and living at home.
The disallowance letter was issued on the 17/07/2025.
If the person concerned disagrees with this decision they may send in any supporting facts or evidence to the Department. A Deciding Officer will then review the decision and revert.
It is also open to the person concerned to submit an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. This can be done through their My Welfare account or by submitting an appeal form. This form (SWAO1) is available from any Intreo Centre or online.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties they may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance through their local Intreo Centre.
623. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the hot meals programme for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51401/25]
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.
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.
Ballyduff National School Tralee were contacted by my Department in July informing them if their contract had expired they could extend it with their existing supplier until 31st December, and concurrently start procurement using the Department of Education School Procurement Unit’s documentation for a new supplier.
As this school were changing supplier and their previous supplier has removed the ovens, they can avail of the cold lunch option in the interim. I understand from the principal of the school that their procurement for Hot School Meals is well under way. This new contract can commence as soon as they have finalised procurement.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
624. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of maternity benefit applications refused on the grounds of insufficient PRSI; the estimated number involving full-time PhD researchers or scholarship holders; if a breakdown by HEI, by month will be provided; the number and outcome of appeals in these cases, in 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51413/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate statistics with the level of detail requested by the Deputy. Breakdowns by refusal reasons for Maternity Benefit claims, or those involving full-time PhD researchers or scholarship holders are not available. The overall number of Maternity Benefit claims, and the number and outcome of Maternity Benefit appeals, by year, are provided in the tables below.
Table 1: Maternity Benefit claims, by year
|
Year |
Claims registered |
Claims awarded |
Claims rejected |
|
2020 |
41,987 |
40,293 |
1,184 |
|
2021 |
45,938 |
43,283 |
1,002 |
|
2022 |
42,131 |
40,897 |
1,633 |
|
2023 |
43,253 |
40,657 |
1,469 |
|
2024 |
42,434 |
40,121 |
1,863 |
|
2025 (to end June) |
21,330 |
19,040 |
775 |
Table 2: Maternity Benefit appeals and outcomes, by year
|
Year |
Appeals registered |
Appeals allowed |
Appeals partially allowed |
Appeals disallowed |
Appeals revised by scheme area |
Appeals withdrawn by appellant |
|
2020 |
74 |
15 |
5 |
42 |
19 |
2 |
|
2021 |
57 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
21 |
1 |
|
2022 |
108 |
15 |
1 |
50 |
32 |
1 |
|
2023 |
102 |
9 |
1 |
64 |
23 |
2 |
|
2024 |
223 |
11 |
2 |
46 |
77 |
6 |
|
2025 (to end June) |
115 |
3 |
2 |
89 |
49 |
16 |
625. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has examined options to maintain insurability for PhD scholarship holders e.g. an education/training PRSI credit or a tailored insurable class so that eligibility for maternity benefit and related payments accrues during State-supported doctoral study; the outcome of any such analysis; the timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51414/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons in full time education including, those studying for a PhD. can maintain their social insurance record so they can continue to be eligible for social insurance benefits in two ways, either through credited employment contributions (credits) or voluntary contributions.
The primary purpose of credits is to preserve the continuity of a person’s insurance record during periods when they are unable to work and pay social insurance contributions in the normal way.
Similar to other schemes operated by the Department, there are qualifying conditions, which must be met before a person can be awarded credits. In order to qualify for credits, absences from work would have to arise due to notified incapacity for work, proven unemployment, periods during which the person was in receipt of certain other social welfare payments or a period spent as a full-time student.
A student who has completed a course of full-time education and re-enters insurable employment may have an entitlement to student credits. A person may be awarded student credits if:
• they commenced the course before they reach the age of 23 years;
• the course was full-time;
• they re-enter insurable employment at PRSI Class A.
Student credits can only be awarded once. Student credits provide coverage for illness benefit, health and safety benefit, jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's pay-related benefit, maternity benefit, adoptive benefit, paternity benefit and treatment benefit.
A person under the pensionable age of 66, or in the case of a person born on or after 1 January 1958 who is aged between 66 and 70 years of age and who has not been awarded the State pension (contributory), who ceases to be covered by compulsory social insurance, either as an employee or as a self-employed person, may opt to become insured on a voluntary basis and pay voluntary contributions, provided certain contribution conditions are satisfied. Voluntary contributions act to maintain a person’s established social insurance record in respect to eligibility for State pensions in the future. Based on the person's contribution history the voluntary contribution scheme may provide coverage for State pension (contributory), bereaved partner’s (contributory) pension and guardian's payment (contributory).
At present I have no plans to expand the scope of the credited employment or voluntary contributions options or to introduce a new PRSI class specifically for PhD students.
626. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of fuel allowance, by qualifying primary payment (for example State pension, disability allowance, jobseeker's long-term schemes, carer's allowance, etc.), by age band of primary claimant (under 66, 66-69, 70-79, 80+), for each of the past fuel allowance seasons 2021/2022 to 2025/2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51426/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics on fuel allowance recipients by qualifying primary payment and by age group are published annually in the Department's Annual Statistics Report. The report is available through my Department's statistics landing page, gov.ie/dsp/statistics.
The number of Recipients of Fuel Allowance by Primary Payment at the end of 2023 and 2024 is shown in the table below. The methodology for identifying the qualifying scheme for fuel allowance was reviewed and changed as part of the compilation of the 2024 Annual Statistics Report. It has only been possible to apply this improved methodology in respect of 2023 and 2024.
Table 1: Fuel allowance recipients by qualifying primary payment, 2023-2024
|
Primary Payment |
End 2023 |
End 2024 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
- |
528 |
|
Back To Work Scheme |
678 |
640 |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
418 |
419 |
|
Carer's Allowance* |
- |
41 |
|
Community Employment |
8,407 |
8,549 |
|
Deserted Wifes Allowance |
26 |
18 |
|
Deserted Wifes Benefit |
2,492 |
2,350 |
|
Disability Allowance |
79,960 |
80,875 |
|
Farm Assist |
2,398 |
2,112 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
48 |
59 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
39 |
33 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
108 |
110 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
16,756 |
16,134 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
36,533 |
32,745 |
|
Jobseekers Transitional Payment |
13,429 |
13,286 |
|
National: Fuel Scheme |
3,261 |
3,887 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
399 |
394 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
26,971 |
26,321 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
1,231 |
1,303 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
114,031 |
120,214 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
54,895 |
55,177 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1,322 |
1,150 |
|
Tús |
1,979 |
1,627 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
45,327 |
45,266 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
687 |
664 |
|
Work Placement Employment Programme |
- |
19 |
|
Total |
411,395 |
413,921 |
* Carer's Allowance was added as a qualifying scheme for Fuel Allowance from January 2025. The figure shown here represents Carer's Allowance recipients who were awarded Fuel Allowance claims as of 31 December 2024 but their payment did not commence until January 2025.
Table 2: Fuel allowance recipients by age group, 2022-2024
|
Age Group |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Under 66 |
199,444 |
198,071 |
193,492 |
|
66 - 69 |
33,136 |
35,495 |
35,448 |
|
70 - 79 |
92,269 |
112,690 |
116,403 |
|
80 + |
57,382 |
65,139 |
68,578
|
627. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of successful fuel allowance claims by assessment pathway, distinguishing claims qualifying under the over-66 higher means limits, claims qualifying under the standard means test; within those cohorts, the number of claimants with assessable capital falling within each €10,000 band up to and above the current capital disregard; the same breakdown for refused claims, for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51427/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra628. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and share of claimants opting for weekly payments and opting for lump-sum payments of the fuel allowance for each of the past three seasons; the total value paid under each option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the average and median processing time for fuel allowance applications in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 to date; the share of applications decided within two, four, six, and eight weeks; the number of refusals and appeals, with the principal reasons for refusal listed and ranked by frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51430/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra631. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipients whose qualifying payment is carer's allowance, carer's benefit, disability allowance, or invalidity pension; the number of these cases which qualified under the over-66 means limits versus the standard means test, in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51431/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra632. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide total fuel allowance expenditure; the average amount paid per recipient household for each of the past five seasons, showing the proportion of part-season payments due to late awards or changes in circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51432/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 628, 630, 631 and 632 together.
The 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.Those receiving Fuel Allowance by 2 instalment (lump sum) payments receive the instalments in September and January each year. The table below details the numbers receiving weekly and instalment payments for the past 3 years:
|
Year |
Weekly |
Instalments |
Total |
|
2022 |
300,661 |
93,106 |
393,767 |
|
2023 |
309,469 |
108,457 |
417,806 |
|
2024 |
295,072 |
118,872 |
413,944 |
Fuel Allowance is administered across a wide range of qualifying schemes and across different IT platforms and, as a result, the breakdown of applications by channel and average processing times is not available.The table below details the number of recipients on the primary schemes requested:
|
Scheme |
Weekly |
Instalments |
Total |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
872 |
1,895 |
2,767 |
|
Disability Allowance |
52,449 |
27,618 |
80,067 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
10,204 |
5,025 |
15,229 |
Carer’s Benefit is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension are paid to those under 66, so they could not qualify for Fuel Allowance under the over 66 qualifying conditions.The overall number of recipients from 2020-2024 and expenditure from 2015-2024 is published in the Department of Social Protection’s Statistical Information On Social Welfare Services Annual Report 2024 on www.gov.ie. The table below shows the statistics for the past 5 years:
|
Year |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Expenditure |
€510.23m* |
€501.66m* |
€576.40m* |
€315.66m |
€290.45m |
|
Recipients |
413,921 |
411,395 |
386,846 |
366,793 |
375,269 |
* Includes once-off payments to recipients of €400 in November 2022 and €300 in November 2023 and November 2024. The average amount per household is not available as the recipient statistics recorded are for the end of December each year and does not take account of those who entered and exited the scheme during the year.
From November 2021, the Fuel Allowance weekly rate of payment increased from €28.00 to €33.00.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of part-season payments due to late awards or changes in circumstances. Fuel Allowance applications are awarded from date of receipt of the application. There is no financial loss to the customer if there is any delay in processing the application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
629. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipient households and total expenditure by local authority area; the claimant rates per 1,000 households to allow comparison between areas for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51429/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics on fuel allowance recipients by county are published annually in the Department's Annual Statistics Report. It is not possible to break down fuel allowance recipients by local authority area as this data is not held by my Department; a table showing the county-breakdown at the end of 2024 is provided below.
Expenditure is recorded at the scheme level, not the individual level. Accordingly, it is not possible to attribute expenditure to individual-level characteristics such as the county. Funding for schemes is centrally allocated. The expenditure for fuel allowance in 2024 is shown in the below Table.
|
Scheme |
Expenditure (€million) |
|
Fuel Allowance (Social Assistance) |
285.59 |
|
Fuel Allowance (Social Insurance) |
224.64 |
The number of fuel allowance recipients at the end of 2024 is shown in the below Table. Statistics in respect of recipients of fuel allowance in September 2025 will be compiled in early October.
|
County |
Number of recipients |
|
Carlow |
6,618 |
|
Cavan |
7,588 |
|
Clare |
11,613 |
|
Cork |
43,992 |
|
Donegal |
20,578 |
|
Dublin |
88,299 |
|
Galway |
21,821 |
|
Kerry |
15,637 |
|
Kildare |
14,379 |
|
Kilkenny |
8,421 |
|
Laois |
7,391 |
|
Leitrim |
4,247 |
|
Limerick |
18,764 |
|
Longford |
5,384 |
|
Louth |
13,470 |
|
Mayo |
16,030 |
|
Meath |
13,093 |
|
Monaghan |
6,153 |
|
Offaly |
7,788 |
|
Roscommon |
7,006 |
|
Sligo |
7,121 |
|
Tipperary |
17,952 |
|
Waterford |
13,138 |
|
Westmeath |
8,296 |
|
Wexford |
17,477 |
|
Wicklow |
11,536 |
|
Other including those abroad or county unknown |
129 |
|
Total |
413,921 |
633. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost and the in-year (single season) cost of increasing the weekly fuel allowance rate by €10, €15, and €20 respectively, based on current recipient numbers and allowing for behavioural and eligibility effects; and to set out any offsetting savings or interactions with the household benefits package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51433/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by €10 and €15 and €20 is as follows: -
|
Weekly Increase to the Fuel Allowance Payment |
Number of Weeks Payable |
Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Cost |
|
€10 |
28 |
410,000 |
€114.8 million |
|
€15 |
28 |
410,000 |
€172.2 million |
|
€20 |
28 |
410,000 |
€229.6 million |
This costing is based on the number of recipients in August 2025 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
The Fuel Allowance Scheme and the Household Benefits Package are separate secondary benefits available from my Department subject to satisfying the relevant qualifying conditions. A person or household may receive both secondary benefits at the same time. Therefore, there would be no offsetting savings or interactions with the Household Benefits Package.
The provision of any additional supports such as increasing the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
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 hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
634. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year and in-season costs of increasing the over-66 weekly means limits by €25 and by €50; increasing the capital disregard by €10,000 and by €25,000; and to provide estimated additional recipient numbers under each scenario, with distribution by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51434/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMeans 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, including that presented at the ESRI's Budget Perspectives conference in June, indicates that targeting of supports to more vulnerable cohorts, through means testing, continues to be important even as societal income 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.
My Department has over 90 schemes and a significant number are means-tested schemes, each with their own means test. It is not clear from the Deputy's question which scheme he is referring to. Even limiting consideration to schemes where eligibility is restricted to people over 66 years, a number of different means tests apply.
The Department does not currently have the available data and modelling capacity to provide a detailed estimate for the cost of increasing the weekly means limits by €25 or €50 and increasing the various capital disregards by €10,000 or €25,000 across all schemes that apply to people aged 66 years or over. In addition, the Department does not record the local authority area of recipients, so it would not be possible to estimate the impact of such changes on recipient numbers by local authority.
Any prospective changes to means testing arrangements will need to be evaluated and considered within the broader context of overall policy and budgetary considerations.
635. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will conduct and publish, in advance of Budget 2027, a review of the fuel allowance scheme that examines options to increase the weekly rate; revise the means thresholds for those aged 66 and over; adjust the capital disregard; simplify the application process including automatic awards where data sharing permits; the timeframes and consultative engagement with stakeholder groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51435/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
However, there have been significant improvements already made in recent years to the Fuel Allowance Scheme resulting in many more vulnerable households qualifying for the payment.
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.
The points that the Deputy raise will be taken into consideration when assessing the options for ensuring that the Fuel Allowance supports vulnerable groups.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
636. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a person’s (details supplied) carers allowance review in view of the fact it has been pending for some time; if he will give serious consideration to awarding the person the carers allowance given they provide a significant level of full time care to the person in question and the means test threshold has increased significantly since their initial application in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51530/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means tested payment for persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult. The applicant must also satisfy the habitual residency conditions.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 11 December 2023. The claim was disallowed as the means of the person exceeded the statutory limit.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 12 February 2024 and notified of their right to a review and their right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received from the person concerned on 30 June 2025. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged. They were notified of this decision on 22 September 2025.
The means threshold for CA has been significantly increased over the years. As part of Budget 2025, with effect from July 2025, the weekly income disregard increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner.
It is open to the person concerned to reapply for CA if their circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
637. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the income thresholds for single occupancy households applying for the fuel allowance, in view of the increased cost of living and the fact that two-person households benefit from a higher threshold; and if he will consider raising the income limits for single person households to ensure equitable access to the fuel allowance. [51618/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment a person must satisfy all relevant qualifying criteria including satisfying a means test. The means test ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
The increased allowable means threshold for people who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership, acknowledges that the overall cost of living for this cohort is higher than for a single person.
While my Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any changes to the means test could only be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.
My Department does of course pay the Living Alone Increase to those who live alone to compensate for the additional individual costs of living alone when compared to a couple or family. The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people who are living alone and getting certain social welfare payments. The living Alone Increase is paid at an addition weekly rate of €22 or €1,144 a year. The yearly rate of Living Alone Increase at €1,144 is higher than that of the Fuel Allowance payment of €924 and is not payable to couples.
Finally, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. If your constituent believes that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment, they should 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 can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
638. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the eligibility of individuals for an allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51626/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if clear written guidance can be provided to Intreo staff regarding the eligibility of social enterprise founders and directors for the back to work enterprise allowance, in view of the Government’s stated policy to support social enterprises and neurodivergent individuals’ participation in economic and social life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51627/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra640. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline how the current back to work enterprise allowance eligibility criteria apply to social enterprises registered as companies limited by guarantee, and whether directors or founders working on a contract or employment basis are eligible to apply for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51628/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra641. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the back to work enterprise allowance scheme to ensure that it is accessible to founders of social enterprises, particularly those serving vulnerable or neurodivergent adults, given the Government’s commitment to supporting social inclusion and mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51629/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the intention to work on a contract basis for a social enterprise, prior to the enterprise being able to offer direct employment, precludes an applicant from qualifying for the back to work enterprise allowance; and if not, if he will issue guidance to Intreo offices to ensure consistency in decision making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51630/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra643. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on any plans to amend the back to work enterprise allowance, or related supports, to better accommodate the unique structures and needs of social enterprises, in line with the Government’s social enterprise policy and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51631/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 638 to 643, inclsive, together.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme provides support for the setting up of a new enterprise based in Ireland which is to be established as either a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company.
The proposed enterprise must be recommended, in advance, by both the Enterprise Officer in the Local Development Company and my Department's Employment Personal Adviser, before a final decision is made by the Deciding Officer to approve the application. No application for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance has been received to date for the enterprise mentioned in the details supplied.
Employment Personal Advisers establish that the proposed business is a new enterprise and examine the proposed business under the following headings: sustainability, displacement, seasonality and market saturation/competition.
Approved Back to Work Enterprise Allowance customers are expected to devote 100% of their time to the business venture to maximise the chances of success are therefore not allowed to enter into paid employment as an employee, either in a full-time or part-time capacity, while in receipt of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. This also includes working as an employee of the business being set up, rather than being the owner/director of the enterprise.
Operational Guidelines for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance are publicly available on www.gov.ie.
