Written Answers Nos. 641-660
644. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if any recent reviews have been carried out in relation to the impact of the current fuel allowance criteria in the face of rising energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51636/25]
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 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.
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.
645. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have availed of parents benefit in each county; the number of mothers and fathers who have availed of parent's benefit in each county, in tabular form; his views on the further steps that can be taken to encourage greater uptake of parent's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51716/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraParent’s Benefit is available in respect of any child born or placed with their adoptive parents from 1 November 2019. Parent’s Benefit provides nine weeks payment to each parent of a child aged under two years, or in the two years following an adoption, who is on Parent’s Leave from work to care for their child and covered by social insurance (PRSI).
In Q2 2025, a total of 29,352 people received a Parents Benefit Payment. Of these, 36% were male and 64% were female. The breakdown by county is provided in Table 1 below. Further information can be found in the Quarterly Statistical Report, and accompanying open data, published by my Department through gov.ie/dsp/statistics.
Table 1: Recipients of Parents Benefit in Q2 2025, by county and sex
|
County |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Carlow |
132 |
191 |
323 |
|
Cavan |
208 |
367 |
575 |
|
Clare |
255 |
427 |
682 |
|
Cork |
1,332 |
2,167 |
3,499 |
|
Donegal |
355 |
615 |
970 |
|
Dublin |
2,652 |
4,703 |
7,355 |
|
Galway |
678 |
1,066 |
1,744 |
|
Kerry |
298 |
510 |
808 |
|
Kildare |
586 |
1,067 |
1,653 |
|
Kilkenny |
201 |
411 |
612 |
|
Laois |
176 |
339 |
515 |
|
Leitrim |
98 |
149 |
247 |
|
Limerick |
367 |
657 |
1,024 |
|
Longford |
96 |
142 |
238 |
|
Louth |
262 |
532 |
794 |
|
Mayo |
358 |
533 |
891 |
|
Meath |
511 |
919 |
1,430 |
|
Monaghan |
159 |
277 |
436 |
|
Offaly |
176 |
311 |
487 |
|
Roscommon |
152 |
250 |
402 |
|
Sligo |
176 |
289 |
465 |
|
Tipperary |
313 |
624 |
937 |
|
Waterford |
278 |
489 |
767 |
|
Westmeath |
198 |
353 |
551 |
|
Wexford |
345 |
601 |
946 |
|
Wicklow |
282 |
538 |
820 |
|
Unknown |
49 |
132 |
181 |
|
Total |
10,693 |
18,659 |
29,352 |
646. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to introduce pay related parents benefit; the estimated cost for the first 12 months for this extension if it was modelled on the same payment rates which apply to jobseekers pay related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51717/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra657. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the levels of maternity benefit and maternity leave, paternity benefit and leave, parental benefit and parental leave which will apply during 2026; and if there are any anticipated changes in any of these due to take place during 2026. [51897/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 657 together.
Responsibility for the policy around the period of Maternity, Paternity, Parent’s or Parental Leave for employees is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. An extension of these leaves would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
My Department has responsibility for the associated payment of benefits.
These schemes are generally payable at the weekly rate of 289 euro. Any potential changes to payment rates of Maternity, Paternity or Parent's Benefit may be considered as part of the general budget discussions in the context of overall social welfare supports.
The Programme for Government includes commitments to examine the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities and to introduce Pay-Related Parent’s Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied. Work is ongoing within my Department to examine potential models for a Pay-Related Parent’s Benefit.
647. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have qualified for the new pay related benefit since it was introduced, by county; the average payment rate under the scheme to date; the cost of the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51718/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit (JPRB) is a payment you can get if you become fully unemployed and who have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. You cannot work and get Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit at the same time.
The amount of JPRB you get is directly linked to your earnings from work before you became unemployed. To the end of August 2025, a total of 46,466 claims were registered, with 34,646 claims awarded. At the end of August, there were 20,153 recipients in payment, with a breakdown by county provided in Table 1 below.
The average weekly entitlement value for those with 260+ PRSI contributions is approximately €373, and the average weekly entitlement value for those with 104-259 PRSI contributions is approximately €253. The cost of the scheme to the end of August was €111.4 million.
Table 1: Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit recipients at the end of August 2025, by county
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
223 |
|
Cavan |
232 |
|
Clare |
439 |
|
Cork |
1,951 |
|
Donegal |
352 |
|
Dublin |
7,100 |
|
Galway |
980 |
|
Kerry |
428 |
|
Kildare |
1,125 |
|
Kilkenny |
340 |
|
Laois |
331 |
|
Leitrim |
104 |
|
Limerick |
765 |
|
Longford |
171 |
|
Louth |
623 |
|
Mayo |
380 |
|
Meath |
956 |
|
Monaghan |
198 |
|
Offaly |
302 |
|
Roscommon |
191 |
|
Sligo |
245 |
|
Tipperary |
493 |
|
Waterford |
491 |
|
Westmeath |
377 |
|
Wexford |
580 |
|
Wicklow |
664 |
|
Unknown |
112 |
|
Total |
20,153 |
648. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a widow's pension who are under age 66; the estimated cost of allowing persons in receipt of widow's pensions to access illness benefit in the event that they get sick at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51719/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs at end August 2025, there were 28,651 people aged under 66 years in receipt of Bereaved Partner’s Pension (Contributory).
As at end August 2025, there are a further 983 people in receipt of Bereaved Partner’s Pension (Non-Contributory).
Illness Benefit is the primary short-term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. People must have made the required number of contributions under PRSI classes A, E, H or P to qualify.
Bereaved Partner’s Pension (Contributory) is a weekly social insurance payment to those who have lost their spouse or civil partner and are covered by social insurance.
Bereaved Partner’s Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested payment payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who does not qualify for a contributory widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s payment.
It is not currently possible for the Department to develop a costing in this regard as it does not have collated information on the contribution and employment status of these two separate groups, which would be crucial in estimating potential costs for these sub-populations to access Illness Benefit.
However, if a person is getting a reduced rate of Widow’s / Widower’s / Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory), they may also get a reduced rate of Illness Benefit, so that the combined amount of both payments is not greater than the maximum rate of Illness Benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled.
With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides an additional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system, including those referred to in the Deputy's question, would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
649. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the free travel pass to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the number of children who will benefit; the estimated cost of this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51720/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government 2025 has committed to examining extending the Free Travel scheme to include children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment payable at €360 a month per child. In addition, all recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance qualify for the Carer's Support Grant in June of each year. The current rate is €2,000 per year.
Based on 68,559 children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance, it is estimated that extending the Free Travel scheme to include those children, would cost in the region of €5.82 million in a full year.
The modelling of the cost is complex and needs to take account of multiple factors, including all children under nine already have free travel on public transport and children under 16 benefit from significantly reduced rates. It is also important to remember that it is the parent or guardian who receives Domiciliary Care Allowance - it is not paid directly to the child.
The Programme for Government commitments to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families, has seen the extension of free travel on all Transport for Ireland services to all children between 5 to 8 years of age. This expansion will benefit almost 236,000 additional children and their families.
Any expansion of the Free Travel Scheme will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary resources available.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
650. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51721/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to foster carers, previously foster parents, are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. The State Pension (Contributory) system already provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment, such as PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards, and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Foster carers are entitled to benefit from these measures on the same basis as other carers and parents. If they are not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify for the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. Foster carers can register for up to 20 years caring periods for child under the age of 12, or for children over the age of 12 in the case of a child who requires additional nursing care.
Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person demanding full-time care for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions, or 10 years, required for eligibility.
Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision.
These measures assist foster carers to access the State pension system in the same way as biological or adoptive parents, while ensuring that the system remains sustainable.
Officials in my Department have had engagement with the Department for Children, Disability and Equality, with Tusla and have provided foster carers with details on the State Pension system to highlight the entitlements under the existing scheme.
As set out in the Programme for Government, pension provisions for foster carers will be examined to acknowledge their long-term commitment and ensure valued support after their fostering years. My Department will continue to engage with the Department for Children, Disability and Equality, with Tusla and with other stakeholders on this issue as necessary.
Any future changes to State Pension system would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context, including the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
651. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for applications for each payment under his Department's remit; if there are any plans to reduce these processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51722/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below gives the average weeks to award for all main schemes as of July 2025.
My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently.
The Deputy will appreciate how processing times can vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested payments can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
My Department has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, the staffing needs of my Department are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, on average, for all the main scheme areas.
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to Award |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
5 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
2 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
9 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
2 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
2 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
2 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basi |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
5 |
|
Illness Benefit |
0 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
0 |
|
Child Benefit (Dom & FRA) |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
9 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
8 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
Not Available |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
652. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he or his Department are developing a payment for those self-employed who cannot work over a short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51744/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy has clarified that his question is in relation to providing entitlement to illness benefit to self-employed contributors.
Illness benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance.
Eligibility for illness benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. 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.
653. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he or his Department are considering changing the gross means test of a non-contributory State pension to a means test based on an applicant's net income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51747/25]
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.
654. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection his proposals to ensure that applicants for working age social welfare payments are not unduly refused upon their initial applications, arising from the significant number of those who are currently successful upon appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51759/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn establishing a person’s entitlement to a social welfare payment, including a working age social welfare payment, each claim is examined in line with the statutory qualifying conditions for the scheme and the information provided by the person in support of their claim. Claim decisions made by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer.
When a person appeals a decision, the Department may review the decision in light of the appeal contentions and any additional or new information provided by the person. The original decision is revised in favour of the appellant in a significant proportion of cases on consideration by the Department of the additional and/or new information.
In many instances, particularly with decisions relating to medical schemes, the appellant makes an early claim to establish an entitlement date as soon as they are diagnosed and while they are still awaiting detailed consultant reports. They then provide the additional reports as part of the appeals process. Again this additional information often results in the case being successful upon appeal, or on review by the Department.
The Department continues to encourage and support people to provide all information relative to their application as early in the process as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
655. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2026 if child benefit is increased by €12 per month. [51841/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of sixteen years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their nineteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 680,000 families in respect of over 1.3 million children. The estimated cost for 2025 is in the region of €2.2billion.
The estimated cost of increasing the monthly rate of Child Benefit by €12 is approximately €183m million per year.
These estimates are based on a full year basis and on the number of recipients in August 2025. It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated number of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
656. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will expedite a decision in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51866/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisablement Benefit is a compensatory payment for persons who have suffered a loss of faculty due to injury arising out of and in their insurable employment. All qualifying criteria for disablement benefit must be satisfied before entitlement to payment can be established.
The person concerned applied for Disablement Benefit on 10 July 2025 for an accident which was alleged to have occurred on 7 February 2025. Following an investigation of the claim, the accident has been deemed an occupational accident and their case has been referred to a Departmental Medical Assessors to ascertain their percentage loss of faculty due to their occupational accident.
The Medical Review and Assessment team issued correspondence to the person concerned on 9 September 2025 requesting further information. This information was returned on 19 September 2025. The person concerned will be scheduled for an in-person medical assessment in the coming weeks. Their claim for Disablement Benefit will be processed without delay following this assessment.
In the meantime, they continue to receive income support through their Illness Benefit payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
658. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports or secondary benefits allowed to persons on a carer's allowance; and to persons on a carer's benefit. [51904/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments in 2025 is estimated at over €1.9 billion.
The annual Carer's Support Grant is paid automatically to those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit and a grant may be paid for each person being cared for. The grant has increased by €150 this year to €2,000, it's highest ever level.
Domiciliary Care Allowance, which is not means tested. It is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. This year, the payment rate increased by €20.00 to €360 per month. This payment has increased by €50.50 since January 2022.
Introduced in January 2024, the Long-Term Carers Contributions scheme allows individuals who have been full-time carers for at least 20 years (1,040 weeks) to receive Long-Term Carers Contributions. These contributions can help fill gaps in their social insurance record and help qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
In addition to these payments which are specifically for carers, people in receipt of Carer's Allowance may also qualify for other supports from my Department.
The Household Benefits Package is available to help people with the cost of electricity or gas bills and the TV licence. It is available to everyone over 70. Carers under the age of 70 may also qualify for the Household Benefits Package, provided they meet the relevant scheme conditions. This includes being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment such as Carer’s Allowance and satisfying a means test.
Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating during the winter months. Carer’s Allowance is now included as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance once the other qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance are also satisfied.
The Free Travel Scheme allows eligible people to travel, free of charge, on all public transport owned by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, with some exceptions. Carers who receive Carer's Allowance may also qualify for the scheme.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Supplements are paid weekly or monthly to help meet ongoing necessary costs which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
It is important to note too that carers who receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit are automatically eligible for a free GP Visit Card from the Health Services Executive.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. Any further improvements will be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
659. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer's benefit; the typical duration of their claim; and if she has considered greater flexibility under the scheme to cover intermittent caring periods. [51905/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer's Benefit payment is made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person in need of full-time care. A person may be eligible providing they meet the qualifying conditions, including whether they have sufficient PRSI contributions.
The payment is complemented by the Carers’ Leave Act 2001, which allows employees to leave their employment temporarily to provide full-time care up to a maximum of 104 weeks.
Carer’s Benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. The current scheme offers sufficient flexibility to address intermittent caring periods in that it can be taken in one block or in separate periods, as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks. Where Carer’s Benefit is claimed for less than 6 weeks in a row in any period, there is a wait time of a further 6 weeks before Carer’s Benefit can be claimed to care for the same person again.
At the end of August 2025, there were 4,572 recipients of Carer's Benefit.
If more than one person is being cared for, payment may be made for 104 weeks for each person being cared for. This may result in the care periods overlapping or running concurrently.
An up to date estimate of the average duration of Carer's Benefit claims is not currently available.
Where care is provided beyond the period of entitlement to Carer’s Benefit, the means-tested Carer’s Allowance is available for those who need income support.
I am satisfied that this income support arrangement is appropriate and equitable.
It is worth noting that, there are forms of leave available to enable an employee to take intermittent or ad-hoc leave to provide care to a loved one. These include paid force majeure leave and unpaid leave for medical care - the latter was introduced in July 2023. Policy responsibility for all forms of family and flexible leave, is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
660. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the carer's support grant; the number of persons who already have carer's payments or domiciliary care allowance; and the numbers who qualify independently of these schemes. [51906/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full-time care. It is paid once each year, usually on the first Thursday in June.
|
Eligible scheme |
Carer's Support Grant Recipients (June 2025) |
|
Carer's Allowance |
71,007 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
2,219 |
|
Domicillary Care Allowance |
30,014 |
|
Combination of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and Domicillary Care Allowance |
28,754 |
|
Other eligibility |
4,769 |
|
Total |
136,763 |
