Written Answers Nos. 510-529
510. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance or guidance his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department is providing to small business owners in relation to the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57424/25]
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 implementation of My Future Fund will pave the way for around 800,000 workers to be brought into a retirement savings scheme for the first time and I look forward to its implementation.
My Department’s engagement with employers and the SME sector in relation to the introduction of 'My Future Fund' is a key element in the communications strategy that has been developed to inform stakeholders of this important initiative. To date, thousands of employers and related professionals in HR and payroll have been directly reached through webinars, conferences and in person stakeholder meetings, most recently at the National Ploughing Championships. The second phase of the communications 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. It is envisaged that further guidance to employers will be provided in the lead up to the scheme's commencement and the form and content of this will be communicated closer to launch.
In addition to these activities, there is a very good, up-to-date information hub available to employers and anyone else 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.
Finally, it is important to note that employers will have very little to do to facilitate auto-enrolment being implemented because a new state agency called the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) has been established to oversee and operate the new system. This includes taking care of all of the administrative processes involved around enrolment, contribution collection, investment, and providing access to accounts and information. Additionally, my Department has worked intensively with payroll providers over the past year to ensure their systems are changed to automate the deduction of contributions to My Future Fund. Accordingly, employers will not have to undertake any of their activities. Employers will simply be asked to register on the My Future Fund portal from the 1st December and provide payment details. Details of how to do this will be made available in a forthcoming advertising campaign over the coming weeks.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
511. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will confirm that all weekly contributory and weekly non-contributory pensioners will receive the full ten euros increase in Budget 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56523/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 7th October, over €1.15 billion of new social protection measures targeted to assist households were announced as part of Budget 2026.
The measures contained in the Budget are designed to support the most vulnerable in our society and there is a particular focus on tackling child poverty.
Included in this package are increases of €10 per week to maximum personal payment rates, benefitting people such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and for qualified adults.
The Budget increase of €10 in the maximum personal rate will bring the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) to €299.30 per week, and the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Non-Contributory) to €288.00 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
512. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the eligibility criteria for the new fuel allowance payment for those in receipt of the working family payment, announced in Budget 2026; the proposed income thresholds, and any other qualifying conditions that will apply, when the measure is introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56566/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraExtending Fuel Allowance eligibility to Working Family Payment recipients was a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and I am delighted to be able to introduce this extension as part of this Government’s first budget.
All Working Family Payment recipients will be considered eligible for the Fuel Allowance. This will benefit over 43,000 families and is a significant measure in tackling child poverty.
The Fuel Allowance payment will be expanded to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment from March 2026 and backdated to January 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
513. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that people are receiving letters informing them they are not eligible for the exceptional needs payment because they got it before, in some cases two years ago; if the Minister will ensure that this stops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56588/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income or household and personal resources. ANPs are administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS), considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
All ANP applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the need presenting. There is no restriction in place to limit the frequency of application. Claims received are subject to an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed and that of their spouse, where applicable.
The specific purpose of an ANP is to assist with immediate and essential expenses in situations of exceptional or urgent need. It is only intended to provide once-off short-term assistance where no other options are available.
Where there is a persistent financial challenge for an individual or family to meet ongoing costs, it is recommended that they contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) for budgetary advice at www.Mabs.ie or by phone on 0818 072000. Engagement with MABs is not a condition for receipt of ANP assistance.
If the Deputy is aware of a specific case at issue, she should direct the person to their local Intreo Centre where they can speak to a Community Welfare Officer to discuss their specific circumstances and so that their difficulty can be examined. Alternatively, the Deputy should forward the details to the Department to assess the options that may be available.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
514. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection to please review the case of a person (details supplied) in the hope that his son can maintain his social welfare because of the extenuating circumstances. [56644/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and the habitual residency conditions.
The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement. In this case, a means review of the DA claim commenced on 29 August 2024.
The person concerned provided some, but not all, of the information that was requested. A follow up letter then issued on 17 October 2024 informing him of the information that was still required to complete the means review.
Means are any income belonging to the person in receipt of DA and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income. Means include earnings from employment, financial assets and amounts held in a bank account.
On 06 November 2024, a means review was carried out and the person concerned was assessed with weekly means of €132.50, effective from 23 October 2024. This led to the DA payment for the person concerned reducing to €99.50. They were also notified of their right to request a review and/or appeal of this decision.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a reduced rate of DA of €111.50 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the EU Member States that made restitution for historically discriminatory social welfare, particularly in the case of women who have lost out on pension payments due to the marriage bar preventing them from working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56658/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe marriage bar was a legal requirement for women in the Irish civil service and some areas of the public service to retire from employment after marriage. While the legislation applied only to the civil and public sector, a similar policy was adopted by other sectors, such as the banking sector. The marriage bar for civil servants was removed from Irish legislation in 1973.
The marriage bar was also applied by many countries internationally, including some European countries. The application of the marriage bar, and its duration, varied across countries and particular sectors of employment.
In Ireland, the impact of the marriage bar on pension entitlements for women, including State Pension eligibility, varied depending on the sector they worked in and whether they returned to paid employment after the bar was lifted. It is worth remembering that most civil and public servants recruited prior to 1995 are not entitled to the State Pension (Contributory) and would not have been entitled to it had they continued working as a civil or public servant, regardless of gender and marital status, due to the application of a modified PRSI rate.
My Department is not aware of any restitution by EU Member States in relation to any marriage bars that may have been in place.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56699/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection has not incurred any expenditure to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Procurement of public infrastructure projects relating to my Department falls under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
517. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for invalidity pension his Department has received in 2024 and to date in 2025; and the number of those applications that have been approved in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [56742/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of claims registered for Invalidity Pension along with the number of claims awarded for Invalidity Pension in 2024, and to date in 2025, are shown in the table below.
|
|
2024 |
to end September 2025 |
|
Claims Registered |
9361 |
6814 |
|
Claims Awarded |
6795 |
48 |
518. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals officers assigned to assessing both applications and appeals, respectively, for the State pension contributory. [56743/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for State Pension Contributory are made to the State Pension Contributory Section of the Department of Social Protection for consideration by Deciding Officers.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to all appealable social welfare entitlements including decisions on State Pension Contributory. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
Appeals Officers work across all schemes and appeals are generally dealt with in chronological order. There are no Appeals Officers assigned specifically to State Pension Contributory appeals.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
519. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the work being done by his Department, and agencies under its remit, to facilitate, in line with the commitment under the Programme for Government, the easier return to Ireland for emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56795/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the allocation of Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to people, including those who are returning emigrants, who require one to access public services or take up employment or education.
The majority of returning emigrants should have a PPSN but if a person has difficulty recalling or locating their original PPSN, they should contact my Department for assistance by sending an email to CIS@welfare.ie, providing their personal details such as previous Irish address or employment details, marital status, and their mother's maiden (birth) name. Alternatively, if the returning emigrant does not have a PPSN, they can apply for a PPSN online at MyWelfare.ie.
In relation to access to social welfare schemes and supports, emigrants who are returning to reside in Ireland have the same entitlement to access as Irish people who already reside in the country.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he can bring it to the attention of my Department by emailing ims@welfare.ie.
520. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 23 July 2025.
This application was refused on the grounds that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 15 September 2025, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
A review was completed on foot of correspondence received from the person concerned on 09 October 2025. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged. The person was notified of this decision in writing on 15 October 2025.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
521. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether UK pensioners residing in the Republic of Ireland (details supplied) are entitled to receive the UK winter fuel allowance under the provisions of the common travel area arrangements between Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56888/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to UK payments, such as the UK fuel payment, is a matter for the Department of Work and Pensions in the UK and it would not be appropriate for my Department to comment on their behalf.
However, the existing bilateral social security agreement between Ireland and the UK ensures that citizens across the Common Travel Area are protected. If someone residing in Ireland is in receipt of a state pension from the UK, it does not preclude them from applying for the Fuel Allowance payment in Ireland. As with all applicants, they will be required to satisfy the necessary eligibility criteria for the payment, including a means-test.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
522. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has engaged with, or intends to engage with, the UK department for work and pensions regarding the recent changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility criteria; if his Department will seek clarification on whether UK pensioners residing in Ireland under the common travel area will be afforded eligibility for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56889/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department officials engage with the UK Department for Work and Pensions on an ongoing basis on issues impacting social security entitlements across the Common Travel Area, including any changes to benefits such as the Winter Fuel Payment.
Clarification on entitlements to UK payments is a matter for our UK counterparts and it would not be appropriate for my Department to comment on their behalf or, to make a statement on matters relating to UK payments. However, I can confirm that customers residing in the Republic of Ireland who are in receipt of a state pension from the UK can apply for the Fuel Allowance Payment in Ireland. To be entitled to the payment they, as with customers in receipt of an Irish pension, will need to satisfy the eligibility criteria relating to that payment, including a means-test.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
523. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he considers it fair that parents are being penalised through reductions or exclusions from the fuel allowance and other social welfare supports as a result of the ongoing housing crisis, where many adult children are unable to secure independent accommodation and are continuing to live in the family home; if he will review these criteria so that the income of adult children living at home is disregarded in such assessments, given the unfair impact this is having on families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56923/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the 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.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are in employment and not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations.
Disregarding a household member who is not reliant on long term social protection payments and who is in employment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.
I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases and it is for this reason that my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. 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 can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
524. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if carers allowance will be approved immediately for a person (details supplied). [56924/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2025.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer cannot be engaged in employment/self-employment or training/study for more than 18.5 hours a week. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer determined that the person concerned exceeded these working hours per week, based on the information supplied.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 07 May 2025, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
Following a further review, the person concerned was awarded CA from 18 September 2025, as it was established that the person concerned was working less than 18.5 hours per week. They were notified of this decision on 16 October 2025.
The first payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person concerned on 23 October 2025.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
525. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the history of invalidity pension claims made by person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57017/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
My Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned concerned on 3 October 2024. This application was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person concerned was notified on the 14 November 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
An appeal must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the letter, giving the decision in question. Correspondence from the person concerned was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 2 April 2025 and was therefore outside the time allowed to appeal the decision on the claim. Accordingly, the appeal was not accepted.
The person concerned submitted further medical evidence in support of their application on 4 May 2025. A review of the decision was completed and a decision issued on 16 May 2025 stating that the original decision remained unchanged. The customer was informed that she had the right to request another review and / or to request an appeal of the decision with the SWAO.
The customer requested another review on 29 May 2025 without submitting further medical evidence. On 7 June 2025, the person concerned was informed that the original decision remained unchanged. The customer was informed of their right to request another review and / or to request an appeal of this decision with the SWAO. To date no request has been received.
It is open to the person concerned to make a new application for IP if they feel they meet the qualifying criteria.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
526. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 25 September 2025, the means by which these programmes are increasing the participation rate, particularly as Ireland ranks last in the EU for participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace; the targets over the next five years to show progress in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57042/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions, the EU-20 average disability employment gap is 20.2 percentage points; however due to the methodology used, it is difficult to make cross-country comparisons with accuracy.
Based on Census 2022, Ireland’s employment rate for people with disabilities was 49%, resulting in a disability employment gap of 22 percentage points. The National Disability Authority has advised that a change of question in the national census between 2016 and 2022 makes it impossible to compare data and that going forward, we should use 2022 data.
Nevertheless, the Government acknowledges that the disability employment gap is to wide and we are working to narrowing it. My Department provides a range of programmes and schemes to enable access to the workplace for disabled people, with the aim of increasing the employment participation rate of disabled people.
My Department's Intreo service is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports in the State. Disabled people can access mainstream employment schemes such as Community Employment and Tús as well as referral to tailored supports such as Employability, a service that offers a professional job-matching service, on-going support and advice and information on employment supports for disabled people.
Disabled people can make an appointment to meet with a Designated Disability Employment Personal Advisor to discuss employment and training options. There is now a Designated Disability Employment Personal Advisor in each of the 62 Intreo offices nationwide.
As stated previously in response to the Parliamentary Question to which the Deputy refers, the Workability programme, co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme was established in 2024 by my Department. As of the 1st of September 2025, 4,005 people have engaged with 57 local, regional and national projects. 888 participants have exited the WorkAbility Programme with 318 participants finding employment and 134 participants commencing training. Its target is to support 13,000 disabled people into employment through these projects over its five-year lifetime.
In July 2022, my Department launched Early Engagement. The scheme aims to proactively engage with young disabled people or those in the early stages of disability or illness about options for education, training or employment. Over 35,000 people have been contacted and over 4,500 referrals have been made for further education or employment supports since the scheme launched.
Launched in 2024, the new Work and Access scheme addresses barriers to the workplace for disabled people, to increase the employment participation rate. Seven supports are available for disabled people and their employers including job coaches, work equipment, communication support and training. Supports are available for both the business premises and remote workplaces.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire disabled people through a subsidy. In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible and flexible. As a result, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. The scheme was expanded to those on Partial Capacity Benefit and to the community and voluntary sector.
An additional €3.7 million has been allocated to the scheme. In June this year, we launched the revamped scheme. A media campaign to raise awareness of this very beneficial scheme for employers and employees followed the launch. It is hoped that the implementation of the recommendations of the review will result in an expansion of the scheme.
Budget 2026 has provided for a further expansion to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit and provided for an increase in the subsidy rates.
My Department is committed to supporting disabled people into work and the Government recognises that more needs to be done to increase the employment participation rate. The Programme for Government commits to expanding successful programmes like WorkAbility and Work and Access and to work with employers and across Government to improve employment of disabled people, with a goal of reaching at least the EU average.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government in light of the prevailing policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the position of the Deputy.
527. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the vacant buildings owned by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W, including, the address and size in square meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57118/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to work closely with the Office of Public Works to ensure the efficient use of office accommodation and public resources, and to prevent any buildings from remaining unused.
The Department of Social Protection and the agencies under its remit do not own any vacant buildings in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W.
528. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 8 October 2025, if charges under My Future Fund differ for participants who are actively contributing and for those who have ceased or paused contributions. [57126/25]
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 1st January 2026. The implementation of My Future Fund will pave the way for around 800,000 workers to be brought into a retirement savings scheme for the first time and I look forward to its implementation.
As set out in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 8 October 2025, the details of the fees that will be applied in My Future Fund will be announced closer to the commencement of the system. This will include details as to when participants will be charged and the rate of such charges. In designing the fee structure, my Department is working to ensure that costs are shared fairly among the participants and that fees are minimised as far as possible by leveraging the economies of scale for the operation of the system.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
529. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if the social insurance contributions of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57200/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 1 September 2021.
The records of my Department show that, from their date of entry into insurable employment on 3 February 1975, the person concerned has 1,324 paid contributions and 4 credited contributions. This equates to a yearly average of 29 which gives entitlement to 85% of the max rate of pension or €246.30 per week.
This decision was reviewed on 23 June 2025 resulting in no change to their rate of payment. A copy of the contribution record used issued for their information.
If the person concerned would like this decision reviewed further, they are welcome to write to my Department outlining the specific grounds for the review and to provide any supporting documentation that may assist with the review.
It is open to the person concerned to apply for the State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State Pension (contributory).
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
