Written Answers Nos. 530-549
530. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare claims currently awaiting a decision, in each scheme, in County Wexford; the average waiting time for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57207/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraClaim processing statistics are collated at national level only; breakdowns by county are not available. The most recent national totals for claims awaiting decision at the end of September are set out in the table below.
|
Scheme |
Pending End Claims Sep 2025 |
Avg weeks to Award Sep 25 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
1,626 |
1 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
1,074 |
8 |
|
Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension |
592 |
2 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
4,908 |
2 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
1,241 |
2 |
|
Jobseeker's Pay Related Benefit |
1,114 |
N/A |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
575 |
3 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1,659 |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
892 |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
1,807 |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
1,791 |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
2,500 |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
465 |
6 |
|
Disability Allowance |
3,396 |
6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
1,717 |
7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2,303 |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
163 |
1 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
2,080 |
10 |
|
Child Benefit |
2,252 |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
3,573 |
7 |
|
Household Benefits |
1,996 |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
73 |
N/A |
531. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance application will be approved and backdated as soon as possible (details supplied). [57222/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for Carers Allowance and was refused on 23rd May 2024, on the grounds that full time care and attention were not being provided and that the information required by the Department to determine means had not been supplied.
The person concerned submitted an appeal on 2nd September 2024. Having considered all of the available evidence the Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal on both aspects listed above, and issued the decision to the person concerned on 11th July 2025.
The person concerned submitted a request for a review under Section 317 on the 16th September 2025. The Appeals Officer having considered that review and the new evidence provided did not find that the original decision was incorrect, and the review was subsequently disallowed on 17th October 2025.
532. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline all the supports available from his Department for families with twins, in particular for families who are full-time carers to twins with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. The key role of the Department of Social Protection is to provide income supports where an income need may arise due to unemployment, illness/disability and caring responsibilities.
The main income supports to family carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €2.2 billion in 2026.
Carer's Allowance is made up of a personal rate for the carer with additional amounts for qualified child dependents. Currently, the standard personal rate for a carer under age 66 is €260 per week and for a carer aged 66 or over the rate is €298. As announced in Budget 2026, these will increase by €10 to €270 and €308 per week respectively from January. Where a carer is providing full-time care and attention to more than one person, as in the case outlined by the Deputy, the rate of Carer's Allowance payable is increased by 50% of the standard personal rate.
Similarly, the weekly non-means tested, social insurance-based Carer's Benefit payment has an increased personal rate where care is provided to more than one person. The current weekly rate for those caring for one person is €261. This rises to a weekly payment of €391.50 for those caring for more than one person. Carer’s Benefit is payable for up to 104 weeks in respect of each care recipient.
The current weekly rate of the Child Support Payment is €50 for a child aged under 12 and €62 in respect of a child aged 12 or over. From January these rates will increase to €58 and €78 per week respectively as a result of Budget 2026.
Carers of twins may also qualify for other supports from my Department including the non-means-tested annual Carer's Support Grant which is available for all full-time carers whether or not they are in receipt of a weekly carers’ payment from my department. The grant increased by €150 this year to €2,000 - its highest ever level. A grant is paid for each person being cared for.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is payable to a parent or 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. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. Where a person is caring for more than one child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance, they may claim the monthly allowance of €360 for each child. As a result of Budget 2025 this will increase by €20 to €380 per month from January. There is no restriction on the number of children a person may claim Domiciliary Care Allowance for.
It should also be noted that, in the case of twins, Child Benefit is paid at one-and-a-half times the normal monthly rate for each child. That is, €210 per month in respect of each child.
Families with children may also qualify for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Following Budget 2026, this allowance of €160 has been extended to eligible children aged 2 and 3.
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments to improve the supports available to family carers. These include a commitment to continue to increase the Carer’s Support Grant and to progressively increase weekly carer support payments. In addition, the Government has committed to examining how carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person can be better supported.
These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government and in light of available resources.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
533. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57298/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails, as requested by the Deputy, are contained in the table below:
|
Name of Report |
Cost (inc. VAT) |
|
Review of National Employment Service Profit Moderation |
No costs yet incurred |
|
Review of Social Welfare Branch Office Managers PRSI Deductions |
No costs yet incurred |
|
Information Technology Internal Audit Services |
€105,47 |
534. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance claim by a person (details supplied); the options available to them to resume payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57320/25]
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.
I can confirm that CA was in payment to the person concerned for a first care recipient from 02 September 2010 to 04 January 2023 and for a second care recipient for the period 27 June 2013 to 31 July 2024.
The payment in respect of the first care recipient ceased because the person concerned informed the Department that they were no longer providing full time care.
CA is only payable to a carer for a care recipient who is aged less than 16 years, when Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is in payment. The CA payment in respect of the second care recipient was closed as DCA ceased.
The person concerned was notified of this decision and of their right to a review and their right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
It is also open to the person concerned to reapply for CA and an application form has been posted to them.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking to highlight the need for self-employed persons to pay their own PRSI (details supplied). [57345/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to instances of people who were self-employed during their working lives but did not qualify for the state pension (contributory) due to insufficient social insurance contributions.
In 1988, self-employed workers were brought into compulsory social insurance cover and, therefore, became liable to the applicable PRSI rate or minimum payment once over a certain annual income threshold. Currently, self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S PRSI rate of 4.2%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €650.
Once over the low annual income threshold of €5,000 and the PRSI liability has been paid, self-employed workers are attributed the annual maximum number of 52 class S contributions to their social insurance record. Such class S contributions entitle self-employed workers to over 90% of the value of all social insurance benefits available to employed contributors, including the state pension (contributory).
Registration as a self-employed person is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. Details of to how to register as self-employed can be found on Revenue’s website, revenue.ie, which also includes information relating to the PRSI liabilities of self-employed persons. Further information in relation to class S PRSI or PRSI in general can be found on gov.ie.
I trust the above clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
536. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will list the countries with which Ireland has reciprocal agreements regarding social insurance contributions for pensions and other core welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57350/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn addition to the 27 Member States of the EU, and the Convention on Social Security with the UK, Ireland currently has Bilateral Social Security Agreements (agreements) with Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Quebec, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The agreements are limited to certain social welfare benefits and are predominantly pension related.
The main purpose of the agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has social security agreements. This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in one or more of these countries to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in these countries.
537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s assessment of the number of workers who may be financially disadvantaged by transferring from existing occupational pension schemes into the State’s new automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and if he will publish the analysis underpinning these estimates. [57377/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has identified categories of employees, such as those in defined benefit or matched employer contribution schemes, who may be worse off under the automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and the measures being considered to safeguard those employees. [57378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted an equality or impact assessment of the automatic enrolment retirement savings system with regard to income level, gender; and employment sector and if he will make that assessment available. [57379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanisms that will be used to prevent duplication or conflict between existing private pension arrangements and the new State-run auto-enrolment system, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises. [57380/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the establishment of the central processing authority responsible for administering the auto-enrolment retirement savings system; the current staffing and budget allocation; and if progress reports will be published quarterly. [57381/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 537, 538, 539, 540 and 541 together.
The introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system is a Programme for Government commitment, and one of my key priorities. The aim of introducing an AE system is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland, and to help provide for better retirement incomes for workers. 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.
Current and new employees aged between 23 and 60 years of age and earning €20,000 or above per annum (across all employments) who are not already in an approved supplementary pension scheme (whose contributions are paid through payroll) will be automatically enrolled into the new retirement savings system. Those who fall outside the age and earnings threshold, so those aged between 18 and 23 or between 60 and 66, and/or earn below €20,000, will be able to join the new retirement savings system voluntarily by opting in.
Given that AE is designed to address the pension coverage gap, employees who are already covered by occupational pension schemes or other employment based retirement savings arrangements will not come within the scope of the eligibility criteria for My Future Fund. Therefore, they will not be auto-enrolled into the system when it commences in January. Consequently, no analysis is required as to how employees with current pension coverage might be impacted by this important initiative. In this regard, it is important to note that AE is not intended to replace or modify existing retirement savings arrangements, but to address the situation where employers do not provide such arrangements to their employees or where employees have chosen not to avail of such arrangements.
With regard to Departmental analysis as to the impacts of introducing AE, a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was completed in 2022 and as part of this, income level, gender and employment sector were examined. This assessment utilised research undertaken by the ESRI, which was commissioned by the Department. While, the RIA itself has not be published, the ESRI's research has been made available on its website. Their reports are titled 'The distributional impact of pension auto-enrolment' and 'The short-term distributional impact of pension auto-enrolment'.
Finally, in relation to the central processing authority, the underpinning legislation for AE provides for the setting up of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA). This body will oversee the operation of My Future Fund and it was formally established on the 14th October, with the Board holding its inaugural meeting that day. Recruitment to NAERSA is ongoing with a number of senior roles, including the CEO, already in place. In relation to NAERSA's Budget, Budget 2026 provided my Department with €23.7 million for grant assistance to fund NAERSA. The costs here will then be set against the charge on participants’ contributions over a multi-annual horizon, so as to ensure that the costs here are ultimately defrayed by the participants in the scheme.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
542. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible to register a birth with a different gender other than male and female on a birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57389/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information surrounding the birth of a child is provided to the Civil Registration Service through a birth notification form.
The only genders that can be recorded on this form are "male", "female" or where it is not possible to medically determine the gender of the child, "indeterminate".
543. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if Ireland currently has, or is pursuing, any bilateral or informal arrangements with the United Arab Emirates for the recognition or enforcement of family maintenance or spousal support orders issued by the Irish courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57273/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra544. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged, or intends to engage, with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates or other non-signatory states to the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, with a view to establishing practical channels for the enforcement of Irish maintenance orders abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57274/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the options or supports currently available to Irish citizens who are unable to enforce a maintenance or support order due to the fact that the liable person resides in a non-convention country such as the United Arab Emirates; and if he will outline any policy work underway to address this gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57275/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra546. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to address the gap in protections for maintenance recipients in cases where enforcement is not possible due to the absence of reciprocal arrangements with the country of residence of the liable person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57276/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 543, 544, 545 and 546 together.
Ireland is party to international agreements designed to help in cases of Maintenance Recovery from Abroad. These agreements aim to:
• Facilitate co-operation in the recovery of maintenance, an applicant in one party country claims to be entitled from a debtor in another party state.
• Ensure that maintenance rights are respected across borders
• Ensure each country signed up to the Conventions and or/ Regulations has a Central Authority to assist applicants.
These international agreements include the following:
• 1956 United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance (the UN Convention)
• The 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and other forms of Family Maintenance Convention and
• Council Regulations (EC) No. 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations.
As the Deputy is aware, not all countries are party to the UN or Hague Convention. As an example, and also in response to the specific country mentioned, the United Arab Emirates remains outside both of these Conventions. Supports are available for persons unable to enforce a Maintenance Order in a country not party to the Hague or UN Convention, by contacting the Consular Services Section at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
547. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the other capital works on Garda Stations in Laois which will be funded in 2026, aside from Portlaoise Garda Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56514/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and keep our communities safe. The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 provides unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion for the year.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all decisions related to upgrades on the Garda Estate. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.
Through the National Development Plan 2026-2030, I have also prioritised investment in capital development for An Garda Síochána to support projects across the Garda estate and a refurbishment programme for stations across the country.
I am informed that there are currently two capital refurbishment projects in Laois scheduled for completion in 2026 which are set out below.
|
Portarlington Garda Station |
Window and door restoration works |
|
Portlaoise Head Quarters |
Redevelopment of Portlaoise HQ |
I am also informed that following various works which were recently completed at Garda stations in Laois in 2024 and 2025 which are set out below.
|
Durrow Garda Station |
Ramp / universal access & upgrade of dayroom and public counter |
|
Borris in Ossary Garda Station |
First Floor Refurbishment |
|
Pavilions A &B |
Fitout Works |
|
Abbeyleix |
Cell upgrade and prisoner processing area works |
I am informed that this information is correct as of 15 October 2025.
The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I will continue to engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.
548. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to bring forward the necessary statutory regulations or amending legislation to implement the recommendations of the 'Periodic Payment Orders Indexation Rate-Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group' accepted by him in July 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56524/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra549. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the implementation process for the revised indexation mechanism for periodic payment orders under part IV of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017; and to specify the expected commencement date for the new framework. [56525/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra550. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons for the delay in publishing the draft regulations or legislative amendments required to activate the revised PPO indexation rate as recommended in the 2024 Inter-Departmental Working Group Report; and if he will provide a timeline for publication. [56526/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra551. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Finance, the Central Bank of Ireland, or the Courts Service in respect of operational readiness for the implementation of the new PPO indexation rate; and to provide details of those engagements. [56527/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra552. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the potential financial impact on plaintiffs with catastrophic injuries such as those arising in a case (details supplied) of the continued inability to elect for a properly indexed PPO under the current legislation; and if he will publish that assessment. [56528/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra553. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will ensure that the necessary legislative or regulatory amendments to make the PPO regime fully operational will be enacted before the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56529/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra554. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the legislative priority list for 2025 includes the introduction of amending measures to rectify the deficiencies in the current PPO legislation; and if not, if he will add it to the list as a matter of urgency. [56530/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra555. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the consultation undertaken to date with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of catastrophically injured plaintiffs, the Law Society, and the Bar Council, in relation to the implementation of a workable PPO indexation mechanism; and if further stakeholder engagement is planned. [56531/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress made since the publication of two reports (details supplied) toward the introduction of periodic payment orders for catastrophically injured people; the work he wishes to undertake in this area, as well as a timeline for their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57253/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555 and 611 together.
Survivors of catastrophic injuries deserve compensation that is both fair and adequate to meet their treatment needs. Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying such compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche a payment is made annually on an agreed date. The annual payment amount is calculated to meet the cost of permanent and long-term care and treatment. An indexation rate is applied to the annual payment amount to ensure that the amount keeps pace with inflation.
As the Deputy will be aware, a Working Group on the Indexation rate for Periodic Payment Orders, to advise on an appropriate index, was established following a High Court determination that the index used in primary legislation was unworkable. As part of a two-stage process, the primary legislation governing PPOs has been amended to allow for the Minister for Justice to set the rate by way of secondary legislation.
The recommendations of the Working Group that the Periodic Payment Index should comprise a combination of harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) and Annual Rate of Change (ARC) in nominal hourly health earnings for the health sector were subsequently approved. Drafting of the necessary regulations is at an advanced stage and I hope to be able to bring the regulations into operation shortly.
