Written Answers Nos. 579-598
585. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any mechanism, existing or discretionary, that would allow a sole-director small business to qualify for the vacant property grant, given that the renovation is strictly for personal residential use to bring a derelict property in a small town back to use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66217/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
A maximum of two grants are available to any applicant, of which one must be in respect of a home they intend to occupy as their principal private residence and the other may be in respect of a property which will be made available for rent. The grant is not currently available to registered companies or developers. Applications can only be made by named individuals. Applicants may transfer a property from company ownership into their individual ownership in order to apply for the grant.
The housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 has committed to improve and expand the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant by introducing an 'Above the Shop' top up grant and my Department is currently progressing this work. The plan also commits to exploring an extension of the 'Above the Shop' grant to micro companies.
586. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish derelict sites levy data for 2024. [66231/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Question No. 1,012 of 4 November 2025 which sets out the position in relation to this matter.
588. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the Department’s annual expenditure on State Claims Agency costs for the years 2020–2025. [66362/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total payments (inclusive of VAT) made by the State Claims Agency and billed to my Department for the period 01 January 2020 to 20 November 2025 are set out in the table below.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (to 20 November) |
|
€65,046
|
€151,473
|
€93,336
|
€1,212,062
|
€107,544
|
€41,329
|
590. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a school (details supplied), which received DEIS status in 2022, has not yet been approved to provide hot meals to its students; the steps her Department will take to ensure that the school can access the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66158/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
I can confirm that Our lady Mercy School, Beaumont have made an application for the School Meals Programme and this was received on the 3rd October 2025. We have requested further information on the school's application.
My Department have been in touch with the school and they have confirmed they will send in the information required and when it is received a decision will be made.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
591. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application from a college (details supplied) for funding towards a breakfast club for the current academic year was denied; if this decision will be revisited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66169/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme aims to reduce educational disadvantage. It is a Department of Education and Youth policy; that department is responsible for decisions regarding DEIS status. All DEIS secondary schools have access to the School Meals Programme.
The Department of Education and Youth has classified St Macartan’s College, Co Monaghan as a non-DEIS Secondary School and therefore it has no entitlement to a breakfast club funding under the School Meals Programme, nor has it ever received breakfast club funding.
Any expansion of the School Meals programme, including breakfast clubs, to non-DEIS Secondary Schools would have to be considered in a wider policy and Budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
592. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit and separately supplementary welfare allowance in the name of a person (details supplied). [65258/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received an application for Illness Benefit from Mr. Crowley on the 15th of March 2024. He was awarded Illness Benefit from the 6th of March 2024. His claim remains open for payments and credits. Prior to this claim, he had carried 69 days from a previous Illness Benefit claim. Illness Benefit is only payable for a maximum duration of two years (624 days). A letter was sent out to Mr. Crowley on the 17th of September 2025. This informed him that his payment of Illness Benefit is due to expire on the 16th of December 2025.
The above-mentioned letter also stated that while he remains incapable of work, Mr. Crowley should continue to submit medical certificates. This would ensure that his social insurance record is kept up to date and may help him to qualify for future social welfare benefits in future.
The letter of 17th of September 2025 also outlined that Mr. Crowley may re-qualify for payment of Illness Benefit in the future. It stated that in order to do so, Mr. Crowley would have to satisfy the qualifying conditions of Illness Benefit and have a further 13 contributions paid at an appropriate PRSI class after 16th of December 2025.
Mr. Crowley was also advised in the above mentioned letter that there are a number of possible social welfare schemes for which he might qualify depending on his circumstances. These included:
• Invalidity Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit
He was further advised in this letter that if he is unable to meet his needs or those of his dependants (if any), that he may be entitled to Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). In order to apply for this payment, he would need to attend his local Intreo office and ask to speak to one of the Department's Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
593. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider changing the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance given the increasing numbers of adults living at home, where a single pensioner (details supplied) who lives alone falls well below the income threshold and is eligible for the payment, however if they have an adult child living with them no matter their income then they are no longer eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65306/25]
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.
It is not always the case that a single pensioner will not be entitled to the Fuel Allowance payment if an adult child is living with them. If the adult child is in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department, typically long-term payments, then subject to satisfying all other relevant qualifying criteria, Fuel Allowance is payable.
However, if they are in receipt of short-term payments such as Illness Benefit or Jobseekers Benefit, or if they are in full-time employment then the household will not be entitled to the Fuel Allowance payment.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations. Though disregarding a household member who is not reliant on a long term social protection payment 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.
594. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available for a person (details supplied) who is unable to return to their job, due to injury, and has had their back to education payments revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65435/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision, as the person concerned cannot be deemed to be habitually resident in the state and therefore in accordance with Section 141 (9) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) is not entitled to a Jobseeker's Allowance from 17 September 2025.
The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in the coming days.
A list of all schemes and services offered by the Department of Social Protection is available on the 'gov.ie' website and can be found through the following link (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/collections/social-welfare-schemes-and-services/#jobseekers). Eligibility for each scheme is subject to the satisfaction of relevant scheme conditions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
595. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for service users applying to both the PRSI wig grant and the HSE grant wig allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65473/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement products and services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
The hair replacement benefit is an annual benefit of up to €500 available to persons who satisfy the medical requirements and the PRSI conditions of the Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme.
The payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product.
Types of alopecia which qualify are:
• alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis)
• primary scarring alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias)
• frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris (scarring alopecia)
• chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium)
• alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.
Every new claim for the hair replacement product grant must have medical certification from a medical professional confirming that the customer suffers hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or one of the specified forms of alopecia.
When a person meets the medical requirements and wishes to avail of the benefit, they should attend a hair replacement provider registered with the Department and provide confirmation of their medical condition. The provider will check the customer’s entitlement to benefit through the online channel Welfare Partners or by submitting an application form directly to Treatment Benefit Section.
Once eligibility has been confirmed the provider can supply the hair replacement product and make a claim for the grant using either Welfare Partners or a paper application. Spousal eligibility applications must be submitted via paper application and must be signed by the insured person to confirm consent. Once dependency is confirmed the claim can be made as above. All grants are paid directly to the provider. If the cost of the product supplied is more than the grant available, the balance is payable directly to the provider by the customer.
Contracted suppliers may provide a non-surgical scalp hair replacement product once per calendar year. Details of the qualifying medical conditions and the providers registered with the Department to provide hair replacement products are available on the gov.ie website.
In 2024, 4,531 customers availed of the scheme to the value of over €2.25 million.
Information in relation to the corresponding HSE's scheme is available directly from the HSE or from the Department of Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
596. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a number of schools (details supplied) will receive notice that they have received sanction under the school meals programme. [65537/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Following receipt of School Meals Funding applications from Drumboylan National School, Leitrim Village National School and St Hugh's NS, Dowra there was some further clarifications required on each of these applications. I'm pleased to advise that all three schools have been awarded and School Meals funding has issued.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
597. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an applicant (details supplied) will expect to hear from his Department regarding a review of their entitlement to the State pension (contributory) and their desire to switch back to a contributory pension. [65538/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 5 March 2006. State Pension (contributory) was awarded from 10 March 2006 to 9 June 2016 when they were awarded State Pension (non-contributory) at a higher rate of payment. Following a review, their State Pension (non-contributory) was reduced with effect from 27 January 2023.
The State Pension (contributory) entitlement is currently being reviewed for the person concerned. This review will determine which pension provides the most beneficial rate payable. A decision letter will issue to the person concerned as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
598. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has since been advised that they are set to lose the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65573/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Make Work Pay initiative, a person is entitled to retain their entitlement to Free Travel for a period of 5 years after their entitlement to Disability Allowance ceases due to taking up employment. The entitlement of the person concerned to Free Travel was linked to their Disability Allowance payment. The 5 year extension of the Free Travel entitlement is now due to end and the person concerned will be notified in writing.
For your information, persons aged over 17 and under 66 who are medically certified as being unfit to drive may also qualify for Free Travel. To qualify, a person must:
• have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability; or
• be deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of at least one year.
There is no requirement to satisfy a means test or that the person be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify for Free Travel for those medically unfit to drive.
Application forms are available to download from the on www.gov.ie/ft. Alternatively, application forms may be obtained from any Intreo Centre, or by contacting the Free Travel Section by telephone at 0818 200 400 or by email at freetravelqueries@welfare.ie. Information in relation to Free Travel is also available on the Citizen's Information website.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
