Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
405. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all funding schemes, grant programmes and any other financial supports that are currently administered by his Department and its agencies; the expected launch and closing dates for applications for each scheme in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection provides financial support by means of the provision of income supports to some 1.5 million recipients on a weekly basis. In addition, the Department provides grants to hundreds of bodies and community organisations including through for example, Community Employment (CE) Schemes, Tús (community work placement initiative) and the Rural Social Scheme. These schemes provide support to hundreds of organisations across the country and thousands of participants as key supported employment programmes.
The Department also provides support to a wide range of other initiatives to provide information and awareness of supports to organisations and social welfare recipients.
Examples of supports provided by my Department, which are provided at particular times, are outlined in tabular form below:
|
Details of funding scheme /grant programme / financial support |
Launch date in 2026 |
Closing date in 2026 |
|
The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. |
2 June 2026 |
30 September 2026 |
|
The Fuel Allowance Scheme for 2026 will be €38 per week for 28 weeks, a total of €1,064. The Fuel Allowance is a means-assessed payment and to qualify, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria, including a household composition test. |
September 2026 |
April 2027 |
|
The United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which is observed annually on 17th October. The Department of Social Protection provides funding to community groups to raise awareness of the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. |
June 2026 |
July/August 2026 |
