Sean Fleming
Ceist:551. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence arising from Budget 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73589/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 December 2025
Ceisteanna (551)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people.
Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.
In the recent Budget I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This package includes a number of measures to support disabled people. Rates of payment for schemes such as Disability Allowance will be increased by €10 per week from January bringing the maximum personal weekly rate of payment to €254 per week. In addition, there is a Christmas bonus of a double week payment in December. There are also other important measures such as providing for the retention of Fuel Allowance for up to five years where a person moves off Disability Allowance and into employment.
People on Disability Allowance can take up employment or self-employment and continue to receive all or part of their income support, depending on their income. A person can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate payment. Earnings between €165 and €375 from employment are assessed at 50%, and any earnings over €375 are fully assessed as means. A person can earn up to €517.60 a week and still keep their entitlement to the minimum rate of payment and their secondary benefits.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment.
We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of and access to services are also key. We need all Departments and agencies of Government to work together to address the issue in a comprehensive way. That is why the Taoiseach set up a Cabinet Committee on Disability and a dedicated programme office within his own Department.
In addition, under the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network on the cost of disability. The network will take a whole of government approach to address this issue with the involvement of all relevant Departments and Agencies.
The work of this network, which will include disabled people and their advocates, will inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment. I have asked my officials to expedite this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of next year.
My officials have held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the possible structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. Most recently, my officials met with a number of organisations on 2nd December at my Department's Disability Consultative Forum, at which the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network was the main Agenda item. Officials from across government were also in attendance given that this is a whole of Government issue.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, including the need presented and available resources, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income. The Urgent Needs Payment, available under this scheme, can be paid to persons in full time education in exceptional circumstances.
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 for Additional Needs Payments can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.