Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
29. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress being made in reviewing means testing across the social welfare system as outlined in the Programme for Government. [2882/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMeans tests are a central part of any social welfare system in ensuring that limited resources are targeted at those who are most in need. Ireland's system of social transfers consistently ranks among the top performers in the European Union for poverty reduction.
A key factor in this achievement is Ireland's use of means testing in targeting resources for the most vulnerable in our society. In addition, research indicates that targeting of supports to more vulnerable cohorts, through means testing, continues to be important even as societal income overall increases.
Means tests and income thresholds are kept under review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. A number of changes to means testing, which provide for higher income disregards have been introduced in recent Budgets. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.
Currently, my Department is conducting a review of means testing within the social protection system. The aim is to examine various means-tested schemes and identify any issues related to their respective means tests. With over 140 schemes and services, many of which are means-tested, this is a complex and detailed task.
It is my intention that the review's findings will guide decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future Budgets.
The review is nearing completion and I expect that it will be submitted to me shortly. Due to the complexity of the review, I will carefully and thoroughly evaluate it to determine the best way to utilise its findings and identify those that warrant further consideration. However, any prospective changes to means testing arrangements will need to be evaluated and considered within the broader context of overall policy and budgetary considerations and over the lifetime of this Government.
