Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
683. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement his Department has had with women’s organisations regarding concerns that the qualified adult system classifies women as dependants; whether these concerns will inform future reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5462/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the nature of the work of my Department, there are a range of consultative fora in place through which my Department actively engages with a large number of key stakeholders, including women’s organisations. Examples include the annual pre-Budget Forum, the Social Inclusion Forum, the Disability Consultative forum, the Carers’ Forum, as well as regular meetings with the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
As part of the annual budgetary process, my Department invites pre-Budget submissions from a wide range of representative bodies across the community, voluntary and employer sectors. As well as giving consideration to the submissions received from these organisations, the annual Pre-Budget Forum provides a further opportunity for me to meet with groups from the community and voluntary sector, including women’s representative groups, offering me a deeper insight into the issues that are of most concern in the context of the next Budget.
The role of payments for adult dependants in the social welfare system is an element of ongoing policy considerations. A number of schemes based on individualised payments have been introduced in recent years. These include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Enhanced Illness Benefit and more recently, the Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit scheme. Work is ongoing to explore the extension of the pay related benefits model, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government.
The Social Impact Assessment report published by my Department annually on the distributive effects of social welfare measures in the Budget includes analysis of the gender and equality impacts. My Department continues to consider the various implications and impacts that would be associated with a move toward a fully individualised welfare system in the context of the ongoing design of policy measures featured in the Programme for Government.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to engagement and dialogue with all relevant organisations on the issues that matter to them, and consultation forms a key component of any policy development.
