Written Answers Nos. 435-454
435. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the role of Bord Bia in the hot school meals programme; if suppliers are required, encouraged or incentivised to use Bord Bia quality assured ingredients; if any data is collected on the proportion of Bord Bia certified products used in school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11195/26]
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.
My Department provides the funding for food to schools. All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenders responsibilities and obligations. The primary relationship is between school and supplier.
Under the National Green Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 it states "a minimum of 10% by value (€) of food sought by public sector bodies under new contract arrangements (including via contractors such as canteen service providers), is to be certified organic in each of the following categories of Cereals, fresh Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Fish, Vegetables and Dairy products, where possible.’
Under the Department of Education and Youth template procurement documentation it stipulates that menu’s which must include a range of locally sourced produce along with a greater use of sustainable food, for example, in-season produce, high animal welfare standards on meat, free-range eggs, marine conservation certified fish;.
There is no stipulation that food should originate from Ireland only. It should be noted that under EU laws, and as reflected in public procurement rules, it cannot be specified that food must originate from a particular country. That would be in breach of EU single market rules.
There is no data in relation to the proportion of Bord Bia certified products used in school meals.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
436. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spending on the hot school meals programme in each of the past ten years; the percentage of food provided through the programme that is not of Irish origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11215/26]
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 Hot School Meals Programme was first introduced as a pilot programme to 37 schools in 2019. Details of annual expenditure from 2019 to 2025 is provided in the table below.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
€54.31m |
€53.46m |
€58.38m |
€77.51m |
€108.71m |
€181.43m |
€230.02m |
My Department provides the funding for food to schools. All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenders responsibilities and obligations. The primary relationship is between school and supplier.
There is no stipulation that food should originate from Ireland only. It should be noted that under EU laws, and as reflected in public procurement rules, it cannot be specified that food must originate from a particular country. That would be in breach of EU single market rules.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
437. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11124/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. SWA Payments are administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case and are means tested. The means test assesses all household income, savings, shares, investments, or property owned (apart from the applicant’s home).
As part of the application process, a person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA on 31 October 2025 pending the outcome of their Disability Allowance claim. This claim was not progressed as although some information was provided, not all the information necessary was made available. The person concerned made another claim on 7 January 2026 and was requested to provide outstanding information.
As the requested information was only partly received, the basic SWA claim for the person concerned was disallowed on the basis that person did not make a full disclosure of their means. A letter advising the person concerned of this outcome and affording them the opportunity to seek a review and/or appeal issued to them on 03/02/2026.
Departmental records show that the person concerned has recently appealed the decision on their basic SWA claim directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office which operates independently of this Department. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this appeal in due course. If the person concerned has any queries in relation to their appeal, they should contact the Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin, D02 XY31, Email: swappeals@welfare.ie, Telephone: 0818 747434; 01 6732800.
The person concerned can also engage with the Community Welfare Service in the Bishop Square Intreo Office directly in relation to the outstanding information.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
438. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11125/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for State pension (contributory), the social insurance contribution record of each applicant is considered from age 16 to age 66, or up to age 70 for those who wish to defer their pension draw down age. This allows for at least 50 years of contributions to be reckonable for pension purposes.
The records of my Department show that the person concerned has 316 paid contributions in Ireland. Credited contributions awarded for periods spent caring were used in the calculation of pension entitlement.
The person concerned had the opportunity to satisfy the required contribution conditions of the pension over the remaining 37 years of their reckonable working life. However, they spent most of this period working outside of Ireland and this is what ultimately impacted on the rate of entitlement.
Any prospective changes to the qualifying conditions of State Penson (contributory) would have to be considered in both an overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
439. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government will consider extending and reforming a social protection payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11150/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 scheme, my Department may award a supplement to assist with on going or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. This can include a Heating Supplement where a person has need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers. Heating Supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year.
Heating Supplements are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme. All the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into account in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance.
Department officials have ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders outlining the eligibility criteria and application process for the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, including the Heating Supplement. Department officials have also recently distributed information on Additional Needs Payments and the Heating Supplement to the organisations represented on the Department’s Disability Consultative Forum.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to a Heating Supplement 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.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
440. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is working on reforms to the domiciliary care allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11151/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child. Where a person is caring for more than one child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance, they may claim the monthly allowance of €380 for each child.
As part of Budget 2026, I increased the monthly rate of DCA by €20, bringing it to €380 from January. This payment has increased by €70.50 per month since January 2023.
There are currently over 62,800 families in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of approximately 71,500 children. The estimated spend on this payment in 2026 is almost €359 million.
Domiciliary Care Allowance can now be applied for online, and improvements have been made to the application process to make it easier for families.
In acknowledging the financial burden families of sick children face significant changes have been made in recent years to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment.
• As part of Budget 2022, the period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
• As of May 2024, for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth the period was extended from 6 months to 18 months.
During both these extended periods of eligibility and where other conditions are met, a carer may also receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and the Carer's Support Grant.
The Programme for Government contains a wide range of commitments for family carers which will continue to be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, taking account of available resources. We have committed to progressively increasing the rate of the Domiciliary Care Allowance and to examining the extension of the free travel scheme to children in respect of whom the payment is in place.
Any further reforms to Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of these commitments and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, having regard to budgetary resources.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
441. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.? This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and habitual residency conditions.?
According to the Department’s records, the person concerned was absent from the State for numerous periods between 2019 and 2025. It was decided that there was no entitlement to DA for these periods of absence from the State, having exhausted her holiday entitlements and an overpayment was assessed against this individual for these periods. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision and of their right to request a review and/or to appeal on 19 November 2025. They have been repaying this debt through weekly deductions from their DA payment. A letter dated 16 December 2025 was issued to the person concerned inviting her to comment on the repayment of her debt or to advise the Department of any facts or circumstances which they consider relevant to the repayment. Upon receipt of a response to this letter, an officer will take into consideration their circumstances and make a decision on a new acceptable recovery amount. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
442. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11189/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection’s principal headquarters facility, and the site of the office of the Minister, is located at Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store Street, Dublin 1.
At present, there is no serviced canteen at this location.
443. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the hot school meals programme will guarantee that food supplied to participating schools is of Irish origin; if not, the European Union procurement restrictions that prevent the State from mandating Irish only produce in school meal contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11192/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra445. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if beef used in the hot school meals programme is required to be Irish beef. [11196/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra446. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if beef imported for the hot school meal programme is subject to EU and Bord Bia standards. [11197/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the mandatory labelling requirements for beef used in school meals where the beef is not of Irish origin, including obligations regarding country of slaughter, country of fattening, and full traceability information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11198/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 445, 446 and 447 together.
The 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.
All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenders responsibilities and obligations. The primary relationship is between school and supplier.
There is no stipulation that food should originate from Ireland only. It should be noted that under EU laws, and as reflected in public procurement rules, it cannot be specified that food must originate from a particular country. That would be in breach of EU single market rules.
In addition, under tender documentation requirements, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities, and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices. The supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, as Ireland’s independent regulator and the central competent authority for the enforcement of food safety legislation provide advice on the mandatory labelling requirements for beef not of Irish origin which can be found on their website Labelling of Meat Products | Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland deals with enforcement procedures in instances of non-compliance with food law by any food business operator in Ireland.
Many community based providers participate in the School Meals Programme. My officials in this Department have been working with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and have compiled a list of supports available to local community organisations who may wish to expand their operation into the school meals area. This information has been supplied to some rural schools and a range of other community organisations. This can be obtained from my department. Schools can also engage with local café, restaurants, local suppliers, and meals on wheels services, a number of which are already supplying schools in the School Meals Programme.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
444. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the oversight mechanisms in place to monitor compliance by food suppliers under the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11193/26]
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.
My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. It is the responsibility of each school board to select a supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenderer’s responsibilities and obligations, including in relation to compliance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. Any issues regarding food quality should be addressed by the school board with their supplier.
My Department has an oversight role in relation to the School Meals Programme and conducts regular inspections of schools which includes reviewing the menu. Under the existing audit process, some 400 schools are inspected onsite annually by that department. In total, 121 desk assessments were conducted in 2024. This represents a 20% total check on schools. For 2025, 400 schools were inspected and the desk assessments increased to 155 cases as more schools become eligible to join the programme.
Last September my Department funded and recruited a dietician, seconded to the Department of Health to strengthen oversight of the Hot School Meals Programme.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the regulatory body with responsibility for enforcement procedures in instances of non-compliance with food law by any food business operator in Ireland.
Many community based providers participate in the School Meals Programme. My officials in this Department have been working with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and have compiled a list of supports available to local community organisations who may wish to expand their operation into the school meals area. This information has been supplied to some rural schools and a range of other community organisations. This can be obtained from my department. Schools can also engage with local café, restaurants, local suppliers, and meals on wheels services, a number of which are already supplying schools in the School Meals Programme.
Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
448. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to delays in securing marriage notification appointments in the Cork area; his Department's plans, if any, to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11236/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of marriage notifications appointments in a particular area, as referred to by the Deputy, is the responsibility of the registrars employed in the civil registration service of the HSE. The resourcing, funding and operation of this system are matters for the HSE, along with the Department of Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
449. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance review for a mother in respect of her daughter (details supplied) has been lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11259/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding / diet, communication, speech / language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, including any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
An application for DCA in respect of the child concerned was received by my Department on 10 September 2025. A Deciding Officer disallowed the claim as per decision dated 13 November 2025. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application. The Deciding Officer also had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in making their decision and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.
The person concerned requested a review of the original decision of the 13 November 2025 and provided further new information/evidence for consideration. Further to that review, following a re-examination of their application, including all the further new information/evidence that was provided by the applicant and the additional information provided under the previous Parliamentary Question received in support of their review request, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the above original decision, as per review decision dated 20 January 2026 which issued directly to the person concerned.
On foot of a request received for a further review of eligibility for DCA in this case, a full re-examination of this DCA application and my Department's original decision of 13 November 2025 will now be undertaken by a Deciding Officer. Once that review has been completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision in writing.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
450. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the requirement for the past five years of PRSI contributions to be class A/A1 to qualify for the over-65 benefit payment, discriminates against those who were ill during this qualifying period (details supplied); the number of people who were rejected for the allowance on this basis over the past five years; the saving to the State; if he plans to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11262/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds, provided for under the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme, was introduced to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before being eligible for the State Pension at age of 66. The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at age 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme including the PRSI social insurance contribution requirements, which demonstrates a recent attachment to the workforce.
One of the conditions for the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Old requires a person, since entering insurable employment, to have paid 104 PRSI contributions at class A, H or P or paid 156 class S contributions if they are self-employed. This effectively requires a previous minimum of two years employment contributions or three years if self-employed.
The second contribution condition requires that a person must also have 39 employment contributions paid or credited in the Governing Contribution Year (referred to as the GCY). The GCY is the second last complete contribution year, which in 2026 refers to 2024. At least 13 of the required 39 contributions must be paid, and the remaining 26 can be credited contributions. Where a person does not meet this criteria they may qualify if they have paid 26 employment contributions in the GCY and 26 paid in the year immediately before this.
Statistics are maintained on the total applications, awards, refusals, and withdrawals for Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance schemes. However, data is not separately collated in respect of those refused Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds due to not meeting the contributions requirements.
People in receipt of Illness Benefit are required to submit medical evidence for as long as they are incapable of work. The need to be medically certified as unfit for work by a GP is a qualifying condition irrespective of age or medical diagnosis.
The Department is examining the particular circumstances in relation to the case referred to by the Deputy.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
451. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection the most recent auto enrolment figures for each county, including the total number of individuals enrolled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11284/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with access to a quality assured retirement savings scheme, thereby giving greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income.
The new system - known as My Future Fund - commenced on the 1 January 2026. To date 763,883 employees that weren't actively contributing to a qualifying pension or PRSA through payroll and who met the age and earnings threshold have been automatically enrolled in My Future Fund. These employees work for 105,176 employers. These numbers change frequently as people's circumstances change and as people enter and leave the labour market.
The latest data in respect of the number of employees that have been enrolled by county was received on the 27th of January and is set out here in alphabetic order. The total participant count at that time was 761,789.
|
County |
Count |
|
ANTRIM |
77 |
|
ARMAGH |
332 |
|
CARLOW |
10746 |
|
CAVAN |
12103 |
|
CLARE |
15359 |
|
CORK |
75547 |
|
DERRY |
709 |
|
DONEGAL |
20426 |
|
DOWN |
417 |
|
DUBLIN |
242662 |
|
FERMANAGH |
237 |
|
GALWAY |
38225 |
|
KERRY |
21769 |
|
KILDARE |
38027 |
|
KILKENNY |
13205 |
|
LAOIS |
12335 |
|
LEITRIM |
4139 |
|
LIMERICK |
27932 |
|
LONGFORD |
7012 |
|
LOUTH |
22231 |
|
MAYO |
17317 |
|
MEATH |
34126 |
|
MONAGHAN |
10491 |
|
OFFALY |
12291 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
8720 |
|
SLIGO |
8235 |
|
TIPPERARY |
23195 |
|
TYRONE |
242 |
|
WATERFORD |
16830 |
|
WESTMEATH |
13950 |
|
WEXFORD |
24648 |
|
WICKLOW |
21356 |
|
NOT KNOWN |
6880 |
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
452. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the amount of money expended by his Department on fuel allowance, per annum, in each of the years 2022 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11294/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season from September to April at the weekly rate of €38.00 (from January 2026) or, if preferred, by way of two (lump sum) instalments, one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The overall expenditure on Fuel Allowance from 2015-2024 is published in the Department of Social Protection’s Statistical Information On Social Welfare Services Annual Report 2024 on www.gov.ie. The 2025 Fuel Allowance expenditure is provisional at this stage.
The table below shows the statistics for the past 4 years:
|
Year |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Expenditure |
€427.09m (Provisional) |
€510.23m* |
€501.67m* |
€576.40m* |
* Includes once-off payments to recipients of €300 in November 2024 and November 2023, and €400 in November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
453. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11359/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the purpose of this response, I have interpreted the amount expended on “advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants” as media buying costs incurred from public information campaigns, announcements and recruitment notices.
My Department administers more than 140 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. We are committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the welfare supports and services available, and that key changes are communicated to them. Paid public information campaigns play an important role in achieving this objective.
Please see below in tabular form the total expenditure incurred by my Department and bodies under its aegis, on advertising in 2025, and expected expenditure on same in 2026. The total cited per year represents the total expenditure invoiced and paid within each year – this may include work undertaken in the previous year but not invoiced until that year. Please note that these figures include VAT, ASAI, and agency fees.
|
|
Total Advertising Costs 2025 |
Total Expected Advertising Costs 2026 |
|
Department of Social Protection (DSP) |
€4,730,971.37 |
€3,420,000* |
|
Pensions Council |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Pensions Authority |
€1,936 |
€20,000 |
|
Citizens Information Board |
€546,089 |
€640,000 |
|
National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority |
Nil |
€1,500,000** |
*The total budget allocated for communications activity by my Department in 2026 is €3.42 million (including VAT). This allocation covers a range of customer communications activity, including advertising, creative development, customer service events, market research, videography, accessible content development, and a range of other public information and outreach initiatives.
** As a newly established body under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority did not have any expenditure on advertising in 2025. At this time, an approximate budget of €1.5 million has been allocated to communications spend for 2026.
454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 346 of 5 February 2026, if Tusla will set up a meeting with a family to discuss their situation regarding guardians payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11565/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGuardian’s payment (contributory) is a social insurance payment and guardian’s payment (non-contributory) is a social assistance (means tested) payment made to a person caring for a child who satisfies the definition of an “orphan” under social welfare legislation. A child is considered an "orphan" if they are under 18 (or up to age 22 if in full-time education) and both parents are deceased; or one parent is either dead or unknown, or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child, and the other parent is dead or unknown, or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child.
It was decided on the 16th August 2025 that the person concerned was not entitled to guardian's payment, in respect of her grandsons, as they do not satisfy the definition of an "orphan" under social welfare legislation. A review of this decision was completed on the 5th September 2025, however the original decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned appealed the decision to the Chief Appeals Officer, and her appeal was disallowed on the 23rd October 2025. The Chief Appeals Officer operates independently of my department.
In addition to the universal monthly payment of child benefit of €140 per child, my department has a number of other payments available to assist families with children, including –
• Working Family Payment which is a means-tested income support payment for families where one or more adult is working.
• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is an annual payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn.
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance, includes payments to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
• To qualify for these schemes, a person must meet the specific scheme qualifying criteria including satisfying a means test. Income from employment is assessed in the means test.
• Matters relating to foster care and Foster Care Allowance are a matter for the Child and Family Agency (Túsla), which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
• I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
