Written Answers Nos. 78-97
78. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline progress in the rollout of the automatic enrolment retirement savings system, including early participation levels and emerging trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46291/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's automatic enrolment retirement savings scheme, MyFutureFund commenced on the 1st January 2026. All elements of the system are operating as planned. Both the employer and participant website portals are fully functional and there is a very high level of compliance by employers registering for the scheme and remitting their contributions. Since the 1st January, based on analysis of payroll data from the Revenue Commissioners, over 800,000 employees have been automatically enrolled in MyFutureFund. These employees work for about 113,000 employers. In addition, more than 9,000 employees have applied to join the scheme voluntarily. To date over €320m n contributions have been collected for investment. This includes employer and State top-ups meaning participants have already seen the savings in their account increase by about 133% over and above their own personal contribution.
It is too early at this stage to comment on emerging trends however for the benefit of the Deputy some data about the participant cohort (County, Gender and Age) as of the 28 April 2026 when an analysis was last done is set out below. The Deputy should be advised that number of participants then was 806,015.
|
COUNTY |
Count |
|
ANTRIM |
116 |
|
ARMAGH |
766 |
|
CARLOW |
11881 |
|
CAVAN |
13245 |
|
CLARE |
22452 |
|
CORK |
80857 |
|
DERRY |
7138 |
|
DONEGAL |
21987 |
|
DOWN |
5729 |
|
DUBLIN |
258632 |
|
FERMANAGH |
390 |
|
GALWAY |
40822 |
|
KERRY |
24444 |
|
KILDARE |
40315 |
|
KILKENNY |
14434 |
|
LAOIS |
13243 |
|
LEITRIM |
4731 |
|
LIMERICK |
30461 |
|
LONGFORD |
7763 |
|
LOUTH |
23477 |
|
MAYO |
18885 |
|
MEATH |
7592 |
|
MONAGHAN |
11340 |
|
OFFALY |
13049 |
|
UNKNOWN |
6468 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
9319 |
|
SLIGO |
9138 |
|
TIPPERARY |
24580 |
|
TYRONE |
496 |
|
WATERFORD |
18404 |
|
WESTMEATH |
15013 |
|
WEXFORD |
26343 |
|
WICKLOW |
22505 |
|
Total |
806015 |
|
Gender |
Count |
|
Male |
398177 |
|
Female |
321812 |
|
Unknown |
86026 |
|
Total |
806015 |
|
AGE |
Count |
|
18-30 |
224022 |
|
31-40 |
230395 |
|
41-50 |
210595 |
|
51-60 |
139779 |
|
61 |
444 |
|
62 |
325 |
|
63 |
259 |
|
64 |
135 |
|
65 |
61 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
806015 |
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
79. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider a review of the minimum 16 hours required weekly worked hours to qualify for carer’s benefit for teachers who are not on full time hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46264/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Benefit is a payment made by my Department to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It is an income support paid directly to the carer who, due to their full-time caring responsibilities are in need of such income support.
There are currently 4,900 people in receipt of Carer's Benefit and expenditure on the scheme is estimated to exceed €76 million this year.
To qualify, a person must meet the PRSI and other statutory conditions of the scheme including a requirement to have been in insurable employment for at least 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight. This condition is set out at section 100(5) of the Social Welfare Act 2005, as amended.
Contracted hours are a matter between an employer and employee.
In cases where a person does not meet the qualifying conditions for Carer's Benefit, they may instead qualify for the means-tested Carer’s Allowance. From July, the income disregards will increase significantly to €1,000 for a single carer and €2,000 for a couple. These improvements mean that, for example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will still retain their full carers payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
Any proposal to decrease the eligibility hours for Carer’s Benefit would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and carer policy context and having regard to the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
80. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection whether there is a plan to assist schools who have been unable to source a supplier for hot school meals, being invariably smaller primary schools in rural area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45630/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll 3,200 primary schools and 550,000 children are eligible for hot school meals. Across all meal types there some 3,700 schools and 682,000 children are eligible for support. This equates to the distribution of up to 3.4 million school meals per week.
I am happy to say that Lettermullen National School commenced Hot School Meals last month. My Department have been in contact with the principal in Ballyconneely and will continue to offer support to them in finding a solution.
There are over 300 school meal providers delivering school meals across the country, they consist of a diverse group of organisations from the large national supplier, regional suppliers, to local restaurants and food outlets as well as meals on wheels. This includes local cafés, restaurants, caterers, meals on wheels services and community organisations registered as food business operators.
This Department has also worked with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and compiled a list of supports available to local community organisations who may wish to expand their operation into the school meals area.
Tender proceedings for a proposed facility in Connemara are at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that a contractor will be appointed shortly. Upon completion, the facility will enable Connemara Catering to significantly expand its participation in the School Meals Programme across the region and assist the school in Ballyconneely.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
81. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection for a report on the Strategic Focus Network Summit on Cost of Disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46029/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting disabled people is a key priority for Government. We recognise the additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and we are committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
Ahead of the Summit I ran a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,100 submissions received.
The submissions also helped inform the agenda for the Summit which I hosted in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May 2026. It was an in-person and on-line event attended by many people with disabilities, Disabled Persons' Organisations and other advocacy groups as well as representatives of many Government Departments. At the Summit we heard from disabled people about their lived experience - the costs they incur and the impact these costs have on their daily lives.
The Summit was also attended by members of the Oireachtas together with senior Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance indicates that while the work on the cost of disability has been led by my Department the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Departments and agencies.
A briefing paper outlining the key learnings from the Summit, will be published and presented to the Delivery and Monitoring Committee which is Chaired by An Taoiseach. These lessons will inform the approach that will be taken including the measures that may be taken as part of Budget 2027. We are continuing to engage with stakeholders through their Pre-Budget submissions and at the Pre-Budget Forum which I will host on 1 July.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
82. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the investment his Department has made in the past three years in digital services for customer supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46249/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment in 2015, the Digital Services Division of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) has led the transformation of public service delivery focusing on creating streamlined, accessible and efficient public services for citizens.
My Department has developed MyWelfare, its customer facing self-service portal which enables individuals access and manage their social welfare entitlements and Welfare Partners is our digital platform for business partners of the Department.
My Department is continuing to invest in the digitalisation of its schemes and services as it works towards the target of having 90% of applicable services available online by 2030.
This investment has enabled the launch of a number of key online services over the period from July 2023 to June 2026. These include online applications for Back to Education Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit, the State Pension (both Contributory and Non-Contributory), Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the facility to repay an overpayment.
The Jobseeker’s Benefit online journey was enhanced to support applications for Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit, Educational Season Workers, optional Jobseeker’s Allowance, and those whose Jobseeker’s Benefit is due to exhaust.
Other key services include the introduction of an online Birth Registration Service, the ordering of a birth certificate and an online Social Welfare Appeals service.
A range of improvements were made to existing digital services as part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to make interactions with its platforms as seamless as possible. Customers can now upload supporting documents to their existing claim, and a claim review service has been introduced for the Illness Benefit scheme. Document content moderation has been implemented on MyWelfare and Welfare Partners to prevent harmful content being submitted. Customers can also provide an alternative email address for MyWelfare communications.
Enhancements were introduced to PPSN applications to include child and non-resident applications and enable appointment booking. Additionally, the Public Service Card renewal application was updated to improve customer experience and ensure compliance with photograph requirements. Further improvements to improve the Public Service renewal service delivery are planned for Q4 2026.
Work is currently progressing on the delivery of an online application service for Disability Allowance, scheduled for Q3 2026, and for the Bereaved Partner’s Pension scheduled for Q4 2026.
Initial exploration work is also currently underway to support the digitalisation of both the One Parent Family and Jobseekers Transition Payment applications. In addition, the extension of online Civil Registration Services is being progressed to design and build an online Death Registration service.
An online service was introduced on Welfare Partners platform to enable applications of A1 certificates for proof of PRSI payments in Ireland whilst temporarily working in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland.
The digitalisation of the Department’s services is central to providing the public with greater choice in how they engage with services, while also supporting improved efficiency in service delivery. As outlined above, significant progress has been made in the last three years in the provision of digital services for customers supports.
My Department will continue to expand its online service offering, increasing the variety of services available digitally and further extending the choices open to the public.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
83. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children who will benefit from the extension of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to include children aged two and three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46033/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
In Budget 2026, I was pleased to secure funding from 2026 to extend the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children aged 2 and 3, for the first time. It is estimated that an additional 35,000 children aged 2 and 3 will be eligible to receive the payment. The rates of payment for 2026 are €160 for children aged between 2 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over. Funding of €60.4m has been allocated for the scheme in 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
84. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is reviewing his Departments supports for one parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46037/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection provides two primary social assistance based income supports for lone parents, the One-Parent Family Payment and the Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
• One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is under seven.
• Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is a provision under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that is available to lone parents (both former One-Parent Family Payment recipients and new lone parents), under 66, whose youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years inclusive.
In addition, a Child Support Payment (previously known as an Increase for a Qualified Child) is payable for each child where a person is in receipt of the above.
The Department also provides in-work income supports through:
• The Working Family Payment, a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. Some two thirds of households in receipt of Working Family Payment are lone parent households. The Working Family Payment may be paid concurrently with One-Parent Family Payment.
• The Back to Work Family Dividend, a financial support for people who move off the One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (or a jobseeker’s payment in certain circumstances) into employment. This scheme is payable for two years. In year one, the rate of payment is 100% of the person's previous Child Support Payment for each child (subject to a maximum payable rate equivalent to four children), In year two, 50% of this sum is paid.
The Working Family Payment and Back to Work Family Dividend can be paid concurrently.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to enhance supports for lone parents. Budget 2026 included a range of measures that benefit lone parents, including:
• A €10 increase to both the weekly One Parent Family and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
• The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state: a weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over and a weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12.
• Extension of the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, to children aged 2 and 3.
• Extension of the Fuel Allowance to families receiving the Working Family Payment.
• A €60 increase to the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, for all family sizes.
Officials in my Department continuously review social welfare schemes and I look forward to hearing from representative groups at my Department's pre-Budget forum next month on what changes they wish to see with these payments.
85. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis his Department has carried out on the eligibility of low-income farmers for carers allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46270/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who are caring for someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness.
The main qualifying conditions for the Carer’s Allowance payment are that the applicant must be providing full-time care and satisfy a means test. Where these conditions are met a person may be eligible for the payment, irrespective of occupation.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government.
The disregards for Carer's Allowance are the highest in the social welfare system. As part of Budget 2026 and with effect from the 2nd of July, I am increasing the weekly income disregards from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple.
The changes next month will be the largest ever increases in the income disregards. The impact of the increases will mean that those recipients on a reduced payment due to means will see their payment increase. In addition, more carers will qualify for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
The Farm Assist scheme is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. A Farm Assist claimant who is working less than 18.5 hours per week and providing full-time care to another person, may qualify for Carer’s Allowance. It is also important to note that a carer who is a Qualified Adult on a Farm Assist payment may also be eligible for a Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payment.
86. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments in relation to carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46024/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government is a five-year plan and the Government’s focus to date has been on the main concerns articulated by family carers themselves and their representative groups. The overarching priority has been the removal of the Carer’s Allowance means test and considerable progress has been made in this regard.
There were significant increases in July 2025 when the income disregards increased from €450 to €625 for a single person and from €900 to €1,250 for a couple. As part of Budget 2026, and with effect from next month July 2026, the Government is increasing the weekly income disregard by 60%, from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple. These will be the largest ever increases in the income disregards.
The impact of the increases will mean that those on a reduced payment due to means will see their payment increase. In addition, more carers will qualify for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment
With respect to progressively increasing weekly carers payments, in January 2026 the weekly Carer’s Allowance and Carer's Benefit payment increased by €10 per week.
The Carer’s Support Grant increased by €150 to €2,000 in June 2025, its highest ever level. The Grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for. On the 4 June over 147,000 carers received the Grant.
As of January the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment increased by €20 from €360 to €380.
These improvements are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitments to family carers, which we will continue to deliver on in an overall Budgetary and policy context.
87. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the impact of inflation and cost of living on the real value of the carer’s allowance and disability allowance, particularly for recipients who experience a different cost of living due to the cost of their disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46201/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to improving the position of disabled people and carers. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people and carers. These include a commitment to the removal of the carers allowance means test, and to the introduction of a permanent annual cost of disability payment. These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This brings expenditure in respect of disabled people and their carers to just under €6 billion per annum.
In line with our Programme for Government commitment to protect core welfare rates while ensuring that available resources are targeted at vulnerable groups who are unable to work such as carers, people with disabilities and pensioners. Core welfare rates were protected in Budget 2026, with an above inflation increase of €10 per week in the maximum weekly personal rates of payment. Additional supports were provided such as the largest ever increase in the Child Support Payment, the largest ever increase in the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance, and increases in the rates of Fuel Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, among others.
We also know that many people including disabled people and their families, are facing higher energy costs at the moment. That is why we recently announced a €250 million energy relief package. As part of this package, the Fuel Allowance season was extended by an additional four weeks. As a result, the 470,000 households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, which include disabled people, received additional financial support of €38 per week until May 1st, totalling €152.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
Ahead of the Summit I ran a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,100 submissions received. I hosted the Summit in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May 2026. It was an in-person and on-line event attended by over 300 people, including many people with disabilities, Disabled Persons' Organisations and other advocacy groups as well as representatives of many Government Departments. The Summit was also attended by members of the Oireachtas together with Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance indicates that while the work on the cost of disability has been led by my Department the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Departments and agencies.
The consultation process, and the Summit will inform next steps, including the measures that may be taken as part of Budget 2027. In addition, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders through their Pre-Budget submissions and at the Pre-Budget Forum which I will host on 1 July.
In addition, the cross-Government strategy to reduce poverty, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030, has a committed action to explore the costs and benefits of benchmarking all core social welfare rates (which would include Carers and Disability Allowances), in order to insulate those impacted by poverty from cyclical economic fluctuations and provide long-term income adequacy.
For anyone who needs immediate assistance, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is available to them now. Under the 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.
The Department continues to keep the range of supports under review any changes will be considered in the overall budgetary context.
88. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance scheme in circumstances where many older persons living on modest fixed incomes marginally exceed the current means thresholds but remain at risk of fuel poverty, particularly persons aged over 80 and 90 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41554/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all relevant qualifying criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
Any change in the qualifying criteria for older persons or the increasing of allowable means for those aged over 80 would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations.
The allowable means for Fuel Allowance has been significantly increased in recent years and this increase has coincided with an expansion of allowable income, including the Rent-a Room Scheme which is now disregarded for Fuel Allowance purposes. The amount of capital that is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000 and savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only.
If compared to income from employment, the allowable means of €1,068 for a couple aged over 66 is higher than €1,011.88, which is the estimated average weekly earnings for workers in Ireland in quarter 4 of 2025.
Furthermore, the minimum weekly wage in Ireland for a 39-hour week is €551.85, which is only €17.85 higher than the allowable means of €534 for a single person aged over 66.
Persons aged 80 in receipt of a Social Welfare pension do of course automatically get an increase in their pension when they reach 80 years of age. For those on the maximum rate of pension they get a €10 increase in their weekly rate.
Finally, my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. 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 can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
89. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families in the Dún Laoghaire constituency expected to benefit from the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance in 2026; the estimated increase from extending eligibility to children aged two and three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46166/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) 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. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
In Budget 2026, I was pleased to secure funding for 2026 to extend the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children aged 2 and 3, for the first time. It is estimated that an additional 35,000 children will be eligible to receive the payment. The rates of payment for 2026 are €160 for children aged between 2 and 11 years and €285 for children aged 12 and over. Funding of €60.4m has been allocated for the scheme in 2026.
It is not possible to provide the number of families in the Dún Laoghaire constituency expected to benefit from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance in 2026, as statistics by constituency are not available.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
90. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will take to reduce the consistent poverty rate to 2% or less; to reduce income inequality; to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive Member States of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030, published in May 2026, is the Government’s renewed and ambitious strategy to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion over the next five years.
It builds on the work of the predecessor strategy for 2020-2025 and previous poverty reduction strategies dating from 1997, when Ireland became the first EU Member State to develop such a strategy.
The Roadmap's overarching ambitions are to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less by the end of 2030, reduce income inequality, and make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the European Union.
To support these ambitions, the Roadmap sets out 63 concrete cross-Government actions.
Recognising that poverty is multi-dimensional and must be addressed across a broad range of areas beyond the remit of one Department alone, these actions span income supports, employment, housing, education, health, transport, childcare and other public and community services.
Significantly, the actions focus on those groups that the data shows are most impacted by poverty and social exclusion - families with children on low income, lone parents, people who are unemployed, disabled people, older people and disadvantaged communities such as Travellers and Roma.
In addition, the Roadmap was informed by a public consultation process that received almost 500 submissions, and by extensive engagement by my Department with other Government Departments and community and voluntary organisations.
Progress under the strategy will be measured against 25 high-level indicators that are derived from published Central Statistics Office and Eurostat data.
This progress will be collated quarterly by my Department and reported on annually in progress reports published on Gov.ie, following their noting by Government.
In addition, a mid term review in 2028 will allow for evaluation of progress and any adjustments required.
Oversight in delivering the Roadmap will be provided through a Steering Group chaired by me personally, with representation from all relevant Government Departments and the community and voluntary sector.
My priority, working with colleagues across Government, is to ensure that the actions in this Roadmap are delivered and translate into real outcomes for individuals, families and communities across Ireland.
91. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the key priorities raised by carers and representative organisations at the Annual Carers’ Forum held in May 2026; the priority actions identified by his Department arising from the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46290/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to supporting the Annual Carers’ Forum and was pleased to present at this year’s event which took place on 7 May. The purpose of the Forum is to ensure that family carers have a direct voice at policy level and to provide an opportunity for engagement between officials and those experiencing care issues first-hand.
Family Carers Ireland and Care Alliance Ireland partnered with my Department in organising the Forum. The event brought together family carers, carer organisations and officials from across Government. I want to sincerely thank all those who participated and who shared their personal experiences.
A wide range of issues were discussed on the day including proposals relating to the Carer’s Allowance means test and to improve access to supports. Carers also raised operational issues such as the 18.5-hour work limit, the application processes, and challenges in transitioning from Domiciliary Care Allowance to Disability Allowance at age 18.
Broader cross-Government issues were also highlighted in the workshops, including access to respite, the affordability of assessments, continuity between children’s and adult services, mental health supports for carers, housing, transport and the need for more proactive planning. Young carers also identified key priorities, including better identification and support within schools, financial safeguards and social opportunities.
A comprehensive note of proceedings has now been published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/carersforum. A video of the event is also available online, along with the presentation delivered on the day.
As part of the annual budgetary process my Department invites pre-Budget submissions from representative bodies and hosts an annual Pre-Budget Forum which will be held on 1 July this year. This will provide a further opportunity for me to engage in the context of the next Budget.
92. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the implementation of a safe fund for survivors of domestic violence that addresses their immediate financial situation such as covering costs for clothing, accommodation, and other costs faced by those fleeing domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46168/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for the Government. Establishing a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence is essential for safeguarding individuals and promoting a safer society. The Programme for Government includes a number of commitments in this regard. While many of the Programme for Government commitments fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice and other Ministers, this is an issue that requires a whole of Government approach. For that reason, the Programme for Government included a commitment to “examine how the social protection system can better support people fleeing domestic violence.”
My Department already has provisions in place to support the immediate accommodation needs of persons fleeing domestic violence, through the Rent Supplement Scheme. In such circumstances the Rent Supplement means test does not apply for an initial three-month period. Access to this support is instead via a fast-track approval process to assist with immediate accommodation needs.
Building on this initiative, officials in my Department engaged with stakeholders, including Cuan, Women’s Aid, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and SafeIreland to explore options as to how we can best support the travel needs of people fleeing domestic violence. As a result, recently I was delighted to announce a new Travel Supplement protocol for victims of domestic violence. This new supplement came into effect on the 5th of May and ensures that those fleeing domestic violence have the necessary financial support to meet their immediate travel needs.
Mirroring the rent supplement scheme approach, my Department now provides the new travel supplement to those fleeing domestic violence without the need for a means test during the first three months. After the first three months have passed, a person may be provided with a further three-month extension of the Travel Supplement; subject to the usual means assessment.
In addition to the above, my Department's Community Welfare Service continues to provide access to income supports where urgent additional needs arise, and I would encourage everyone to engage with their local community welfare officer in such circumstances.
Zero Tolerance - The Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (2022–2026), is the key strategy to address the issues involved and sets the changes required both as a whole-of-government and whole-of-society task. Delivery of the strategy’s aims is through phased implementation plans with associated actions. The Department of Justice is the lead Department with regards to the strategy, while Cuan is Ireland’s statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence.
Officials in my Department are engaging with officials in Cuan and the Department of Justice in the development of the successor Fourth National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. This will include a consideration of how our social protection system can further support people fleeing domestic violence, based on further consultation with stakeholders on the challenges faced by victims and a consideration of learnings from other jurisdictions.
93. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which it can be ensured that work pays and that social protection supports do not disincentivise any individual to work. [46366/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key function of my Department is to support those who can work to do so. Consequently, many social welfare supports are structured so that individuals can take up employment without an immediate or full loss of income supports. This is typically achieved through the use of an earnings disregards, whereby a person can earn a certain amount of from employment without affecting their payment.
Beyond that initial disregard, only a proportion of remaining earnings is assessed as means and deducted from their social welfare payment. This ensures that an individual’s social welfare payment reduces at a slower rate than their earnings, such that their overall income increases.
This approach means that individuals should be financially better off in work than out of work and that the transition into employment, or into increased hours, is gradual rather than abrupt.
However, it is recognised that the interaction of different schemes and thresholds can still create complexity and, in some cases, weaken work incentives. In that context, the Department is exploring a new Working Age Payment. The new Working Age Payment seeks to address the barriers and cliff-edges in our current Jobseeker’s Allowance payment, which could disincentivise people from increasing their working hours.
A public consultation on the Working Age Payment concluded on June 12th. Feedback from the consultation will inform next steps in the consideration of this potential payment.
I thrust this clarify the matter for the Deputy.
94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carers in Cavan and Monaghan that are currently in receipt of the carer’s allowance; the equivalent figures for each county in 2020; the further increase in the numbers of recipients he expects in each when forthcoming changes to income disregards take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46239/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of May 2026, there were 1,890 number of people in receipt of Carer's Allowance in Cavan and 1,327 in Monaghan. At the end of May 2020, there were 1,461 recipients in Cavan and 1,086 in Monaghan.
The Programme for Government contains the commitment to abolish the means test for Carer's Allowance over the life of the Government.
Budget 2026 will increase the earnings disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 per week for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 per week for a couple from July this year. These are the largest ever increases in the Carer's Allowance income disregards and are evidence of my Department's determination to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment.
With effect from July, this disregard will have increased cumulatively by €667.50 per week since 2022 for a single person and by €1,335 per week since 2022 for a couple.
This Budget 2026 measure will benefit both those current recipients who are on a means-reduced rate and who may see an increase in their payment rate, and those people making new claim applications otherwise subject to a means reduced rate in 2026.
On foot of the increases in the Carer's Allowance income disregards, a single person who provides full time care but also does some part-time work will this year be able to earn just over €54,000 and receive a full carer's payment. Similarly for a couple household, a person who is providing full-time care and where their partner might earn approximately €108,000 per annum will receive a full carer's payment.
There are wider implications of departing from a means-tested approach above the cost exposure and, for this reason, the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of Budgets in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 carers nationally will benefit from the measure. Given that the scheme is demand led and that it is likely that many people who would be outside the means threshold have not previously applied for Carer's Allowance, it is difficult to estimate potential inflow from this measure.
However, as with other schemes, the number of payments to be made under the scheme is not Budget-capped and the Department will closely monitor the inflow into the scheme to assess any change in trends. Data on recipient numbers will continue to be published in the Department's quarterly statistical releases.
95. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact of the means test for carer’s allowance on family carers; whether the findings of any such assessment will inform consideration of further changes to the means test as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46275/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my Department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2026 is estimated to exceed €1.4 billion. At the end of May there were just under 108,000 carers receiving this payment.
The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government.
This process is already underway. Last July the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. As part of Budget 2026, I announced further changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced next month. From the 2nd of July the weekly income disregard will increase from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple.
The changes next month will be the largest ever increases in the income disregards. The impact of the increases will mean that those recipients on a reduced payment due to means will see their payment increase. In addition, more carers will qualify for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
Removing the means test is a significant shift in policy direction and there may be further implications above the cost exposure. For this reason the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of Budgets. The scheme is demand led and the Department is closely monitoring the inflow into the scheme to assess any change in trends. Data on take-up is published in the Department's quarterly statistical releases.
The recent improvements outlined are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to phase out the Carer's Allowance means test over the lifetime of the Government. We will continue to progress this commitment in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.
97. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the other social welfare payments available to recipients of the one-parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne-Parent Family Payment is a means tested payment for lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is under seven. In addition, a Child Support Payment (previously known as an Increase for a Qualified Child) is payable for each child where a person is in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment. If a person qualifies for One-Parent Family Payment based on the youngest child in the family but also has older children, then payment of the Child Support Payment will continue for the older children, until they reach 18 years or 22 years of age if they are in full-time education.
All families, including those in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment, receive Child Benefit, which is paid until a child’s sixteenth birthday, or their nineteenth birthday if they are in full-time education or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
There are a range of other payments a person in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment may qualify for depending on their individual circumstances, these include:
• Special provisions exist for those caring and on half rate Carer’s Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance and those in receipt of Blind Pension, which extend the age of the youngest child to 16 years.
• A special provision for those recently bereaved also extends payment for up to 2 years or until the youngest child is 18 whichever occurs first.
• The Working Family Payment is a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. The working family payment may be paid concurrently with One-Parent Family payment.
• A person in receipt of the maximum rate of One-Parent Family Payment or reduced rate One-Parent Family Payment may be paid the half-rate of one of the following payments (provided all conditions are satisfied): Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, and Parents Benefit.
• A person in receipt of reduced rate One-Parent Family Payment may be paid a partial rate of one of the following payments (provided all conditions are satisfied) and provided that the total payment does not exceed the maximum rate payable for the benefit that the person qualifies for: Illness Benefit, Injury Benefit, Jobseeker's Benefit (where the employment is based around the school or academic year) and Incapacity Supplement.
• Bereaved Parent Grant is a once-off payment designed to assist with income support needs of a widow/widower or surviving civil partner immediately following the death of their spouse or civil partner. To qualify, a Bereaved Parent must be getting Child Support Payment for a Qualified Child. For the purposes of Bereaved Parent Grant, a qualified child is a child up to the age of 18, or a child between the age of 18 and 22, who is in full-time education.
• A person in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment may qualify for the Fuel Allowance, Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear payment and Additional Needs Payments.
•
Where a person in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment loses their employment, they may be entitled to Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit but must satisfy all the qualifying conditions for the payment, including being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work. The amount of Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit combined with the One-Parent Family Payment cannot exceed the maximum rate that the person would qualify for on Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit.
Further details on the schemes available and how these interact with each other is set out in the operational guidelines for the One-Parent Family Payment published on Gov.ie.
