Written Answers Nos. 340-360
341. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of school meals that were prepared but not taken up in the past year due to pupils being absent and meals not being cancelled in advance; the estimated cost of such wasted meals to the Exchequer in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46467/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier.My department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Programme in their school.
Schools are invoiced based on the actual number of meals ordered and delivered. Parents or guardians place orders for the meals and the supplier is paid only for the meals that are requested and provided. Suppliers have a 48-hour cancellation policy and parents or guardians are required to cancel orders if their child will be absent from school.
All schools are responsible for reconciling invoices against meal delivery dockets and therefore the school does not pay for cancelled meals that have not been delivered.
As part of a school’s annual application for funding, a full examination of income and expenditure is conducted by my Department. This includes the school submitting bank statements and invoices for the previous academic year. This is to ensure that there are no irregularities in payments or blanket charging by suppliers.
I trust this clarifies the matter
342. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a teacher (details supplied) out of contract is exempt from claiming the job seekers pay related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46468/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit scheme is to ensure that those who experience a permanent loss of employment are better supported to meet the unexpected income shock.
The legislation provides that people who work on a part-time, casual or seasonal basis, including those whose employment involves a recurring pattern of employment and unemployment reflecting the academic year are not eligible for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit. These workers have a predictable or ongoing pattern of work and do not the experience the unexpected income shock from a sudden and unexpected loss of employment. The conditions for the Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme are not designed to provide in-work support on a recurring and intermittent basis.
Teachers who are out contract and are seeking to return to employment can claim the PRSI-based Jobseeker's Benefit or the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance.
According to my Department’s records, the person concerned applied for Jobseeker’s Benefit on 2 June 2026. One of the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker's Benefit is that a person must have paid at least 104 PRSI insurable employment contributions at Class A, H or P, or have paid at least 156 PRSI self-employment contributions at Class S and must have 39 PRSI contributions paid from employment in the governing contribution year. At least 13 of these contributions must be paid from employment in the governing contribution year, the two years before this, the last year, or the current tax year. If a person does not have 39 paid PRSI contributions in the governing contribution year, they must have 26 PRSI contributions paid in the governing contribution year and 26 paid in the year immediately before this. The governing contribution year is 2024 for claims made in 2026. The application from the person concerned was disallowed as she did not have the PRSI contributions required.
The person concerned opted not to be assessed for Jobseeker’s Allowance. She submitted an application for Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit on 12 June 2026 which is currently being processed by my Department. She will be advised of the outcome in due course.
Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions in circumstances such as unemployment or illness. The local Intreo Centre has advised the person concerned to sign for credits in order to protect her future social insurance entitlements.
A person experiencing financial difficulty may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment from my Department to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
343. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection to advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46479/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person who has been granted Temporary Protection is treated in the same way as an Irish citizen with regard to social welfare entitlements.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a means tested payment available to lone parents who are not cohabiting and have a youngest child aged 7 to 13 years (inclusive) and meet the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a means tested payment available to lone parents who are not cohabiting and have a youngest child under 7 years and meet the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
Persons in receipt of either One Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are eligible, subject to certain conditions to participate in the Back to Education Allowance Scheme. This scheme provides educational opportunities for persons who wish to pursue an approved full-time second or third level course of education in an approved college, leading to a recognised qualification. Participants will continue on their current rate of payment and will receive the annual cost of Education Allowance for attending their full-time day course of study. Participants may also continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they otherwise have an entitlement.
If the Deputy could provide the details of the person concerned my Department will look at the specific case raised.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
344. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if capital allowances are deducted from self-employed income for the carer's allowance means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46502/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse, civil partner or cohabitant) applying to the scheme.
Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital.
Capital is assessed as means and includes savings and investments and the value of property owned, but not personally used. The table below sets out how capital is assessed.
|
Formula |
Weekly Means |
|
First €50,000 |
Nil |
|
Next €10,000 |
€1 per €1,000 |
|
Next €10,000 |
€2 per €1,000 |
|
Excess of €70,000 |
€4 per €1,000 |
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, you might provide the relevant details so that my officials can examine the specific case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
345. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the reason there is a discrepancy between his Department and the Revenue Commissioners in relation to an application for maternity benefit (details supplied). [46513/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Benefit is a payment made for up to 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on maternity leave from work and satisfy certain conditions including social insurance conditions.
There are several pathways in which a claimant can satisfy the social insurance requirements. The three most recent complete calendar years are considered along with the current year. Claimants must satisfy one of the following:
39 contributions in the 12 months prior to the start of the Maternity Leave.
39 contributions paid since first starting work and 39 contributions paid or credited in the Relevant Tax Year (RTY). The relevant tax year is 2 years prior to the current year; for claims starting in 2026 this would be 2024.
39 contributions paid since first starting work and 39 contributions paid or credited in the year following the RTY (for claims starting in 2026 the RTY would be 2024 and the year following the RTY would be 2025).
26 contributions in the RTY and 26 in the year prior to this. (For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2026, the RTY is 2024 and the year prior to this is 2023).
The Maternity Protection Act further states that maternity leave must start at least 2 weeks before the end of the week the baby is due.
The details supplied have been reviewed by officials from my Department. There is no discrepancy between the systems of the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners in this case. The detail provided shows that the constituent has 32 PRSI weeks recorded in 2025, it also shows that there are 4 PRSI weeks recorded for January 2026 and 4 recorded for February 2026. However, we can only consider contributions that has been paid up to the leave start date.
In this case, the constituent’s employer indicated that the estimated due date of the baby was 26th January 2026, and that the constituent was commencing maternity leave on 12th January 2026. According to legislation the very latest date that maternity leave could commence would be 19th January 2026.
Thus, for the purposes of satisfying the social welfare requirements for Maternity Benefit, we can only consider the 32 PRSI weeks in 2025 and the 3 PRSI weeks in 2026 bringing her up to the 19th January leave start date.
We have indicated to the constituent that if they worked in the UK or another EU country to let us know as contributions from those countries can be used to qualify from Maternity Benefit.
If someone does not qualify for Maternity Benefit, there are other payments that may be available to them when the baby is born. If they are parenting alone, they may qualify for the One-Parent Family Payment. In addition, my Department provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, which is a safety net within the overall social welfare system. It provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose resources are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
If your constituent believes that they may have an entitlement to the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme they should contact their local community welfare service. There is a national Community Welfare contact centre-0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via https://services.mywelfare.ie/.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
346. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine an application where further information has been submitted (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46546/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in a previous Parliamentary Questions raised by the Deputy on this matter, on 28 May 2026 and 9 June 2026. The return of the completed forms issued to the person concerned for both the State pension contributory and the state pension non-contributory are required in order to make a decision on their case.
To date, no applications have been received by my Department. On receipt of the completed applications a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the decision without delay.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
347. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of expanding Catherine’s Law to include receipt of the basic income for the arts among scholarships exempt from means-testing for disability allowance and the blind pension; and the analysis that has been conducted within his Department or in consultation with the Department for Culture, Communications and Sport on this since the introduction of the pilot basic income for the arts scheme. [46580/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting disabled people is a key priority for the Government. My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability.
Social welfare legislation provides that for means-tested social assistance schemes, including Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and his or her spouse or partner where applicable, are assessable for means-testing purposes. A person's home is not included in the means assessment. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need.
Under Catherine's Law, where a person on Disability Allowance or Blind Pension is granted a bursary, stipend or scholarship towards completing a PhD, it will be excluded in the means test. The disregard applies to stipends up to €20,000 per year and it is available for up to four years. Prior to the introduction of Catherine’s Law this income was assessed in full.
Furthermore, people on Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can take up employment or self-employment and continue to receive all or part of their payment, depending on their income. The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. This means that a person can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate payment. Earnings between €165 and €375 are assessed at 50%, and any earnings over €375 are fully assessed as means. As a result, people can earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €527.60 per week and keep a portion of their payment.
The Basic Income for the Arts Scheme is a measure to incentivise the development and growth of professional creative practice through self-employment. It is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. Income from this scheme is treated as income from self-employment for the purpose of my Department's means tests. This means that the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension earnings disregards apply to this income.
In addition, Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to €20,000 for most social welfare payments.
As a result of Budget 2026, where people move off Disability Allowance into employment, they will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for up to five years. In addition, where such people have children, they will now be eligible for the Back to Work Family Dividend which pays the equivalent of their Child Support Payment in year one and half of that amount in year two, for up to a maximum of four children.
Any changes to disregards under disability schemes would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
348. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the fuel allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46587/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra361. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the fuel allowance by one week; and the cost of doing so while increasing the threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively, in tabular form. [46600/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 361 together.
The estimated cost of expanding the Fuel Allowance season by 1 week is as follows:-
|
Number of Additional Weeks Payable |
Weekly Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Cost |
|
1 |
€38 |
468,000 |
€17.78 million |
The costings are based on the number of recipients in May 2026 and are subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Taking account of the fact that the Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment and that qualification is not just based on the means test but on a number of other qualifying criteria such as household composition, it is not possible for my Department to provide an accurate projection of the potential cost of expanding the Fuel Allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. Also, my Department does not maintain records across all schemes of the amount by which unsuccessful Fuel Allowance applicants are over the income threshold.
The provision of any additional supports would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
349. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the disability allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46588/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra354. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the blind pension threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46593/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 354 together.
Calculating the cost of possible changes to the means test, such as increasing the earnings disregard, requires complex analysis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy at this time.
Any changes to Disability Allowance and Blind Pension means tests would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and in conjunction with other social welfare schemes.
350. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the domiciliary care allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46589/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability and requires care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age.
From January 2026, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €360 to €380 per month. Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. The young person can then apply for Disability Allowance if they meet the eligibility requirements.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is not a means-tested payment, therefore below increases have been costed as a rate change rather than an increase to a means threshold.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment by 5% from €380 per month to €399 per month is €16.5 million.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment by 10% from €380 per month to €418 per month is €33.0 million.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment by 15% from €380 per month to €437 per month is €49.6 million.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment by 20% from €380 per month to €456 per month is €66.1 million.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2026, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
351. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the jobseekers allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46590/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra353. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the farm assist threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46592/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 353 together.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a means-tested payment for unemployed people who do not qualify for one of the insurance-based jobseekers' schemes. The revised estimate for 2026 for Jobseeker's Allowance is approximately €1.83 billion.
Farm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. The revised estimate for 2026 for Farm Assist is approximately €43.8 million.
There are no 'thresholds’ for either Jobseeker's Allowance or Farm Assist.
Under the means assessments for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Farm Assist, where a person is engaged in insurable employment, the first €20 of earnings per day is disregarded up to a maximum of €60 for three days worked, with the balance assessed at 60%.
Under the Farm Assist means test, income from a range of agri-environmental schemes attract a disregard of €5,000, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. There are also annual disregards for dependent children; €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. Remaining farm income and income from off-farm employment is then assessed at 70%, with 30% disregarded.
Property and capital are considered in the means assessment for both Jobseeker's Allowance and Farm Assist. In line with many other means-tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed in the means test for both schemes. The next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per €1,000. The following €10,000 is assessed at €2 per €1,000 and capital in excess of €40,000 is assessed at €4 per €1,000.
Any changes to the Jobseeker’s Allowance and Farm Assist means tests would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and in conjunction with other social welfare schemes. Calculating the cost of the effects of changes to the means test requires complex analysis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy.
352. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the jobseekers transitional payment threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46591/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is a provision under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme that is available to lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. There is no set payment threshold for Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. Instead, an person's entitlement gradually reduces based on assessable means.
The means disregards for the Jobseeker's Transitional Payment is comprised of three components:
-1. The first €20,000 of capital is disregarded. The following formula is then applied to the value of capital above this amount, as follows: next €10,000 = €1 per €1,000, next €10,000 = €2 per €1,000 and capital in excess of €40,000 = €4 per €1,000.
I 2. Income from employment: the first €165 of weekly earnings is disregarded, with 50% of income above that amount also being disregarded.
- 3. Income from self-employment: is assessed based on the net profit of the business.
Any changes to the Jobseeker's Transitional means tests would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and in conjunction with other social welfare schemes. Calculating the cost of the effects of changes to the means test requires complex analysis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy.
355. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the one parent family payment threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46594/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is under seven. There is no set payment threshold for One Parent Family Payment. Instead, an person's entitlement gradually reduces based on assessable means.
The means disregards for One-Parent Family Payment have three components:
The first €20,000 of capital is disregarded. The following formula is then applied when assessing the value of capital above this amount, as follows: next €10,000 = €1 per €1,000, next €10,000 = €2 per €1,000 and capital in excess of €40,000 = €4 per €1,000.
Income from employment and self-employment: the first €165 of weekly earnings is disregarded, with 50% of income above that amount also being disregarded.
A general disregard of the first €7.60 of weekly earnings is also applied.
Any changes to the One Parent Family Payment means tests would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and in conjunction with other social welfare schemes. Calculating the cost of the effects of changes to the means test requires complex analysis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy.
356. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the working family payment threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46595/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Working Family Payment is a weekly, tax-free payment available to low-paid employees with children. It provides extra financial support to families with children with rates of payment based on household income and family size. The rate of payment is derived from 60% of the gap between a family's income and the relevant income threshold. The Working Family payment has eight thresholds based on the family size.
To provide a percentage increase to these thresholds would require increasing each of the thresholds by a different amount. Estimating the cost of an increase to a threshold for Working Family Payment requires complex analysis and is difficult to estimate with accuracy given the dynamics of the labour market and wage fluctuations. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy.
Any changes to the Working Family Payment thresholds would need to be considered in a budgetary context.
357. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the guardian's payment (non-contributory) threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46596/26]
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 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 unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child. The purpose of the guardian's payment scheme is to provide income support in respect of those children whose parents are unable to provide for them, through death or other circumstances.
The means test for guardian’s payment (non-contributory) is based on the means of the child. Means includes any income belonging to the child and any property or an asset that could provide them with an income. The means of the guardian, including any maintenance payments made to them in respect of the child, are not assessed when establishing entitlement to the payment.
Guardian's payment is currently paid in respect of 2,738 children, 843 of whom are paid guardian’s payment (non-contributory). It is payable at a maximum weekly rate of €237.00 per child and is the highest rate of weekly child income support paid by my Department. Where the means of the child exceed €7.60 per week, payment is made on a sliding scale, and where the weekly means exceed €240.10 per week, it is not payable.
Of the 843 children for whom Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) is being paid, 32 are receiving a reduced rate. Extending the means threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% is unlikely to increase the number of children who would be eligible for the payment and therefore the cost is negligible.
However, any expanding of the means threshold for guardian's payment (non-contributory) would have to be considered in the overall context of the budgetary resources available.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
358. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46597/26]
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 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 aged 2 and 3 will be eligible to receive the payment in 2026, at an estimated cost of €5.6m.
In order to target those families most in need of assistance, the allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 2 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid, and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions namely:
• The child must meet the age criteria,
• The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
• The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
• The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
Income thresholds for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are increased each year in line with increases in the rates of State Pension Contributory. The income limits are determined with reference to the maximum personal rate for State Pension Contributory (€299.30), plus the Increase for Qualified Adult rate (€199.40), plus the Increase for Qualified Child rate (€78.00), plus €150.
The Weekly Household Income Limits for 2026 are:
|
No. of Children |
Income Limit |
|
1 child |
€726.70 |
|
2 children |
€804.70 |
|
3 children |
€882.70 |
|
4 children* |
€960.70 |
* Limit is increased by €78.00 for each additional child.
The household income includes weekly social protection payments, gross income from employment, minus employee PRSI and a €20 travel allowance and any other income the household may have.
Any income from Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Rent Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, Guardian’s Payments, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Blind Welfare Allowance, Foster Care Allowance, Higher Level Education grants is not assessable. Rehabilitative employment (up to €165 per week) is also not assessable.
It is not possible estimate the cost of increasing the income threshold for Back-to-School Clothing an Footwear Allowance by 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%. Any further changes to the income thresholds would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
359. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the basic supplementary welfare allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46598/26]
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.
The Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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.
As it is a means tested payment that takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property-other than the family home-and capital, the payment can have a wide range value.
On this basis, it is not possible to provide an estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the rent supplement threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46599/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent supplement, as it exists today, is a short-term support paid to families and individuals as an initial payment when they first encounter difficulties in meeting rent costs, for example on loss of employment when they apply for a jobseeker payment.
Where longer term support is required, the person transitions on to the Housing Assistance Payment. The rent limits applied on Rent Supplement are aligned with those on Housing Assistance Payment. The Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme, administered by the local authorities, are now by far the largest schemes providing rental supports.
Expenditure for Rent Supplement paid by the Department of Social Protection in 2025 is provisionally estimated at just over €52.2 million. This compares with a 2026 estimate of over €570m for Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme within the vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
It is important to note that, my Department operates a flexible policy on a case-by-case basis that allows for higher Rent Supplement payments in certain circumstances. Rent Supplement payments can have wide ranging values and depend on a person’s weekly household income, the cost of rent, family composition and geographical location. On this basis, it is not possible to provide an estimated first year and full year cost of expanding thresholds for Rent Supplement by 5%,10%, 15% and 20%
I understand that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently undertaking a review of existing HAP rent limits. Any changes to the Rent Supplement limits will be considered in the context of the outcome of the Housing Assistance Payment review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
