Written Answers Nos. 388-407
388. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employers that are currently in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme in each of the three bands; the number of employers that avail of Employment Assistance Officers under Band 3; the number of employment assistance officers employed; and the cost of strand three in each of the past five years. [69916/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wage Subsidy Scheme is a key disability employment support provided by my Department. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to disabled people through a subsidy, where their role or tasks have had to be adapted.
As of September 2026, there are 1,601 employers availing of the subsidy in respect of 2,674 participant employees. The below table details the breakdown of employers in each band.
|
Band |
No. of employees |
Rate |
Count of Employers |
|
1 |
1 - 6 |
€7.50 |
1538 |
|
2 |
7 - 16 |
€8.50 |
16 |
|
|
17+ |
€10.00 |
8 |
|
Strand 3 |
EAO |
|
6 |
An employer who employs 25 or more employees covered by the scheme may also receive a grant of €30,000 towards the cost of employing an Employment Assistance Officer. A grant can be paid in respect of up to five such roles in an organisation.
There are currently six organisations in receipt of this grant, with 11 Employment Assistance Offices employed.
The below table shows the expenditure on strand three in the past five years.
|
Strand 3 |
Expenditure |
|
2021 |
€ 230,770.00 |
|
2022 |
€ 216,923.80 |
|
2023 |
€ 216,923.80 |
|
2024 |
€ 244,616.20 |
|
2025 |
€ 235,385.40 |
|
2026 (up to 30/09/2026) |
€ 193,846.80 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if entitlement to a State Pension (Non-Contributory) for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if the information provided in this case will be accepted as sufficient to continue the payment. [69919/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was awarded State pension non-contributory from their 66th birthday in 2007.
State pension non-contributory is a means tested scheme. Assessable means include cash income, foreign pensions, the value of any property/land (excluding a person’s own home) and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have.
Where land is leased, the means assessment is based on the persons net income from the lease, calculated by deducting allowable expenses from the gross rental income. Where land is neither farmed nor leased and is not otherwise productively used, it is assessed on its capital value in accordance with the statutory means test provisions applicable to state pension non-contributory.
In the case of the person concerned, a review of entitlement was initiated earlier this year. Initial information provided indicated that the person concerned had no income or shareholdings. However, subsequent enquiries established that they held agricultural land in their own name and Glanbia shares.
In accordance with the legislative means test provisions, the capital value of the land and shares, together with other assessable capital, were assessed as means. This resulted in weekly means of €4,266.00.
The person concerned was notified on 25 September 2026 that they were no longer entitled to the state pension non-contributory as their means exceeded the statutory limit. They were also informed of their right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
390. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance scheme for people aged 66 and over (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69886/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra394. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection he will consider permitting people to get fuel allowance if a family member, who is not on a qualifying payment lives with them. [70047/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 394 together.
The 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 the qualifying criteria, this ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at 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.
For those aged over 66 to satisfy the Household Composition criteria a fuel applicant must live alone or only with:
• a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); or
• a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the Fuel Allowance in their own right; or
• a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full?time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or the applicant’s qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren): or
• a person receiving short?term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic SWA (if not pending award of a social welfare payment): or
• a person aged 66 or over, subject to a means test, (this person does not need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment); or
• a person who is in receipt of the Working Family Payment and their immediate family: or
• a person renting a room under the prescribed conditions that allow the Fuel Allowance applicant to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard or for whom the Fuel Allowance applicant is receiving payments for under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are in employment and not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations. Disregarding a household member who is not reliant on long term social protection payments and who is in employment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.
Fuel Allowance eligibility encompasses 22 qualifying schemes, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the support available to eligible households. In addition to these qualifying schemes, people over 66 do not need to be in receipt of a payment from this Department to qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to satisfying the means test through the National Fuel Scheme. According to the latest CSO data, there are just over 1.8 million households in Ireland. Of these, 463,910 households are eligible for the Fuel Allowance scheme, representing approximately 26% of all households nationwide.
I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases, and it is for this reason that my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. 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.
391. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any funding available in his Department to support a new online tool (details supplied) which is assisting navigating supports from his Department. [69945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers more than 140 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. We are fully committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available, and to ensuring key changes are communicated to them.
Decisions around how information is circulated about schemes and services is informed by a range of criteria including the needs of our customers, the best channel to communicate any message, the cost and the resources available.
We promote the schemes and services available via a number of channels:
• We provide information on gov.ie with dedicated pages for individual schemes, and this includes information in an accessible easy-to-read format, using SEO (search engine optimisation) to ensure it is easily found by those seeking this information. Gov.ie meets the WCAG 2.1 AA international accessibility standards and our approach to content development on all platforms reflects these standards:
• Using Plain English.
• Ensuring the hierarchy of headings is logical and consistent.
• Using alt text on all images so they can be understood by those using screen readers.
• Colour contrast.
• Choosing HTML over PDFs whenever possible.
• Requirements for all videos to be captioned.
• Public information campaigns play an important role in raising awareness about the schemes and services available. These campaigns include press releases, paid media, use of our social media channels to promote information organically, as well as engagement and information shared directly with other public bodies where relevant.
• Our Customer Service team attend events each year, including the Pregnancy and Baby Fairs and the National Ploughing Championships. At these events the team engage with attendees to help ensure they are aware of supports available to them and how to apply for these supports. These events are also promoted via our social media channels to encourage people to attend.
• My Department also funds the Citizens Information Board (CIB), which is a statutory agency tasked with providing independent, impartial, confidential, and non-judgmental information, advice, money advice and advocacy. CIB also acts as a signpost for people and provides information in local Citizens Information Centres and through the Citizens Information website as well as periodicals and publications. We provide the Citizens Information Board with details on all public information campaigns prior to commencement and any content updates published on gov.ie to ensure that the most up to date information is available to them.
• Intreo centres play a key role in providing information and guidance directly to customers and serve as a single point of contact for all employment and income supports.
The Department remains committed to exploring opportunities to improve access to information and services across its information provision channels. There is currently no funding available through my Department to support independently developed online tools of the type referred to.
392. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to pension entitlements for staff in voluntary residential and aftercare services, which have been effectively frozen since the financial collapse; if he is aware of the serious recruitment and retention challenges this has created within the sector which may leave voluntary care services at risk of closure; and if he will consider providing entitlement for voluntary social care staff to the State pension scheme. [69971/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection is responsible for the State pension system, which is made up of the social insurance-based State Pension (Contributory) and the means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory).
Employees in voluntary residential and aftercare services are covered by the social insurance system according to the PRSI class applicable to their employment. Employees who pay full-rate PRSI may qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) and other social insurance benefits, subject to the relevant qualifying conditions.
The State Pension (Contributory) is not means tested and may be paid alongside earnings or an occupational pension. Where a person does not qualify for the contributory pension, or qualifies only at a reduced rate, they may apply for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), subject to the relevant means and residency conditions.
State pension entitlement is separate from occupational pension provision. My Department has no role in determining occupational pension arrangements for employees of voluntary organisations or in extending membership of a public service pension scheme to a particular group of voluntary-sector employees.
The recruitment and retention issues raised by the Deputy concern the funding and staffing of voluntary residential and aftercare services. The broader issues relating to the funding and staffing of the sector are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, while responsibility for public service occupational pension policy rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
393. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection If he will address the concerns raised in correspondence details attached regarding the financial difficulties experienced by households where a person remains unable to return to work following cancer treatment and is approaching the end of their illness benefit entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69954/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for Illness Benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. It is available for up to two years for people who have the required social insurance contributions under PRSI class A, E, H or P.
Where a person exhausts their entitlement to payment of Illness Benefit and is expected to remain unfit to attend work for a further period of at least 12 months, they have the option of making an application for Invalidity Pension, which is another social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or they must be permanently incapable of work.
Where a person is in a position to return to work to some degree following a period of at least six months in receipt of Illness Benefit they may be eligible for Partial Capacity Benefit. A person may qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit if their restriction on capacity for work is assessed as moderate, severe, or profound. The rate of payment made is dependent on the level of restriction determined in the medical assessment. Where this is deemed to be mild, the person is not eligible for payment. Where a person wishes to avail of Partial Capacity Benefit, they must apply before starting work. Under the scheme a person can earn any amount and work as many hours as they wish in either employment or self-employment.
With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides an Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. It is administered by the Department’s Community Welfare Service and can be accessed by customers through their local Intreo Office. Officials in my Department are always available to offer further guidance, support and information regarding potential entitlements.
Issues relating to tax credits and the Universal Social Charge, which are also referenced in the details supplied by the Deputy are matters for the Minister for Finance.
My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, taking account of social insurance contribution rates and the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
395. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to ensure that suppliers for school meals comply with the removal of HFSS (high fat salt and sugar) items from meals, as a review showed suppliers still include these in 18 per cent of meals and they are the most consumed menu items by children. [69737/26]
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.
Schools provide a supplier menu with their application for funding under the School Meals Programme. This is reviewed for compliance with the nutritional guidelines and my instruction in April 2025 for the removal of food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt. These are often referred to as the “treat option” option which had previously been allowed once per week however in some cases parents were ordering it more frequently.
Applications for funding are currently being processed for the 2026/27 academic year. Applications will not be processed where a school does not provide a compliant menu. All participating schools must also submit to this Department a signed Service Level Agreement which clearly sets out the school’s responsibilities and obligations in terms of compliance with nutritional standards.
My department also conducts regular inspections of schools, which includes reviewing the menu options. Under the existing audit process, 400 schools were inspected onsite in 2025 by Social Welfare Inspectors from this department. Approximately 150 desk assessments were conducted in 2025 by the School Meals Control team. Similar numbers of onsite and desk assessments will be conducted in 2026. Ongoing audits can increase or decrease based on risk assessments levels.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
396. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific action he is taking to move school meals (details supplied) towards a model where meals are cooked from fresh raw ingredients from scratch in one kitchen, and away from the current predominant ‘assembly and reheat’ model used in the Irish school meal programme. [69735/26]
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. 11 Meals on Wheels providers are currently supporting 40 schools in the Hot School Meals scheme.
The vast majority of primary schools in Ireland do not have on site food preparation or catering facilities. The Report on Nutrition Review of the Hot School Meals Scheme, found that only a small proportion of schools audited operated a fresh on-site kitchen model.
The School Meals programme is designed so that meals are provided by contracted food business operators. This ensures responsibility for food safety and legislative compliance is placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves. This also ensures children benefit from a reliable, high-quality service, while schools are protected from having to take on responsibilities more appropriate to the providers, who will have the necessary expertise and experience in food provision.
The recently published Report on Nutrition Review of the Hot School Meals Scheme examined the different catering systems in operation. The review found that hot-drop delivery models, particularly where meals are cooked fresh and delivered hot to schools, were associated with higher quality meals and lower levels of waste. The report recommends that food catering systems be reviewed to assess which models most consistently meet the programme's required nutrition standards
My Department is considering the recommendations of the Nutrition Review as part of its ongoing work with the Departments of Health and Education and Youth through the Interdepartmental Working Group on School Meals. Any future changes to procurement guidance will need to take account of nutritional standards, value for money, food safety requirements, school infrastructure constraints and the need to ensure that meals can be provided to children in schools across the country
Accordingly, there are no plans at present to mandate a single catering model; however, the findings of the Nutrition Review will inform future policy and procurement developments in the School Meals Programme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
397. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to address issues of packaging waste in the hot school meal programme and to adjust procurement guidance, or carry out trials, to support models which reduce both packaging and food waste, support sourcing of quality local ingredients, and ensure the food is cooked and served fresh, as the nutritional review and Ipsos survey do not address these issues. [69736/26]
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.
Since its launch the Hot School Meals Scheme, although very positively received, has been subject to some criticism relating to issues such as perceived deficiencies in food standards and food waste. To address this challenge, I commissioned two independent reviews of the School Meals Programme. The Nutrition Review of the Hot School Meals Scheme, undertaken by a CORU-registered dietitian under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health, and IPSOS Behaviour and Attitudes School Meals Survey 2026, a national survey of pupils, parents, teachers, principals and suppliers.
The IPSOS Behaviour & Attitudes survey found food waste was always a problem even before the introduction of school meals – 48% of parents said their children brought uneaten food home before school meals were introduced. The Nutrition Review found that food waste remains a challenge, with absenteeism, meal preferences and ordering practices identified as key contributing factors.
The Nutrition Review outlined several key recommendations aimed directly at waste reduction and food management.
The Nutrition Standards for School Meals and Nutrition Standards for Hot School Meals have been amalgamated into one to ensure consistency in implementation. The relevant sections have been rewritten by a CORU-registered Dietician under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health and the revised Nutrition Standards have now been published.
The development of a standardised 3-week menu cycle is being prioritised to support school meals suppliers in providing meals and menus that are fully compliant with Nutrition Standards and produced within the allocated budget. This resource should be developed for implementation by the suppliers in September 2027. Menus should be adapted for special schools and special classes and children with special dietary requirements to ensure the scheme remains inclusive. This resource should be developed for implementation by the suppliers in September 2027.
Under mandatory procurement template documentation and as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit in the Department of Education and Youth for the Hot School Meals Scheme menus 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, and marine conservation certified fish.
In terms of packaging and waste, under tender documentation, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively address environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. Depending on the school size and school meal requirements, the school will decide on the method and logistics that best meets their needs in line with environmental standards.
Under the mandatory procurement documentation for the Hot School Meals Scheme waste prevention and management form a key component of the marking scheme in the Hot School Meals call for tender. With marks being provided where the tender displays waste prevention and minimisation in line with target T3 in the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 and environmentally friendly recyclable packaging materials where possible in line with the Sectoral Target T4 from Buying Greener and Directive (EU) 2019/904.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the deputy.
398. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer’s allowance application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70080/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) 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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 07 May 2026.
As part of the assessment process, the application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to confirm that all conditions for the receipt of CA were satisfied. The claim was subsequently disallowed as the person concerned did not attend a scheduled interview and was notified of this decision on 14 August 2026, together with details of their review and appeal rights.
Following correspondence received on 19 August 2026, the decision was reviewed. The person concerned attended an interview with a Social Welfare Inspector on 21 August 2026 and was found to satisfy all qualifying conditions for CA from 2 July 2026.
Accordingly, CA has been awarded from 2 July 2026. The first payment is due to issue on 8 October 2026, with any arrears due issuing separately. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 30 September 2026.
399. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by families who are being refused fuel allowance on household means grounds where adult children remain living in the family home due to the lack of affordable rental accommodation and housing options; whether consideration is being given to amending the means assessment for fuel allowance in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70104/26]
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 the qualifying criteria.
Fuel Allowance operates as part of an overall system of social protection supports which provides assistance payments based on a system of means testing. The means test ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
For those who apply and are aged 66 or over, only the means of the applicant and, if applicable, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. However, the normal household composition criteria apply.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are in employment and not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations. Disregarding a household member who is not reliant on long term social protection payments and who is in employment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.
Fuel Allowance eligibility encompasses 22 qualifying schemes, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the support available to eligible households. In addition to these qualifying schemes, people over 66 do not need to be in receipt of a payment from this Department to qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to satisfying the means test. According to the latest CSO data, there are just over 1.8 million households in Ireland. Of these, 463,910 households are eligible for the Fuel Allowance scheme, representing approximately 26% of all households nationwide.
I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases, and it is for this reason that my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. 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.
400. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to discuss supports for those living with disabilities for waste disposal; the dates on which these meetings took places; the conclusions that were reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70101/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra401. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered providing a reduction or payment assistance in relation to domestic waste charges for disabled people particularly to persons who have excess charges because they suffer from incontinence or other similar issues that incur extra waste disposal charges. [70100/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.
Supporting disabled people is a key priority for the Government. My Department provides a range of income supports for disabled people. These include social insurance based schemes such as Invalidity Pension and social assistance based schemes, such as Disability Allowance and Blind Pension.
As of August 2026, there are over 234,950 recipients of disability income support payments, with estimated expenditure of €3.44 billion in 2026.
Both the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2030 include significant commitments to support disabled people including a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
A public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered was launched on Friday, February 20th and ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday April 7th.
The over 1,100 submissions helped inform the agenda for the Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, which I hosted in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May. It was attended by 150 people in person, with approximately the same number joining online.
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, the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
This whole of government approach is important as addressing these costs is not simply a matter of income supports alone. Improvements in the delivery of, and access to, key services are also needed.
On 16 July, I presented a briefing paper on the Summit to the Strategy's Delivery and Monitoring Committee, which is chaired by the Taoiseach, and attended by other Government Ministers as well as Disabled Person's Organisations and representatives of Civil Society Groups.
The Summit and the submissions made through the consultation process are informing the approach being taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment.
Domestic waste charges are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. We have not met to discuss the matter.
While my Department's primary responsibility is the provision of income and employment supports, financial assistance may be available under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme through Additional Needs Payment. These payments can help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment or Heating Supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place – 0818 – 607 080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
402. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection If he will expedite an appeal for working family payment for a person in Waterford (details supplied). [70142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to Partially Allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.
The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in the coming days.
403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps a school (details supplied) should take, now that they cannot source a provider for hot or cold school meals. [69989/26]
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.
All schools as independent contracting authorities are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules.
In the case of the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department is aware of the difficulties experienced in securing a provider. Departmental officials have been in contact with the school and have engaged with local meals on wheels to support them source a supplier.
Officials have also explored the possibility of a collaborative procurement arrangement with neighbouring schools and will continue to work with the school to identify any viable options. My Department remains available to support the school in its efforts to secure a provider and will continue to engage with the school and relevant stakeholders on this matter.
I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work with the school concerned to explore all available options with a view to facilitating participation in the School Meals Programme as soon as possible.
404. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a back to education allowance will receive an update. [70171/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly payment for people aged 16 or over and under age 66 who have a specified disability that is expected to last for at least one year. Entitlement to DA is subject to satisfying the medical, means and Habitual Residence Condition criteria.
Recipients of DA may return to education or training and can apply for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) while undertaking an approved course. The normal qualifying conditions for DA continue to apply while a person is participating in full-time education.
I can confirm that the person concerned submitted an application for BTEA on 18 August 2026. However, as the person is not currently in receipt of DA, they do not satisfy the qualifying conditions for BTEA and, therefore, the application cannot be approved.
The person concerned was in receipt of DA from 7 June 2023 to 18 August 2026. As part of a review of their ongoing entitlement, a medical assessment was undertaken and it was determined that the person no longer satisfied the medical eligibility criteria for DA with effect from 18 August 2026.
The person was notified of this decision in writing on 21 July 2026 and was advised of their right to seek a review and/or appeal the decision.
An appeal was subsequently lodged with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 27 August 2026, accompanied by additional medical evidence.
Where further medical evidence is submitted in conjunction with an appeal, the Department first reviews the new information before forwarding the case to the SWAO. This process ensures that any entitlement arising from the additional evidence can be considered promptly and, where appropriate, a favorable decision may be made without the need for a formal appeal determination.
I can confirm that, following a review of the additional evidence provided, the original decision of 21 July 2026 was upheld. The case was subsequently referred to the SWAO on 23 September 2026 for determination.
The outcome of the appeal is now a matter for the SWAO, and the person concerned will be notified directly of its decision.
405. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in commencing section 59 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, to provide for registration of decrees of divorce and of nullity by the Civil Registration Service; if there are inter-agency difficulties arising from the statutory designation of the Courts Service as the registrar in relation to registers to be established and maintained by an tArd-Chláraitheoir; if such difficulties have an administrative solution or require amending legislation; his plans to make any necessary amendment; and when such a solution will enable the section to come into operation. [70173/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from the General Registers Office, which operates under the aegis of my Department, have engaged with the Department of Justice on this matter.
A number of operational issues have been identified, which are being progressed by officials from the Department and the Courts Service. These issues do not include the difficulties outlined by the Deputy.
Engagement between officials will continue to progress the matter.
406. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently provide an update on the State Pension (Contributory) for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70253/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for state pension contributory was received from the person concerned on 13 July 2026, in advance of reaching pension age on 1 December 2026.
An interim decision issued on 17 July 2026 awarding the person concerned 59.87% of the maximum rate of pension, amounting to €179.20 per week plus the living alone increase of €22.00 per week.
This assessment was based on the records available at that time. A final decision has yet to be made as two matters remain under review:
• A request has been referred to the Department's Records Section to investigate a gap in the insurance record. Additional information was also sought from the person concerned on 26 September 2026 to assist with this.
• As the person concerned remains in employment, any contributions paid up to their 66th birthday will be considered when deciding their final rate of payment.
A final decision will issue once this review has been completed.
407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the treatment of inherited capital in the means test for disability allowance where the recipient has a lifelong disability and the inheritance is intended to fund their long-term care and independent living; the number of recipients whose payment was reduced or ceased due to inherited capital in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70277/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. It is a means-tested payment for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66. In order to be eligible, the disability must have continued for at least one year or be expected to continue for at least one year.
In addition, the person must be substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience, and qualifications. Eligibility for the payment is also subject to a habitual residency requirement.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and their spouse or partner, where applicable, is assessable. This recognises the fact that couples operate as a single household and can share living expenses in a manner not available to a single person.
The purpose of a means test is to ensure that scarce resources are directed to those with the greatest need and it supports an economically sustainable and socially equitable allocation of scarce resources
Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by my Department. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to a €20,000 disregard for most social welfare payments. In the case of Disability Allowance, capital of over €50,000 but under €60,000 is assessed at €1 per €1,000, amounts between €60,000 and €70,000 are assessed at €2 per €1,000 and amounts in excess of €70,000 are assessed at €4 per €1,000. A person’s family home is not assessed as means.
The earnings disregard for Disability Allowance has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. People on Disability Allowance can take up employment or self-employment and continue to receive all or part of their social welfare payment, depending on their income. A person can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of Disability Allowance. Earnings between €165 and €375 from employment are assessed at 50%, and any earnings over €375 are fully assessed as means. This means that a person can earn up to €527.60 a week and still keep their entitlement to the minimum rate of Disability Allowance and their secondary benefits.
In addition, under the Disability Allowance means test, PhD stipends of up to €20,000 per year, for up to 4 years are not assessed.
The Department does not collect or maintain detailed data on individual sources of assets and so it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of recipients whose payment was reduced or ceased due to inherited capital in each of the past three years as requested by the Deputy.
Any changes to means testing could only be considered in the context of the budgetary process.
