Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
478. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by her Department during 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54794/23]
View answerMy Department has delivered significant achievements during 2023. The Social Protection Budget for 2024 is the largest in the history of the State. Budget 2024 will provide almost €2.3 billion in measures to assist households with the cost of living. This includes across-the-board increases of €12 per week in all core payments and will be combined with a series of lump sum payments for carers, people with disabilities, working families as well as those living alone on low incomes.
There will be a Christmas Bonus paid in December to almost 1.3 million welfare recipients and for the first time this will be followed by a January Cost of Living Bonus, which will also support pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, jobseekers, and families.
Some of the key budget increases also include a €300 cost of living lump sum to all households getting the Fuel Allowance, a double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children under 18, a €400 lump sum for people getting the Carers Support Grant, the same amount for people getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension and a €100 cost of living bonus for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child).
Recently I announced changes to the State Pension (Contributory) that are being introduced in January 2024. These changes include improved access to state pensions provision for long-term carers. These changes will see carers receive the equivalent of paid contributions for caring periods of over 20 years to cover gaps in their contribution record needed to obtain the State Pension (Contributory). This acknowledges the important role family carers play in Irish society. As per the Government decision in response to the Pension Commissions recommendation, the Government has decided that the State Pension age is remaining at 66 years of age but to facilitate those that which to defer their State Pension Contributory, they will be able to do so on foot of the legislative changes I am currently bringing through the Oireachtas in the Social Welfare Bill 2023.
My Department continues to provide support and advice to those Ukrainians fleeing the crisis in their own country. The priority for the Department is the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of income supports. By end November 2023, PPSNs issued to some 101,176 people, while income supports were paid to 42,376 adults.
During November 2023, my officials from the Community Welfare Service were at Dublin airport to meet and assist, where necessary, persons arriving from Gaza. This participation will remain ongoing for the duration of these arrivals. The Community Welfare Service was also at the forefront in assisting families affected by the floods in Cork and Galway.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
