Written Answers Nos. 1418-1437
1418. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 10 April, the maximum age of an adoptee on their date of placement by which their parents or guardians are still eligible to receive the new baby grant; the exact definition of baby as pertains to the new baby grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19427/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16, 17 and 18 if they are in full-time education or full-time training, or have a disability and cannot support themselves. Child Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth, subject to the qualifying conditions.
As part of Budget 2025, a new baby grant of €280 was introduced. This is paid to families of babies born, or with children with a date of placement on or after 1 December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140. It is a once-off payment, providing additional financial support to a family to ensure adequate resources and that the material needs of a newborn are met. The grant is paid to the qualified person – usually the mother - provided that person did not become so qualified on a date later than one month after the birth or the day of placement of the qualified child.
For the purposes of the payment, "day of placement" has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019. It is defined as "the day on which a child who is, or is to be, adopted is placed physically in the care of the relevant parent with a view to the adoption of the child or, in the case of an intercountry adoption effected outside the State where the child has not previously been placed in the care of the relevant adopting parent, the day on which the child has been so placed following the adoption".
Where the qualification criteria for Child Benefit are satisfied in the month after the birth or day of placement, the grant automatically becomes payable alongside that first month’s Child Benefit payment. Where the qualification criteria for Child Benefit are not satisfied until after that period of the first month of a baby’s life, or the first month after the day of placement, the grant is not payable.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
1419. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider establishing an independent employment support service, separate from the HSE, for people with disabilities and those with mental illness, focused on providing local, meaningful and fairly paid opportunities; if he acknowledges the impact that prolonged unemployment can have on mental health, confidence and self-worth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19452/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very aware of the impact that prolonged unemployment can have on mental health, confidence and self-worth on people with disabilities and those with mental illness. My Department already offers a range of supports for people with disabilities. As such, the establishment of an independent employment support service is not being considered at this time.
My Department's disability employment supports are not dependent on the type or category of illness or disability. Both mainstream and tailored supports are available. Intreo offers many programmes that allow people with disabilities to work and train in their own local community such as Community Employment and Tús.
In July 2022, my Department launched Early Engagement. The scheme aims to proactively engage disabled people in a ‘return to work’ process in the early stages of disability or illness. Specially trained Employment Personal Advisors reach out to people on Disability Allowance for 6 to 12 months and people on Disability Allowance aged 18 to 25 to offer guidance and support. Engagement with the scheme is voluntary. Almost 28,000 people have been contacted and nearly 3,000 referrals have been made for further education or employment supports since the scheme launched.
People in receipt of Disability Allowance or Blind Pension can take up employment or self-employment and earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of their payment. Their payment is tapered above €165, meaning that a person can earn up to €517.60 a week and still keep their entitlement to the minimum rate of payment and secondary benefits.
People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work may be eligible for Partial Capacity Benefit if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition. The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction in capacity for work. Partial Capacity Benefit has been designed so there are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.
My Department offers a range of employment supports, including Work and Access and the Wage Subsidy Scheme. It contracts Employability services and co-finances WorkAbility projects.
In July 2024, my Department launched a new scheme called Work and Access. This scheme offers seven supports to help reduce or remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability to allow them to get a job or stay in work. Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and training. This scheme is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed and people working in the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire people with disabilities through a subsidy. In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible and flexible to people with disabilities and their employers. An additional €3.7 million has been allocated to implement the review’s recommendations. In April 2024, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. My Department is currently implementing the remaining recommendations.
Employability is a service where, through a referral from Intreo, jobseekers with disabilities can work with a Job Coach who provides pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. It also acts as a recruitment advice service for the business community and provides employers with access to a pool of potential employees.
In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme - it is co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training programme. WorkAbility supports people with disabilities into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects and is running from January 2024 to December 2028. It aims to support over 13,000 disabled people progress their training and employment ambitions over its lifetime.
Notwithstanding these supports, the Government recognises that more needs to be done to provide people with disabilities with local, meaningful, and fairly paid employment opportunities. The new Programme for Government prioritises improvements to employment supports for people with disabilities. These commitments include:
to expand and build on successful programmes like Workability, Employability and Work and Access;
to ensure citizens with disabilities can access employment on an equal basis to others by focusing on building skills, capacity and independence; and
to continue to ensure employers make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities in the workplace.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
1420. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports that exist for self-employed people who pay PRSI class S who are diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19495/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness but on the extent to which a particular illness impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme, and eligibility is based on Pay Related Social Insurance (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 must be permanently incapable of work.
Class A, E, H and S contributions count for Invalidity Pension. Claimants must have 260 weeks of paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last or second-last complete year before the ‘relevant date’ – this is the date of the start of the person’s permanent incapacity for work as determined by the Department.
If a person has insufficient PRSI contributions, they can apply for a social assistance scheme, for example, Disability Allowance.
Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. Disability Allowance 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 be expected to last for at least one year. The allowance is also subject to a means test, a medical assessment and a habitual residency requirement.
My Department also provides employment supports. In July 2024, my Department launched the Work and Access scheme. This new scheme offers seven supports to help reduce and remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Funding is available for supports such as work coaches, work equipment, and training. Jobseekers, employees, self-employed people and employers may apply for supports both for the business premises and remote workplaces.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1421. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria for the invalidity pension; the length of time the applicant must be out of work to apply; the period of absence by which will be out of work to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19496/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed
where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
A qualifying condition for IP is that a person must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work.
A person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if:
for the period of one year immediately before the date of application, the person had been continuously incapable of work and a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year; or
a Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
Eligibility for IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. Applicants for IP must not be working at date of application. There is no specified length of time for which they must have stopped working due to illness before making a claim for the payment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1422. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of the social welfare entitlements of a person (details supplied) will take place. [19512/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
My Department received an application for IP from the person concerned on 21 November 2024. Based on the information supplied, it was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions of the scheme were not satisfied. Notification of the decision issued to the person on 11 March 2025 informing them of the decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The IP claim for the person concerned has been reviewed to take account of additional medical evidence submitted in support of the claim. However, a Deciding Officer decided on 31 March 2025 that the medical conditions for the scheme are still not satisfied and the original decision to refuse the application stands. Notification of this decision issued to the person on 31 March 2025, informing them of the decision and of their right of further review and appeal.
The person concerned needs to provide additional medical evidence to the effect that they are permanently incapable of doing all types of work in order for a further review of the claim to be undertaken.
In the meantime, they may apply to the Community Welfare Service for the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance if they are in need of financial assistance while awaiting the outcome of a further review or appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1423. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby schools that have been selected for the hot school meals programme but wish instead to provide cold food options only, including salads and sandwiches; if there is a provision to allow for that; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19579/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The ethos of the Hot School Meals Programme is that every child should have access to at least one hot meal per day.
However, when schools are applying for the School Meals Programme, those eligible for the Hot School Meals can choose to apply for a cold lunch option. This consists of a sandwich or bread roll with a piece of fruit and a drink. Examples of fillings for the sandwich or bread roll can consist of meat, poultry, egg, salad or cheese.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1424. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the inequitable treatment of young widowed people in Ireland, particularly in the areas of taxation, financial supports, and access to essential benefits under current social protection policy; if he will consider retaining dual tax credits and rate bands for widows, widowers and surviving civil partners, extending financial supports to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners that reflect the long-term realities of supporting children through school and college, and the challenges widowed people face as sole caregivers and provide access to sick leave so as widowed people are not penalised for needing time to address their own health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19580/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to taxation are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and my colleague the Minister for Finance. Matters relating to sick leave and employment rights are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Therefore, queries relating to those issues should be directed to the relevant Ministers.
My Department provides a suite of income supports. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension (WCP) is a weekly payment to the widow, widower or surviving civil partner of a deceased person. The pension remains payable while the person remains widowed or a surviving civil partner and the payment is not means tested. As a result, a person can be in receipt of WCP and earn income from employment or self-employment.
Where a person is unable to work as a result of illness, my Department provides the Illness benefit payment. Illness 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. People must have made the required number of contributions under PRSI classes A, E, H or P to qualify.
There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time but, generally, they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. Illness benefit and WCP are, generally, not payable concurrently. However, if a customer is getting a reduced rate of WCP, they may also get a reduced rate of illness benefit, so that the combined amount of both payments is not greater than the maximum rate of illness benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled.
The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant (WPG) is a once-off payment to widows, widowers or surviving civil partners with dependent children. This grant is available to widows, widowers or surviving civil partners who have one or more dependent children living with them at the date of death, or a widow or surviving civil partner whose child is born within 10 months of the date of death of her spouse or civil partner. This grant is a once-off payment of €8,000.
As the Deputy is aware, the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025, which is currently before the Oireachtas proposes to extend eligibility to WCP and WPG to Qualifying Cohabitants.
Other payments made by my Department include the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, Child Benefit, Carer's Benefit and Allowance. Each of these payments have their own qualifying criteria, however the civil status of each applicant is not a factor.
Furthermore, my Department operates Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people of any age, who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
The rates of payment are set as part of the Budgetary process and are informed by various data including the CSO SILC. In recent successive Budgets, the social welfare packages were the largest in the history of the State, and the last three Budgets contained significant cost of living packages. The Government is focused on continuing to deliver on measures to address poverty and social exclusion.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1425. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will advise of the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of officiating at weddings and other services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 51 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 sets out a number of substantive requirements for a marriage to be recognised in the State. One of these requirements is that a marriage must be solemnised by a registered solemniser.
To be a registered solemniser in the State a person must be nominated for registration in the Register of Solemnisers. A solemniser must be either, a registrar employed by the Health Service Executive (for civil marriages) or be a member of a religious or a secular body in Ireland and nominated by them.
Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for ensuring the details held in the Register of Solemnisers is accurately recorded by the General Registers Office.
There are no other provisions for persons to become registered in the Register of Solemnisers.
Additionally, various ceremonies may take place, including at wedding and funerals, which may be considered as celebrancy, but these have no legal effect and the GRO has no role in relation to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1426. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of civil ceremonies; if both have to be registered in order to perform a ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 51 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 sets out a number of substantive requirements for a marriage to be recognised in the State. One of these requirements is that a marriage must be solemnised by a registered solemniser.
A solemniser must be either, a registrar employed by the Health Service Executive (for civil marriages) or be a member of a religious or a secular body in Ireland and nominated by them. To be a registered solemniser in the State a person must be nominated for registration in the Register of Solemnisers. Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for ensuring the details held in the Register of Solemnisers is accurately recorded by the General Registers Office.
There are no other provisions for persons to become registered in the Register of Solemnisers.
Various ceremonies may take place, which may be celebrated by celebrants, however these have no legal effect and the GRO has no role in relation to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1427. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and provide support for this person to access their full entitlements to social welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and habitual residency conditions.
I confirm that the Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 15 January 2025. Based on the evidence supplied, the application was disallowed on the ground that they failed to provide sufficient information to enable a Deciding Officer to determine their means.
The person was notified in writing of this decision on 12 February 2025 and was given the right to request a review of this decision and/or appeal it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The person supplied further information and a review of the original decision was carried out on 25 March 2025 and they were awarded DA with effect from 26 February 2025 at a reduced rate due to means derived from their spouse’s employment.
As part of the initial application for DA, the person concerned also applied for Fuel Allowance. A Deciding Officer assessed the entitlement to Fuel Allowance and, based on the information supplied, it was decided that the person did not have an entitlement to the Fuel Allowance as their household consisted of persons who were not in a qualifying category.
The person was also notified of this decision in writing on 25 March 2025. They were also informed that if their circumstances changed, they should make a new application for the Fuel Allowance.
Any arrears due have issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1428. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available for an older person who needs a new roof but does not have insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19614/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupports from my Department are not generally intended to cover circumstances where responsibility rests with another Government Department or Agency. Responsibility in relation to supports for housing adaptions and or repairs, for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation needs of an older person, including any shortfalls in funding, is a matter for my colleague in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the relevant Local Authority. Information on available housing supports can be found at www.gov.ie under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service has also been established in each Local Authority area to support older adults across Ireland. The person concerned should contact their local Age Friendly Technical Advisor, who is in place to provide specialist housing advice to older members of the public. Local Age-friendly programmes work to support and assist older adults on options and access to key services.
However, where a person can confirm that they do not meet the eligibility criteria and have fully explored all other Housing Scheme supports and any other options available, they can apply to my department to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria for an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to meet their need.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons (DPs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances.
All cases are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the need presenting. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. The assessment will also include any income that their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant has. As part of the application process, a person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1429. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and the current status of this specific carer’s allowance case. [19688/25]
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 13 December 2024.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 17 December 2024. The person concerned failed to provide all the requested information and the claim was disallowed as it was not possible to determine that the person concerned satisfied the necessary conditions for receipt of CA.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 05 February 2025. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received and the person concerned was awarded CA from 19 December 2024. They were notified of this decision on 15 April 2025 and the first payment issued to their nominated post office on 24 April 2025.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1430. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has concerns regarding the quality consistency of the school meals programme with regard to the Healthy Ireland framework, the principles of Sláintecare, and concerns raised by clinicians and parents regarding nutritional value; if he has considered a review of the scheme from a health perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19696/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nutritional Standards for School Meals were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:
Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland;
the HSE;
Safefood; and
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available here: Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the Government. I have asked for a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards and this will be conducted by a dietician who will be supervised by the Department of Health and in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards be submitted to me by the end of the year.
In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt will be removed from the school menus by September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1431. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department's plans to review the hot school meals programme with regard to nutritional content and consistency with State-issued public health and dietary advice. [19712/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nutritional Standards for School Meals were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:
Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland;
the HSE;
Safefood; and
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available here: Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the Government. I have asked for a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards and this will be conducted by a dietician who will be supervised by the Department of Health and in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards be submitted to me by the end of the year.
In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt will be removed from the school menus by September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1432. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence regarding State pension category (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeople who turn 66 are still able to retire at that age and draw down their pension in exactly the same way as they always have. However, since January 2024, a person now has the option to defer drawing down their state pension (contributory), to any time up the age of 70. Where a person defers drawing down this pension, they can continue to pay PRSI and increase their contribution record, which may enable them to qualify for state pension (contributory) or to access a higher rate of pension.
In relation to a person in receipt of widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, they can at the age of 66 apply for state pension (contributory) or remain on their existing pension. If they do not qualify or only qualify for a reduced rate of payment of state pension (contributory), they will remain on their existing pension, as it is payable at a more beneficial rate. Also, if they continue working or otherwise have a PRSI liability on their income after the age of 66 and to up age 70, this may enable them to increase their contribution record in order to qualify for the state pension (contributory) at a more beneficial rate than their existing pension.
In general, a person who receives an Approved Retirement Fund income; is born after 1 January 1958; is aged between 66 and 70; and not in receipt of the state pension (contributory), will be liable for social insurance contributions under PRSI class S on this income.
However, my Department's Scope section can assist with the particular queries raised by the person concerned. Scope section deals with people, or their representatives, who apply to have a person's income and circumstances considered to ensure that the correct class of PRSI is applied. If the person wishes, they may contact scope@welfare.ie to obtain a decision as to the appropriate PRSI class(es) liable on their incomes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1433. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to allow part-time workers or learners to avail of the back to education payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1434. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the back to education rates by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1433 and 1434 together.
The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue full time courses at further and higher level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people to improve their qualifications, and as a result improve their access from social welfare to sustainable employment. The Government has provided over €29 million for the scheme in 2025.
The rate for the Back to Education Allowance is based on the payment rate of the qualifying underlying payment, such as Jobseeker's Allowance. A 10% increase on the 2025 provision for the Back to Education Allowance scheme would increase the cost by over €2.9 million.
Where a person receiving a Jobseeker's payment is interested in undertaking a part-time course, they may retain their Jobseeker's payment, provided that they continue to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking full time employment.
Any person in receipt of a jobseeker's payment seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
The primary financial support scheme for students in Ireland is the SUSI grant under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1435. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give prompt consideration to the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the law as currently enacted, entitlement to a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership.
As the Deputy is aware, on 22nd January 2024, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a Widower's Contributory Pension. The Supreme Court judgment overruled a previous High Court decision and found in favour of the claimant and his children.
In simple terms, the Court found that section 124 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) is inconsistent with the Constitution insofar as it excluded the claimant from the category of persons entitled to benefit from it. The Court reached that conclusion on the basis of the equality guarantee contained in Article 40.1 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court judgment notes that to resolve the issue raised by the judgment, a legislative amendment is required.
In June 2024, the then Government approved the priority drafting of the legislative changes required to respond to the Supreme Court decision. The General Scheme of a Bill was referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for priority drafting and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny. The Committee issued its report and recommendations on the 26th of July 2024.
The draft legislation raised a number of complex issues that required the advices of the Office of the Attorney General and ongoing engagement between officials in the Department of Social Protection and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
I am pleased to say that following Government approval, the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 was published on 13th March and Second Stage concluded in Dáil Eireann on 27th March. I look forward to working with the Oireachtas in ensuring this important legislation is enacted.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1436. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will change the rules in order to backdate jobseeker's pay-related benefit for workers who have lost their jobs since the beginning of 2025; the reason the decision was taken to limit eligibility to workers made unemployed from 31 March despite the scheme having being legislated for in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19820/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support, linked to previous earnings, which has replaced the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people whose first day of unemployment is on or after 31 March 2025.
The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 sets out the legislative framework for the new scheme. The Commencement Order for the scheme provides that it comes into operation on 31 March 2025. The scheme is available to those whose unemployment begins on or after this date as provided for in Part 3, section 13 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024.
This scheme is a fundamental reform in social policy and the payment of an individualised rate based on recent earnings and PRSI contributions differs significantly from the structure of the existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme. A lead-in time was necessary to provide for the regulatory, technical and administrative changes that were required for the new scheme to come into operation.
The existing Jobseeker's Benefit scheme is available for people who became fully unemployed before 31 March and such customers will remain on Jobseeker's Benefit until they return to employment or their benefit runs out, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1437. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the carer's allowance entitlement for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19884/25]
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.
Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income (for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country).
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 31 January 2025.
The claim was disallowed as the means of the person concerned exceeded the statutory means limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 25 March 2025. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received from the person concerned on 28 March 2025. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged. The person was notified of this decision in writing on 15 April 2025.
The means test for CA has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the Social Welfare system. As part of Budget 2025, with effect from July 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner.
It is open for the person concerned to apply for the standalone Carer’s Support Grant (CSG), an annual single payment of €2,000 for each care recipient, paid on the first Thursday in June. The CSG is not means tested and is paid to carers who provide full-time care and attention and satisfy the following conditions.
The person claiming the Grant must:
be aged 16 or over and ordinarily resident in this State;
care for the person on a full-time basis;
care for the person for a continuous period of at least six months – this period must include the first Thursday in June;
live with the person being looked after, or this person can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (i.e., a telephone or alarm);
not be employed / self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week; and
not be in receipt of or entitled to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit or be signing for credited contributions.
Additionally, the person being cared for must
be so incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention;
not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home, or another similar institution;
not receive full-time care and attention within their own home from another person other than the person claiming the Grant.
The person concerned may also wish to visit their local Intreo office where they will be able to assist with any queries or on further entitlements that may be due.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
