Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his response. While the supports outlined are welcome, we need to recognise that getting back to work is about more than just income. Employment plays a vital role in improving mental health, giving people a sense of identity, routine and purpose.

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It also sets a powerful example for children and others in the community, showing that work pays, that ambition is valued and that the opportunity is real. For many in County Offaly and beyond, the move from welfare into employment still seems like a risk. The poverty trap is real. When people feel it will cost them more to take up a job than to stay on social supports, something is fundamentally wrong. We need to create genuine incentives to work, with supports that are accessible, clearly communicated and designed to reward effort rather than punish transition. Will the Minister confirm whether his Department is reviewing the income thresholds and tapering of supports to ensure that work always pays and that the move from welfare to wages is a step up and not a step back?

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