Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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1109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the entitlements of a certain category of pensioners (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29575/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In general, the criteria for the various secondary benefits schemes administered by my Department are designed to ensure that these benefits go to those who need them the most.

Any decision to expand the qualifying criteria for these schemes would have wider budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.

Having said that, I am very aware that, mainly due to external factors, the recent increase in consumer prices, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices, has exceeded even the highest forecasts.

In response, the Government acted early to address these challenges.  To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government announced a package of measures in February, which will have a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country.  These measures, while including social protection measures, also included a wide range of initiatives covering tax, energy credits, excise and transport measures.

These measures are in addition to others introduced as part of Budget 2022 - which was the largest social welfare budget package in 14 years - and are more expansive than measures introduced in most other countries.

All of these measures will be kept under review, together with trends in prices to inform preparations for the budget later this year.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.