Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider amending the rules of the domiciliary care allowance so that the payment is extended for the care of children up to 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21390/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non-means-tested payment of €360 per month to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom a person may claim the payment. In other words, where a person is caring for more than one child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance, they may claim the monthly allowance for each.

From January 2025, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €340 to €360 per month. As of March, there were 58,416 families in receipt of the payment in relation to 66,044 children. Expenditure in 2025 is estimated at over €301 million.Domiciliary Care Allowance claims have increased over 100% since 2015, with a 50% increase in the past five years.Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. This is aligned with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to suffer from a disability that significantly impacts their daily living activities, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name of €244 per week and, in addition, if their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care they can then retain, or apply for, a Carers payment.

One of the key proposals in the Green Paper on Disability Reform was to extend the upper age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the lower age limit for Disability Allowance to 18 years of age. The Green Paper was a consultation document. Based on the feedback received during the public consultation, the process was discontinued.

Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

94. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who have applied for the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit since its introduction, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21744/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am very pleased to report that the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit was introduced a month ago (31st March). This is a payment that will help people who lose a job to adjust to the income shock that this often entails. Instead of paying a single flat rate to all jobseekers as was the case up to this, Pay-Related Benefit means that the rate of income support is directly linked to previous earnings.

Under the scheme, the weekly rate of payment for a person with at least five years paid PRSI contributions will be set at 60% of previous earnings, up to a maximum of €450 for the first three months. After that, the rate will be set at 55% of previous earnings up to a maximum of €375 for the following three months. A further three months will be paid at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum €300 payment.

For people who have between two and five years paid contributions, the rate will be set at 50% of previous earnings. This will be paid up to a maximum of €300 per week, subject to a maximum duration of six months.As of Saturday 19th April, the total number of Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit claims registered is 4,806 of which 3,589 were awarded.

There were 3,469 in payment at this date of which a total of 1,805, or 52%, were in receipt of the maximum €450 weekly rate of payment. A further 208 individuals, or 6%, were in receipt of the €300 weekly rate where they have fewer than five years PRSI contributions.

The specifics by county breakdown are not yet available but will be reported on in due course.

The introduction of the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme has been a significant undertaking for my Department over the last number of years, and I want to place on the record my thanks to the officials involved.