Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review whether current core social welfare rates are meeting people’s basic needs, particularly in areas like Dublin Bay north where the cost of living continues to rise and many families are struggling with rent, energy bills, and food costs; to consider targeted increases for those on the lowest incomes as part of Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21620/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Social Protection, I am fully committed to making the case for a fair budget that protects the people most in need in our society - particularly families on low incomes and those people, including pensioners and carers who are dependent on social welfare payments.As part of Budget 2025, a €2.6 billion Social Protection package was secured. This was, for the third year in a row, the largest in the history of the State.This package provided a mixture of lump sum cost of living payments, along with across the board €12 weekly rate increase in primary payments.

As well as one-off measures and rate increases, Budget 2025 included the introduction of a Newborn Baby Grant; an increase to the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance, which becomes a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance; increases to the Working Family Payment income thresholds; the extension of the Hot School Meals scheme to all remaining Primary Schools; and the commencement of the Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit Scheme.

Each year, the ESRI produces a post-Budget analysis of the main tax and welfare changes in the Budget. This analysis shows that the package of measures introduced under Budget 2025 will result in average gains in income for most households next year. It also shows that incomes have remained largely stable since 2020 despite a number of crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in the cost of living.

I am therefore satisfied that the most recent Budget protected the most vulnerable in our society, particularly children in low-income families.

In July, I will meet with many stakeholders at our annual pre-budget forum with a view to continuing this progress. I will listen to views on their priorities in the forthcoming budget. This will be a key input to my thinking on Budget formulation and the measures that I will bring forward for consideration of Government.