Written answers
Thursday, 29 May 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Schemes
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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409. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the one parent family payment and supplementary welfare allowance by €1. [28439/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual combined cost of increasing both the one parent family payment weekly rate and supplementary welfare allowance weekly rate by €1 is €3 million, with OPFP cost being €2.27 million and SWA cost being €0.73 million.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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410. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the Carer’s Allowance by €12 and abolishing the means test, assuming that abolishing the means test would lead to an increase of an additional 25,605 eligible recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28440/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly rate by €12 and abolishing the means test, assuming an associated increase of an additional 25,605 eligible recipients, is €404.5 million.
Below is a table outlining each component of this costing:
Component | Cost (€ million) |
---|---|
Additional expenditure on existing recipients | 13 |
Additional €12 weekly for existing cohort | 62 |
Cost of additional 25,605 recipients | 306 |
Cost of additional CSPs | 23.5 |
Total | 404.5 |
The key factor in this costing is the supplied assumption of 25,605 additional eligible recipients if the means test were to be abolished, as prescribed in the question. For example, if double that number supplied in the question were estimated as eligible recipients, the costing rises to over €730 million.
In the absence of any additional information, it is also assumed that these 25,605 additional eligible recipients are apportioned between payment categories in the same way as existing recipients.
Similarly, a proportionate number of Child Support Payments linked to the 25,605 additional eligible recipients of Carer's Allowance have been apportioned in the same proportions as for the existing recipients.
However, the cost of removing the means test stretches out to a potential €3 billion per annum if everybody who self-declared as a carer in Census 2022 was to qualify. Even if only 70% of these carers were to qualify the cost exposure would be up to about €2 billion per annum.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of recipients as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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411. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first year and full year cost of a pay-related carer’s benefit according to the same criteria as the pay-related jobseeker’s benefit. [28441/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Benefit is a non-means tested payment designed for insured people who may be required to leave the workforce, or reduce their working hours, to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention.
The Programme for Government commits to examining the introduction of a Pay Related Carer’s Benefit for individuals who have to give up work suddenly in order to provide full-time care to a loved one. In terms of roll-out of Pay-Related Benefits, the Programme for Government also contains a commitment to introduce a Pay-Related Parent’s Benefit.
The new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit scheme commenced on 31st March. The Government has been clear that this experience will help to inform future decisions regarding pay-related schemes including Carer’s Benefit.
Estimating the cost of extending a pay-related approach to Carer’s Benefit would require a detailed analysis based on the parameters of the scheme and the proposed model or models which may be considered, including impacts on PRSI rates. For that reason, it is not possible to provide a costing at this time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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412. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the carer’s allowance by €1. [28442/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing Carer's Allowance by €1 per week is €3.95 million. This includes increases for those carers both under and over 66 years and also those on half-rate Carer's Allowance.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing domiciliary care allowance by €1. [28443/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance by €1 is €0.8 million.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant to €2000, 2250 and 2500. [28444/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current Carer's Support Grant rate is €2,000 per year, following an increase of €150 announced in Budget 2025, payable in June 2025.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Carer's Support Grant to €2,250 per year is €38.4 million.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the Carer's Support Grant to €2,500 per year is €76.8 million.
These costings are based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and are subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing jobseeker’s allowance by €1. [28445/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing only jobseeker’s allowance by €1 is €7.3 million.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. This costing does not include any increase in respect of other schemes which are linked to the Jobseeker's Allowance rate, such as Farm Assist, Back to Education Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Community Employment Programme, Rural Social Scheme, Tús etc.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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416. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the state pension by €1. [28446/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In preparing this response, we have included costings for DSP's Pension programme schemes which include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Widows Contributory Pension.
The estimated annual cost of increasing these schemes by €1 is €41.5 million.
It should be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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417. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing weekly increases for qualified adults, in line with the MESL. [28447/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Most social welfare schemes pay an amount in addition to the personal rate in respect of an adult dependant, called an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA). The IQA rate is usually two thirds of the maximum personal rate for the relevant scheme.
The Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) is an assessment of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types.
One of the benefits of the work of the Vincentian MESL Research Centre is that it provides an analysis of the different levels of income needed for a wide range of household types. The MESL does not include a proposed rate for an IQA. Instead, it calculates a MESL rate for a variety of household types. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate the increased cost of increasing a working age IQA rate in line with the MESL as it is dependent on the household composition in which the IQA resides.
The work of the Vincentian MESL Research Centre at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is and will continue to be a valuable input into the policy-making process.
The 2025 MESL Report has not yet been published and is expected to be published in June 2025.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing qualified child payment for over and under 12s by €1. [28448/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The total estimated cost of increasing the Child Support Payment (formerly known as the Increase for Qualified Child or IQC) for children under 12 years and for those aged 12 years and over by €1 in both cases is €15.45 million. This increases the weekly rates from €50 and €62 per week to €51 and €63 per week, respectively.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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419. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of establishing a social welfare adequacy commission. [28449/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is not possible to provide first and full year costs of establishing a “Social Welfare Adequacy Commission” in the absence of detail on the underpinning legislation, functions, administrative structure and work programme of such a body, should it be established.
For the information of the Deputy, the Revised Estimates Volume for 2025 makes provision for €528,000 associated with the Low Pay Commission (which was established in 2015), as part of the Estimates for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under subhead C.10, “Low Pay Commission”. However, it is not possible without clarity on the role and extent of a new commission to estimate its potential cost.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the age-limit of the one parent family payment to 12 years and jobseeker’s transitional payment to 15 years. [28450/25]
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the age-limit of the jobseeker’s transitional payment until a family’s youngest child has completed secondary education or turns 18, whichever is older. [28451/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.
The cost of extending the One-Parent Family Payment by five years (until a family’s youngest child reaches 12), and the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment by either one year (until a family’s youngest child reaches 15) or by four years (until the youngest child has completed secondary education or turns 18), is difficult to accurately estimate as it is challenging to predict the future movement of customers into and between schemes and the subsequent cost implications relating to secondary benefits.
Some people whose youngest child is aged between 7 and 12 may for example be in receipt of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, others may be in receipt of the Back to Work Family Dividend or the Working Family Payment and still others may not be in receipt of any social welfare payment at all. Furthermore, while some people whose youngest child is aged between 14 and 15 (or 18) may be in receipt of the Jobseeker’s Allowance, Back to Work Family Dividend, the Working Family Payment or another payment and still others may not be in receipt of any social welfare payment at all.
To respond to the questions posed requires estimating how many of these customers would reasonably be expected to meet the criteria and avail of these means tested schemes should they become available.
Given the above, I am advised that the cost of increasing the age limit for these schemes is not possible to estimate in the time available. However, I have asked my officials to examine the matter further and revert to the Deputy directly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of extending the fuel allowance eligibility to all working family payment recipients. [28452/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of extending Fuel Allowance eligibility to all Working Family Payment recipients is €39.7 million, covering a full fuel season.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of reintroducing the State pension for 65-year-olds. [28453/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to note that the State Pension age was never 65 years of age. The State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) were never paid at 65 years of age.
Reducing the State Pension age to 65 years would increase pension related expenditure significantly. While my Department does not have a detailed actuarial analysis of this option, a high-level estimate of the cost of introducing State Pension payments at the age of 65 based on current State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) rates of payment (€289.30 and €278 respectively) from 01/01/2025 is an additional €430million for one year only.
This high-level estimate is based on net costs for future State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) qualifiers but does not include estimates for any changes to household benefits, free travel or fuel allowance costs. In addition, the figure takes no account of any additional costs to public sector pensions.
The "Benefit Payment for 65 year olds" was introduced to provide a benefit payment for people who are aged 65 and who are required to retire, or who chose to retire, without a requirement to sign on, engage in activation measures or be available for, and genuinely seeking work. This payment was designed specifically to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 years of age but who do not qualify for the State Pension until age 66.
Following on from the recommendations of the Pensions Commission, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is introducing measures that allow, but do not compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension age (66 years).
Demographic projections indicate significant increases in the number of future State Pension recipients which will impact on State Pension related expenditure. Clearly, reducing the State Pension age to 65 years of age would be very expensive and would require either considerable additional revenues, or, if introduced on a cost-neutral basis, very significant diversion of funds from elsewhere.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of extending parental leave and benefit by 1 week. [28454/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Parent's Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on Parent's Leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is currently paid for nine weeks at €289 per week.
Any decision to extend the period of Parent's Leave for employees is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality who has policy and legal responsibility for the scheme. An extension of this leave would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The cost of extending Parent's Benefit by one week, from 9 weeks to 10 weeks at the current rate of €289 would result in an additional annual cost of over €16 million with a new total annual cost of some €130 million.
These estimates are based on a costing exercise using the 2025 expenditure estimate of €114 million. It should be noted that this costing is based on estimated recipient numbers and is subject to change.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 Christmas bonus for all recipients of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit, jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, jobseeker’s transitional payment, jobseeker’s benefit self-employed. [28455/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of a once-off €50 Christmas bonus payment to only recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit (including self-employed), Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is €7.9 million.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of recipients as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
Last year, a 100% Christmas bonus was paid to recipients on the following schemes:
Back to Education Allowance * | |
---|---|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance | |
Back to Work Family Dividend | |
Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment | |
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds | |
Blind Pension | |
Carer's Allowance | |
Carer's Benefit | |
Community Employment Programme | |
Daily Expenses Allowance * | |
Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme) | |
Deserted Wife's Benefit and Deserted Wife's Allowance | |
Disability Allowance | |
Disablement Benefit | |
Domiciliary Care Allowance | |
Farm Assist | |
Guardian's Payment (Contributory and Non-contributory) | |
Illness Benefit * | |
Invalidity Pension | |
Jobseeker's Allowance * | |
Job Initiative participants | |
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment | |
Magdalen Commission Scheme | |
One-Parent Family Payment | |
Partial Capacity Benefit | |
Rural Social Scheme | |
State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-contributory) | |
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme * | |
Tús (community work placement initiative) | |
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension |
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the working family payment [28456/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of a single once-off €50 payment to all recipients of Working Family payment is €2.45 million.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of recipients as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the disability allowance. [28457/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of a single, once-off €50 payment to all recipients of Disability Allowance is €8.5 million.
It should be noted that once-off lump sums were paid in recent years to recipients of long term disability schemes, including Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension & Blind Pension.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of recipients as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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428. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the carer’s allowance. [28458/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2025 is expected to exceed €1.9 billion.
Carer's Allowance is the main income support scheme for carers in the community. Its primary aim is to support those whose earning ability is significantly reduced due to full-time caring responsibilities.
There are currently 101,426 carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance with an estimated scheme expenditure of over €1.24 billion in 2025.
The proposed provision of an annual once off payment of €50 to all current recipients of Carer’s Allowance is estimated at an additional full year cost of €4.97 million in 2025.
It should be noted that the annual Carer's Support Grant is available for all full-time carers and a grant is paid for each person being cared for. The grant has increased by €150 this year to €2,000 - it's highest level ever. It will be automatically paid next week, on Thursday 5 June to people getting Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. It is also available as a ‘standalone’ payment and can be applied for by those full-time carers who are not currently in receipt of a carer support payment.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers by my department under review. However, any further improvements to the income supports provided would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the living alone allowance. [28459/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of a single, once-off €50 payment to all recipients of the Living Alone Allowance is €12.7 million.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of recipients as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of €50 qualified child increment lump sum payment. [28460/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of a once off €50 payment for each child in respect of whom a Child Support Payment (formerly known as Increase for a Qualified Child) is paid is €16.5 million.
It should be noted that this costing is based on the number of supported children as at April 2025, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent variations in the number of recipients.
This costing assumes that the payment is made on the same basis as the lump sum payment for each child in respect of whom a Child Support Payment is paid in November 2024, which was announced as part of Budget 2025.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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431. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the first and full year cost of doubling a single payment of the foster carer allowance payment. [28461/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Foster Care Payment is the responsibility of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and therefore under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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432. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of disability allowance, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28510/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Quarterly statistics on recipients of Disability Allowance, including a breakdown by county, is published in the Department's Quarterly Statistics report and is available in open data format at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/collections/quarterly-statistics/#quarterly-statistical-open-data . These figures are set out in the table below.
county | 2020Q1 | 2021Q1 | 2022Q1 | 2023Q1 | 2024Q1 | 2025Q1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 150,851 | 155,601 | 157,837 | 161,073 | 165,930 | 171,007 |
Carlow | 2,355 | 2,428 | 2,486 | 2,525 | 2,613 | 2,719 |
Cavan | 2,245 | 2,338 | 2,309 | 2,370 | 2,480 | 2,559 |
Clare | 3,741 | 3,832 | 3,880 | 3,935 | 4,106 | 4,201 |
Cork | 18,478 | 18,975 | 19,086 | 19,279 | 19,785 | 20,247 |
Donegal | 6,086 | 6,204 | 6,234 | 6,355 | 6,556 | 6,726 |
Dublin | 36,103 | 37,084 | 37,661 | 38,450 | 39,437 | 40,563 |
Galway | 8,336 | 8,577 | 8,615 | 8,762 | 9,048 | 9,271 |
Kerry | 5,648 | 5,767 | 5,884 | 5,988 | 6,256 | 6,411 |
Kildare | 5,520 | 5,760 | 5,916 | 6,085 | 6,327 | 6,529 |
Kilkenny | 3,022 | 3,124 | 3,184 | 3,257 | 3,298 | 3,395 |
Laois | 2,876 | 2,995 | 3,063 | 3,160 | 3,279 | 3,398 |
Leitrim | 1,122 | 1,156 | 1,190 | 1,247 | 1,274 | 1,322 |
Limerick | 7,856 | 8,065 | 8,197 | 8,340 | 8,560 | 8,843 |
Longford | 1,816 | 1,902 | 1,888 | 1,944 | 1,983 | 2,064 |
Louth | 4,330 | 4,460 | 4,522 | 4,626 | 4,770 | 4,983 |
Mayo | 4,392 | 4,514 | 4,538 | 4,573 | 4,711 | 4,849 |
Meath | 4,197 | 4,430 | 4,542 | 4,741 | 4,944 | 5,248 |
Monaghan | 1,661 | 1,714 | 1,756 | 1,775 | 1,814 | 1,871 |
Offaly | 2,966 | 3,124 | 3,172 | 3,245 | 3,353 | 3,494 |
Roscommon | 2,222 | 2,310 | 2,344 | 2,412 | 2,461 | 2,530 |
Sligo | 2,349 | 2,419 | 2,427 | 2,471 | 2,540 | 2,621 |
Tipperary | 6,513 | 6,688 | 6,787 | 6,936 | 7,077 | 7,247 |
Waterford | 4,146 | 4,243 | 4,347 | 4,524 | 4,705 | 4,908 |
Westmeath | 3,290 | 3,417 | 3,483 | 3,559 | 3,638 | 3,734 |
Wexford | 5,638 | 5,927 | 6,022 | 6,119 | 6,335 | 6,530 |
Wicklow | 3,943 | 4,148 | 4,304 | 4,395 | 4,580 | 4,744 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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433. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of invalidity pension, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28511/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Quarterly statistics on recipients of Invalidity Pension, including a breakdown by county, is published in open data format as part of the Department's Quarterly Statistics report which is available at . These figures are set out in the table below.
county | 2020Q1 | 2021Q1 | 2022Q1 | 2023Q1 | 2024Q1 | 2025Q1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 59,925 | 60,690 | 59,196 | 57,835 | 58,437 | 57,130 |
Carlow | 1,057 | 1,038 | 1,010 | 968 | 997 | 948 |
Cavan | 892 | 909 | 874 | 838 | 863 | 846 |
Clare | 1,389 | 1,396 | 1,374 | 1,336 | 1,369 | 1,299 |
Cork | 7,853 | 8,012 | 7,847 | 7,664 | 7,764 | 7,684 |
Donegal | 1,657 | 1,705 | 1,655 | 1,589 | 1,640 | 1,607 |
Dublin | 15,261 | 15,278 | 14,947 | 14,659 | 14,805 | 14,499 |
Galway | 2,244 | 2,314 | 2,290 | 2,251 | 2,316 | 2,270 |
Kerry | 1,764 | 1,796 | 1,738 | 1,703 | 1,697 | 1,617 |
Kildare | 2,616 | 2,707 | 2,639 | 2,609 | 2,700 | 2,671 |
Kilkenny | 1,181 | 1,156 | 1,123 | 1,092 | 1,101 | 1,101 |
Laois | 1,112 | 1,128 | 1,113 | 1,118 | 1,123 | 1,108 |
Leitrim | 517 | 514 | 499 | 476 | 461 | 432 |
Limerick | 3,488 | 3,534 | 3,433 | 3,326 | 3,356 | 3,247 |
Longford | 664 | 660 | 638 | 609 | 586 | 583 |
Louth | 1,781 | 1,822 | 1,760 | 1,699 | 1,746 | 1,728 |
Mayo | 1,510 | 1,503 | 1,440 | 1,369 | 1,400 | 1,370 |
Meath | 2,053 | 2,096 | 2,055 | 2,010 | 2,098 | 2,082 |
Monaghan | 630 | 663 | 644 | 633 | 641 | 617 |
Offaly | 1,190 | 1,221 | 1,223 | 1,198 | 1,209 | 1,173 |
Roscommon | 948 | 942 | 918 | 899 | 883 | 875 |
Sligo | 917 | 935 | 895 | 881 | 869 | 828 |
Tipperary | 2,472 | 2,491 | 2,373 | 2,307 | 2,241 | 2,154 |
Waterford | 1,697 | 1,765 | 1,712 | 1,658 | 1,637 | 1,614 |
Westmeath | 1,336 | 1,361 | 1,330 | 1,335 | 1,305 | 1,243 |
Wexford | 2,158 | 2,195 | 2,170 | 2,138 | 2,158 | 2,105 |
Wicklow | 1,538 | 1,549 | 1,496 | 1,470 | 1,472 | 1,429 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of illness benefit payment, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28512/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Quarterly statistics on recipients of Illness Benefit, including a breakdown by county, is published in open data format as part of the Department's Quarterly Statistics report which is available at . These figures are set out in the table below.
County | Q12020 | Q12021 | Q12022 | Q12023 | Q12024 | Q12025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 98,403 | 124,303 | 335,004 | 122,521 | 110,929 | 109,563 |
Carlow | 1,597 | 2,005 | 4,720 | 1,744 | 1,503 | 1,479 |
Cavan | 1,639 | 2,114 | 6,002 | 2,063 | 1,847 | 1,815 |
Clare | 2,153 | 2,781 | 8,413 | 2,938 | 2,536 | 2,501 |
Cork | 12,672 | 15,028 | 38,014 | 15,157 | 13,731 | 13,593 |
Donegal | 2,875 | 3,850 | 10,452 | 3,723 | 3,495 | 3,373 |
Dublin | 26,166 | 33,330 | 86,926 | 31,535 | 29,131 | 28,621 |
Galway | 4,963 | 6,694 | 20,901 | 6,790 | 5,819 | 5,760 |
Kerry | 2,782 | 3,166 | 9,689 | 3,459 | 3,014 | 2,992 |
Kildare | 4,641 | 5,257 | 15,954 | 5,830 | 5,499 | 5,341 |
Kilkenny | 1,732 | 2,241 | 6,909 | 2,387 | 2,191 | 2,056 |
Laois | 1,741 | 2,190 | 6,149 | 2,337 | 2,131 | 2,153 |
Leitrim | 725 | 720 | 2,188 | 862 | 790 | 752 |
Limerick | 4,492 | 5,797 | 14,005 | 5,612 | 4,832 | 4,708 |
Longford | 859 | 1,146 | 3,100 | 1,098 | 981 | 1,038 |
Louth | 3,414 | 4,397 | 9,888 | 3,829 | 3,597 | 3,628 |
Mayo | 2,611 | 3,585 | 9,800 | 3,628 | 3,040 | 3,009 |
Meath | 4,377 | 5,254 | 15,244 | 5,579 | 5,209 | 5,321 |
Monaghan | 1,227 | 2,227 | 4,602 | 1,470 | 1,401 | 1,377 |
Offaly | 1,791 | 2,216 | 5,855 | 2,095 | 1,909 | 1,877 |
Roscommon | 1,276 | 1,500 | 4,456 | 1,729 | 1,530 | 1,473 |
Sligo | 1,302 | 1,610 | 4,729 | 1,768 | 1,583 | 1,574 |
Tipperary | 3,231 | 4,014 | 11,260 | 4,061 | 3,636 | 3,514 |
Waterford | 2,612 | 3,632 | 8,962 | 3,330 | 2,925 | 3,001 |
Westmeath | 1,952 | 2,157 | 6,699 | 2,382 | 2,082 | 2,056 |
Wexford | 3,051 | 4,434 | 11,406 | 3,935 | 3,578 | 3,647 |
Wicklow | 2,522 | 2,958 | 8,681 | 3,180 | 2,939 | 2,904 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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435. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of blind pension, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28513/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment provided by the Department to individuals who are blind or have a serious visual impairment and are habitually resident in the State. It is available to those aged 18 to 66 and requires medical certification of visual impairment.
Due to low numbers of recipients when broken down by county, the counties of Leitrim, Longford, and Roscommon are combined into one to avoid identifying any individual recipient.
County | Q12020 | Q12021 | Q12022 | Q12023 | Q12024 | Q12025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1,129 | 1,074 | 1,034 | 1,011 | 996 | 940 |
Carlow | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Cavan | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Clare | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Cork | 89 | 84 | 80 | 77 | 79 | 69 |
Donegal | 64 | 63 | 60 | 58 | 54 | 54 |
Dublin | 302 | 297 | 277 | 260 | 259 | 240 |
Galway | 68 | 64 | 60 | 58 | 54 | 51 |
Kerry | 43 | 38 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Kildare | 30 | 28 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 29 |
Kilkenny | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 27 |
Laois | 23 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 |
Leitrim, Longford, & Roscommon | 27 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
Limerick | 48 | 45 | 45 | 49 | 47 | 48 |
Louth | 37 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 26 |
Mayo | 44 | 42 | 39 | 40 | 35 | 35 |
Meath | 33 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
Monaghan | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
Offaly | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 |
Sligo | 38 | 36 | 38 | 34 | 33 | 32 |
Tipperary | 41 | 38 | 41 | 40 | 46 | 47 |
Waterford | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 23 |
Westmeath | 25 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 18 |
Wexford | 52 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 53 | 52 |
Wicklow | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of injury benefit payment, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28514/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Injury Benefit payment is provided by the Department for individuals who are unable to work due to an accident at work, while commuting, or from an occupational disease. Due to low numbers of recipients when broken down by county, the counties of Leitrim and Longford are combined into one to avoid identifying any individual recipient.
County | Q12020 | Q12021 | Q12022 | Q12023 | Q12024 | Q12025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 2,347 | 1,503 | 1,368 | 1,404 | 1,067 | 808 |
Carlow | 39 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Cavan | 57 | 28 | 34 | 41 | 30 | 17 |
Clare | 35 | 30 | 31 | 21 | 20 | 17 |
Cork | 308 | 183 | 172 | 170 | 128 | 106 |
Donegal | 60 | 51 | 38 | 47 | 32 | 24 |
Dublin | 566 | 334 | 329 | 321 | 273 | 209 |
Galway | 94 | 65 | 81 | 51 | 53 | 33 |
Kerry | 65 | 47 | 31 | 32 | 35 | 21 |
Kildare | 115 | 70 | 69 | 66 | 43 | 33 |
Kilkenny | 44 | 39 | 32 | 20 | 14 | 18 |
Laois | 61 | 36 | 29 | 38 | 29 | 20 |
Leitrim & Longford | 36 | 35 | 18 | 26 | 16 | 14 |
Limerick | 117 | 61 | 70 | 72 | 49 | 33 |
Louth | 72 | 48 | 44 | 47 | 34 | 35 |
Mayo | 57 | 43 | 32 | 45 | 49 | 23 |
Meath | 122 | 85 | 57 | 63 | 56 | 38 |
Monaghan | 44 | 32 | 15 | 31 | 23 | 14 |
Offaly | 53 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 12 | 19 |
Roscommon | 35 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 19 | 14 |
Sligo | 29 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
Tipperary | 84 | 58 | 47 | 60 | 44 | 32 |
Waterford | 58 | 30 | 20 | 38 | 18 | 10 |
Westmeath | 46 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 24 | 24 |
Wexford | 91 | 57 | 60 | 59 | 25 | 18 |
Wicklow | 59 | 36 | 26 | 30 | 16 | 10 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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437. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of disablement benefit, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28515/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disablement Benefit is a payment provided by the Department under the Occupational Injuries Scheme. It is available to individuals who suffer a loss of physical or mental capacity due to a work-related accident, a direct commute-related accident, or a prescribed occupational disease. Quarterly data on the number of persons receiving Disablement Benefit is set out in the table below.
County | Q12020 | Q12021 | Q12022 | Q12023 | Q12024 | Q12025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 14,531 | 14,388 | 14,217 | 14,061 | 13,898 | 13,727 |
Carlow | 230 | 232 | 231 | 227 | 228 | 224 |
Cavan | 210 | 209 | 206 | 201 | 206 | 207 |
Clare | 389 | 383 | 377 | 370 | 371 | 365 |
Cork | 2,001 | 1,989 | 1,954 | 1,938 | 1,919 | 1,888 |
Donegal | 416 | 413 | 407 | 403 | 401 | 393 |
Dublin | 3,237 | 3,206 | 3,157 | 3,115 | 3,073 | 3,016 |
Galway | 672 | 667 | 662 | 652 | 649 | 644 |
Kerry | 436 | 426 | 416 | 417 | 417 | 418 |
Kildare | 551 | 546 | 539 | 530 | 520 | 523 |
Kilkenny | 289 | 285 | 279 | 276 | 269 | 269 |
Laois | 252 | 253 | 254 | 254 | 255 | 258 |
Leitrim | 137 | 133 | 131 | 126 | 129 | 126 |
Limerick | 971 | 962 | 943 | 933 | 925 | 910 |
Longford | 170 | 165 | 161 | 157 | 156 | 150 |
Louth | 461 | 460 | 461 | 457 | 449 | 446 |
Mayo | 380 | 374 | 373 | 359 | 359 | 354 |
Meath | 627 | 618 | 618 | 618 | 605 | 597 |
Monaghan | 167 | 165 | 167 | 166 | 163 | 162 |
Offaly | 276 | 273 | 272 | 276 | 272 | 274 |
Roscommon | 282 | 275 | 274 | 272 | 262 | 257 |
Sligo | 217 | 211 | 210 | 209 | 206 | 201 |
Tipperary | 689 | 686 | 688 | 688 | 660 | 657 |
Waterford | 452 | 446 | 444 | 438 | 434 | 429 |
Westmeath | 236 | 235 | 231 | 232 | 230 | 227 |
Wexford | 449 | 444 | 436 | 429 | 425 | 424 |
Wicklow | 334 | 332 | 326 | 318 | 315 | 308 |
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the volume of people availing of partial capacity benefit, by county, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28516/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Partial Capacity Benefit is a payment from the Department to support individuals who wish to return to work or self-employment but have a reduced capacity to work due to a medical condition. It is available to those who have been receiving Illness Benefit for at least six months or are in receipt of Invalidity Pension.
Quarterly data on the number of persons receiving Partial Capacity Benefit is set out in the table below.
County | Q12020 | Q12021 | Q12022 | Q12023 | Q12024 | Q12025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 3,314 | 3,421 | 3,569 | 3,300 | 3,082 | 3,194 |
Carlow | 44 | 41 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 47 |
Cavan | 57 | 56 | 56 | 46 | 47 | 44 |
Clare | 82 | 88 | 101 | 95 | 77 | 86 |
Cork | 451 | 477 | 501 | 482 | 441 | 462 |
Donegal | 102 | 102 | 112 | 116 | 105 | 118 |
Dublin | 776 | 768 | 782 | 689 | 635 | 643 |
Galway | 154 | 171 | 176 | 161 | 149 | 157 |
Kerry | 104 | 116 | 121 | 116 | 104 | 105 |
Kildare | 157 | 168 | 162 | 154 | 124 | 130 |
Kilkenny | 66 | 71 | 68 | 64 | 63 | 69 |
Laois | 66 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 74 | 75 |
Leitrim | 22 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 28 |
Limerick | 138 | 152 | 152 | 153 | 153 | 152 |
Longford | 43 | 42 | 47 | 38 | 42 | 43 |
Louth | 83 | 79 | 95 | 87 | 83 | 82 |
Mayo | 111 | 110 | 109 | 102 | 102 | 99 |
Meath | 159 | 173 | 171 | 153 | 149 | 144 |
Monaghan | 37 | 42 | 38 | 36 | 38 | 34 |
Offaly | 57 | 55 | 58 | 60 | 66 | 69 |
Roscommon | 68 | 64 | 68 | 61 | 63 | 65 |
Sligo | 64 | 60 | 68 | 60 | 50 | 49 |
Tipperary | 125 | 142 | 161 | 152 | 138 | 150 |
Waterford | 92 | 78 | 85 | 74 | 73 | 85 |
Westmeath | 51 | 50 | 69 | 65 | 61 | 70 |
Wexford | 112 | 120 | 128 | 114 | 105 | 105 |
Wicklow | 93 | 94 | 94 | 87 | 77 | 83 |
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