Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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878. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of divorces granted in each year from 2015 to date; to provide a breakdown of the number which are opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28997/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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This is a matter which is proper to The Courts service.

My Department or the General Register Office does not hold information on the granting of divorces.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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879. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for costings in relation to implementing a PRSI scheme for extended sick leave. [29037/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability.

Illness benefit is the primary income support provided by my Department to those who cannot work in the short term due to illness of any kind and is funded by the Social Insurance Fund, through the payment of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions.

Subject to the level of relevant PRSI contributions paid, illness benefit is payable for a maximum period of two years. Where a person exhausts their entitlement to payment of illness benefit and is expected to remain unfit to attend work for a further period of at least 12 months, they have the option of making an application for invalidity pension.

Invalidity pension is a social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or must be permanently incapable of work.

Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and habitual residence conditions.

People who are ill but do not qualify for other illness or disability schemes may apply for means tested supports through the additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

As regards costings for any changes to these schemes or the introduction of a new scheme, it would be necessary for the Deputy to provide more detail as to what is being proposed.

My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, and in the context of social insurance contribution rates.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.