Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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198. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first- and full-year cost to increase working age social welfare payments by €1. [31183/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of employment support schemes for jobseekers aged between 18 and 66 and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments to avail of training or employment opportunities and improve their access from social welfare to sustainable employment.

The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for customers in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at further or higher level. The focus of the scheme is to raise educational and skills levels to enable them to have better access to labour market needs.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers weekly financial support for customers who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The allowance is payable at 100% of the primary payment for year one, reducing to 75% for year two.

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance scheme supports someone who loses their job and wants to start their own business. The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of a person’s Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit and permits a person to pursue their self-employment without being subject to the normal rules and obligations of the benefit scheme. The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme duration is determined by the underlying benefit and therefore ends when the statutory entitlement to the benefit payment ends, that is, at either six or nine months, depending on previous work history.

The rate for the Working Age schemes is based on the payment rate of the qualifying underlying payment, such as Jobseeker's Allowance. Any change in payment rates for recipients of the Working Age schemes would necessitate changing the rates of all the underlying qualifying payments.

At the end of December 2024, there were 3,697 participants on Back to Education Allowance with outturn for 2024 of €32.16 million. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Education Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €192,244.

At the end of December 2024, there were 1,903 participants on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme with an outturn for 2024 of €30.22 million. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €98,956.

At the end of December 2024, there were 252 participants on the scheme. Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) is funded under the Jobseeker’s Benefit budget. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €13,510.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind pension by €1. [31184/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind pension by €1 is €12.4m.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and the associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.

It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for over-12s by €1. [31185/25]

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 aged 12 years and over by €1 is €4.22 million. This increases the weekly rate from €62 to €63 per week.

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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201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for under-12s by €1. [31186/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of increasing the Child Support Payment (formerly the Increase for a Qualified Child) for children under 12 years by €1, from €50 to €51 per week, is €11.23m.

The above costing is on a full year basis and is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2025. It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.