John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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560. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of families in each county that have received the baby boost grant since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32239/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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A newborn or adopted child grant of €280 was announced in Budget 2025 to be paid to families of babies born or children with a date of placement on or after 1st December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140.

The newborn baby or adopted child grant is paid automatically with Child Benefit payments, there is no additional application for the grant.

The table below outlines a breakdown by county of the number of grants paid or payable up to 3, June 2025.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving the widowers grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32270/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant is for widows, widowers, or surviving civil partners, who have one or more dependent children living with them at the date of death, along with satisfying the other criteria.

A dependent child is defined in Sections 2(3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as being a child under age 18, or over age 18 but under age 22 and in full-time education. The person concerned was widowed on 7 February 2025 and his child had reached age 22 on 5 July 2024. Consequently, as the person concerned did not have a dependent child living with him at the time of death, he is not entitled to the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential or urgent expenses that a person cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through Community Welfare Officers.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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562. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on a HAS application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32300/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides assistance to households in the immediate aftermath of severe weather events under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) which was activated on Thursday, 23 January in advance of Storm Éowyn’s arrival.

The purpose of HAS 2 support is to provide financial support to eligible householders whose primary dwelling i.e., their home only, was damaged by severe weather events. The scheme is designed to provide hardship alleviation, as opposed to compensation. HAS 2 support helps to make a person’s accommodation habitable again in the aftermath of a severe weather event and may include funding for work such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting as well as the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items.

Where financial assistance is required for structural damage and the estimated cost as outlined in builder’s quotes provided by the customer is of a high value amount, the case will be referred to the Loss Adjusters appointed by the Department of Social Protection.

According to the records of the Department, Mr. Flynn submitted a HAS 2 application, and an officer of the Department visited Mr. Flynn on 20/05/2025 at his home to further assess his needs. Mr. Flynn’s claim will be referred to the loss adjusters who will contact him shortly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.