Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the income supports that are available for an employed person, also in receipt of disability allowance, but out of work due to illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34382/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disability Allowance (DA) 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 medical assessment, a means test, and habitual residency conditions.

DA is a means tested payment. Social Welfare Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner if applicable) in receipt of DA. The weekly rate of DA payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed.

If a person is in receipt of DA and there is a change in their circumstances, for example, absences from employment due to illness, they are entitled to request a review of their DA payment. They can submit any new relevant information to the Department and a new means assessment can be carried out to find what they may be entitled to receive. Where someone on a reduced rate of DA has a loss of income, previously assessed as means, they may receive an increase in their DA weekly payment.

A person can also apply to their local Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance or an Additional Needs payment if they are in need of financial assistance.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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597. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether illness benefit is available to an employed person with a long-term illness, also in receipt of disability allowance, whilst on extended sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34383/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is always open for a person to apply for Illness Benefit and payment will be awarded if all the qualifying conditions are met. A person's Disability Allowance will cease payment if they are in receipt of Illness Benefit. However an applicant for Disability Allowance to whom Illness Benefit is payable may opt to forgo the Illness Benefit payment in order to receive Disability Allowance at a higher rate when adjustments have been made to take account of means, if any.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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598. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department will consider a proposal to extend the child benefit payment for a number of months for families who lose a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34435/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday where they are in full-time education or have a disability.

Currently there is no provision to pay Child Benefit after the death of a child. The Child Benefit payment ceases once the department is notified of the death. I appreciate the difficult circumstances families face in the event of losing a child.

The Department regularly reviews all of its schemes in order to ensure that they are still delivering on their policy aims and objectives. Any changes to Child Benefit would have to be considered in a wider policy and budgetary context. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue with me.

I trust this clarify the position for the deputy.