Written answers
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Rates
Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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570. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing all core weekly social welfare payments by €1, in tabular form. [37454/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated full-year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €1 per week is €76.8 million, as set out in the table below.
| Payment | Personal | Qualified Adult | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €m | €m | €m | ||
| Social Insurance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Contributory) | € 26.85 | € 2.62 | € 29.47 | |
| Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension | Under 66yrs | € 1.53 | € 1.53 | |
| Over 66Yrs | € 5.14 | € 5.14 | ||
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | Under 66yrs | € 0.06 | € 0.06 | |
| Over 66Yrs | € 0.13 | € 0.13 | ||
| Invalidity Pension | € 2.88 | € 2.88 | € 0.16 | € 3.04 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | € 0.08 | € 0.01 | € 0.09 | |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | € 0.07 | € 0.07 | ||
| Death Benefit Pension | € 0.03 | € 0.03 | ||
| Disablement Pension | € 0.18 | € 0.18 | ||
| Illness Benefit | € 2.66 | € 0.10 | € 2.76 | |
| Injury Benefit | € 0.02 | € 0.00 | € 0.02 | |
| Incapacity Supplement | € 0.04 | € 0.00 | € 0.04 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | € 1.48 | € 0.06 | € 1.54 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) | € 0.03 | € 0.00 | € 0.04 | |
| Carer's Benefit | € 0.24 | € 0.24 | ||
| Health and Safety Benefit | € 0.00 | € 0.00 | € 0.00 | |
| Maternity & Adoptive Benefit | € 0.99 | € 0.99 | ||
| Paternity & Parent's Benefit | € 0.43 | € - | € 0.43 | |
| Social Assistance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Non Con) | € 5.13 | € 0.10 | € 5.23 | |
| Blind Person's Pension | € 0.05 | € 0.00 | € 0.05 | |
| Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension | € 0.05 | € 0.05 | ||
| Deserted Wife's Allowance | € 0.00 | € 0.00 | ||
| One-Parent Family Payment | € 2.27 | € 2.27 | ||
| Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | € 2.65 | € 2.65 | |
| 66yrs or Over | € 0.09 | € 0.09 | ||
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | € 0.74 | € 0.74 | |
| 66yrs or Over | € 0.47 | € 0.47 | ||
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) | € 0.03 | € 0.03 | ||
| Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate | € 5.92 | € 0.71 | € 6.63 | |
| JA age 18 to 24 | € 0.65 | € 0.01 | € 0.66 | |
| Disability Allowance | € 8.71 | € 0.56 | € 9.27 | |
| Farm Assist | € 0.18 | € 0.05 | € 0.22 | |
| Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) | € 0.22 | € 0.04 | € 0.26 | |
| Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) | € 1.45 | € 0.19 | € 1.64 | |
| Work Placement Experience Programme | € 0.01 | € 0.00 | € 0.01 | |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | € 0.66 | € 0.06 | € 0.72 | |
| TOTAL | € 72.15 | € 4.67 | € 76.82 |
Please note this costing is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.
It should also be noted that this costing includes proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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571. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing the child support payment for those over 12 and those under 12, by €1, in tabular form. [37455/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The table below outlines the estimated annual cost of increasing the Child Support Payment by €1 for children under 12 and by €1 for children aged 12 and over.
| - | Current Weekly Rate | Proposed Weekly Rate | Increase | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Support Payment Under 12 | €50 | €51 | €1 | €8.8 million |
| Child Support Payment Aged 12 and Over | €62 | €63 | €1 | €6.1 million |
| Total | €14.9 million |
This costing is based on the number of Child Support Payment beneficiaries in May 2025, including proportionate increases for those CSPs paid at half rate, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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572. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing child benefit by €1. [37456/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing Child Benefit by €1, from €140 to €141 per month, is €15.32 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.
Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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573. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing the fuel allowance by €1. [37457/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated annual cost of increasing the weekly fuel allowance rate by €1, from €33 to €34, is €11.6M.
This costing is based on the number of Fuel Allowance recipients as at December 2024, and is based on the cost across a full 28 week fuel season. The costing is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the number of recipients.
Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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574. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €1. [37458/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €1 is €13.1 million. This represents an increase in the weekly rate from €22 to €23.
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.
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