Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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612. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the main policy achievements of his Department since 23 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38762/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has delivered significant achievements since 23rd January 2025. Since taking office as Minister for Social Protection, I have worked hard with my officials to deliver commitments contained in the Programme for Government. Key achievements to date include:

• The delivery of the new Pay Related Jobseeker’s Benefit at the end of March, which provides greater income support for eligible individuals if they face the contingency of unemployment.
• The Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025 was published in March and has passed through all stages in the Dáil and is due to be completed in the Seanad before it rises for Summer recess later this week. This Bill gives effect to the Supreme Court’s judgement in the O’Meara case.
• Weekly income disregards for Carer’s Allowance were increased from the start of this month to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.
• The expansion of the Hot School Meals programme resulted in a total of 713 schools being eligible for the scheme from last April.
• A pilot has been agreed for the Summer 2025 Holiday meals - i.e. those availing of July provision will receive a meal.
• Unprecedented support in terms of the volumes of people supported following the devastation of Storm Éowyn.
• The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme was extended to eligible foster carers with effect from the 17 June.
• My Department hosted the Social Inclusion Forum, the Carer’s Forum and will later this month be hosting its pre-Budget forum, which are key events where stakeholders from representative groups outline their priorities in the context of Budget 2026.
• Delivery of Auto Enrolment is a huge priority for me and my Department is on schedule to commence operation on 1st January 2026.
• Short-term payment schemes were migrated from legacy IT platforms to a modern platform (ISTS2) which will optimise opportunities for digital service provision and achieve greater efficiencies. This was done at the end of March this year.