Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who qualified for the carer’s allowance, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025; and the number of persons who applied for carer’s allowance but were refused in each of those years. [49655/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Carer's Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who provide full-time care to people with qualifying conditions. The number of awarded and rejected claims by year is shown in the Table.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to extend the free travel pass to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the number of children who would benefit; the estimated cost of this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50488/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Programme for Government 2025 has committed to examining extending the Free Travel scheme to include children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance.

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment payable at €360 a month per child. In addition, all recipients of Domiciliary Care Allowance qualify for the Carer's Support Grant in June of each year. The current rate is €2,000 per year.

Based on 68,559 children benefitting from the Domiciliary Care Allowance, it is estimated that extending the Free Travel scheme to include those children, would cost in the region of €5.82 million in a full year.

The modelling of the cost is complex and needs to take account of multiple factors, including all children under nine already have free travel on public transport and children under 16 benefit from significantly reduced rates. It is also important to remember that it is the parent or guardian who receives Domiciliary Care Allowance - it is not paid directly to the child.

The Programme for Government commitments to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families, has seen the extension of free travel on all Transport for Ireland services to all children between 5 to 8 years of age. This expansion will benefit almost 236,000 additional children and their families.

As the Deputy will understand, it is simply not possible to deliver all things at once and the extension of free travel, along with other potential budget measures will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary resources available.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the work being done to reduce delays in processing jobseeker's benefit claims for Early Years Educators during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Workers, including Early Years Educators who are not paid for holidays during the summer months and who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off can apply for a jobseeker’s payment. The person applying must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive a payment. This includes completing the relevant claim application forms and providing supporting documentation in a timely manner while also being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work at each break.

Over the last number of years my Department has dedicated teams working solely on temporary laid-off claims, including those of Early Years Educators, in order to streamline processes and minimise delays for people. As each claim is assessed individually, and each person's employment and claim history is different, the payment due will also be different.

In addition, my Department is working on technical enhancements that will improve the processing of these Jobseekers applications.

If any customer is in urgent financial need my Department’s Community Welfare Service may provide assistance.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

158. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50694/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Child Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth, subject to the qualifying conditions.

As part of Budget 2025, a new-born baby grant of €280 was introduced. This is paid to families of babies born, or children with a date of placement, on or after 1 December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140.

Since implementation to 02/09/2025, the grant has been paid to 32,367 Department of Social Protection customers in respect of 32,906 children.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.