Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to increase all income thresholds annually in line with increases in the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/25]

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

Means tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, a number of changes to means testing were introduced which provided for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, a certain level of income from that work is not assessed in the means test.

A review of means testing is currently being finalised in the Department. The Department has over 90 schemes and a significant number are means tested schemes, each with their own means test.

The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of their respective means test. This is complex and detailed work but the review is currently being finalised and will be presented to me shortly.

While the review is being finalised some of the initial findings of the review did inform my thinking in the context of the social welfare Budget package. That is why I once again increased the income disregards for single people to €1,000 per week and couples to €2,000 per week for the Carer’s Allowance.

The income thresholds for the Working Family Payment were also increased by €60. This measure was designed to support the most vulnerable in our society, with a particular focus on tackling child poverty.