Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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522. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department has engaged with, or intends to engage with, the UK department for work and pensions regarding the recent changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility criteria; if his Department will seek clarification on whether UK pensioners residing in Ireland under the common travel area will be afforded eligibility for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56889/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My department officials engage with the UK Department for Work and Pensions on an ongoing basis on issues impacting social security entitlements across the Common Travel Area, including any changes to benefits such as the Winter Fuel Payment.

Clarification on entitlements to UK payments is a matter for our UK counterparts and it would not be appropriate for my Department to comment on their behalf or, to make a statement on matters relating to UK payments. However, I can confirm that customers residing in the Republic of Ireland who are in receipt of a state pension from the UK can apply for the Fuel Allowance Payment in Ireland. To be entitled to the payment they, as with customers in receipt of an Irish pension, will need to satisfy the eligibility criteria relating to that payment, including a means-test.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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523. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he considers it fair that parents are being penalised through reductions or exclusions from the fuel allowance and other social welfare supports as a result of the ongoing housing crisis, where many adult children are unable to secure independent accommodation and are continuing to live in the family home; if he will review these criteria so that the income of adult children living at home is disregarded in such assessments, given the unfair impact this is having on families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56923/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria, this ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

A change in the qualifying criteria such as including adult children who are in employment and not in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment, would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations.

Disregarding a household member who is not reliant on long term social protection payments and who is in employment would change the targeted nature of the scheme.

I understand however that there will always be exceptional cases and it is for this reason that my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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524. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carers allowance will be approved immediately for a person (details supplied). [56924/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2025.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer cannot be engaged in employment/self-employment or training/study for more than 18.5 hours a week. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer determined that the person concerned exceeded these working hours per week, based on the information supplied.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 07 May 2025, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.

Following a further review, the person concerned was awarded CA from 18 September 2025, as it was established that the person concerned was working less than 18.5 hours per week. They were notified of this decision on 16 October 2025.

The first payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person concerned on 23 October 2025.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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525. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the history of invalidity pension claims made by person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57017/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

My Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned concerned on 3 October 2024. This application was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person concerned was notified on the 14 November 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.

An appeal must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the letter, giving the decision in question. Correspondence from the person concerned was received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 2 April 2025 and was therefore outside the time allowed to appeal the decision on the claim. Accordingly, the appeal was not accepted.

The person concerned submitted further medical evidence in support of their application on 4 May 2025. A review of the decision was completed and a decision issued on 16 May 2025 stating that the original decision remained unchanged. The customer was informed that she had the right to request another review and / or to request an appeal of the decision with the SWAO.

The customer requested another review on 29 May 2025 without submitting further medical evidence. On 7 June 2025, the person concerned was informed that the original decision remained unchanged. The customer was informed of their right to request another review and / or to request an appeal of this decision with the SWAO. To date no request has been received.

It is open to the person concerned to make a new application for IP if they feel they meet the qualifying criteria.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.