Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1192. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people in County Donegal who will be affected by the changes in Budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the estimated number of people that would have benefitted if further funding was provided for allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58522/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is a weekly payment, which is not means-tested. The LAI is an increased additional payment made each week to:

• people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone;

• people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.

In 2025, recipients of the Living Alone Increase received €22 per week in addition to their primary social welfare payment, or a total of €1,144 over the course of the year. The payment more than doubled between Budget 2020 and 2022 – increasing by €13 per week from €9 to €22 in that period.

As part of Budget 2026, there were no changes to the Living Alone Increase.

However, Budget 2026 will see an increase of €10 per week to maximum personal payment rates, benefitting people such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and for qualified adults.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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1193. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether the permanent cost of disability payment, inclusive of older adults, been assessed for the 2027 Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58554/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments in this area.

In particular, the Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.

We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of and access to services are also key. We need all Departments and agencies of Government to work together to address the issue in a comprehensive way.

That is why the Taoiseach set up a Cabinet Committee on Disability and a dedicated programme office within his own Department. In addition, the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 takes a whole-of-Government approach.

My Department has responsibility to lead a Strategic Focus Network on the cost of disability, with the involvement of relevant Departments and Agencies. The work of this network will also include disabled people and their advocates, including older adults. I have asked my officials to expedite this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of next year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the decision and all correspondence relating to a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied), who has initiated a complaint against his Department for the very poor treatment they have received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58563/25]

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.

I can confirm that two applications for CA were received from the person concerned on 13 May 2025 in respect of two care recipients.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer cannot be engaged in employment/self-employment or training/study. However, where it is shown to the satisfaction of a Deciding Officer (DO) that adequate provision has been made for the care of the care recipient, the carer may engage in these activities for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week.

The claims were disallowed as the Deciding Officer determined that the person concerned was working in excess of 18.5 hours per week.

The person was notified of the decisions in writing on 16 June 2025. They were also notified of their right to have the decisions reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decisions to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

A request to appeal the decisions were lodged with the Department and forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 03 July 2025. The appeals were allowed on 30 September 2025. However subsequent to this decision further information was provided to the SWAO. This indicated that the person concerned continued to work over the 18.5 hours per week resulting in the appeal decisions being overturned and disallowed on review. The person concerned was notified in writing of the decisions on 17 October 2025.

Since then a review has been initiated and an information request issued to the person concerned on 22 October 2025. Once the requested information is received a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified in writing.

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that all applications and reviews are processed as quickly as possible.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.