Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

654. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his position on benchmarking social welfare rates against average earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61042/25]

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

The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 contains a commitment to develop a benchmarking approach for use in adjusting the value of State pension payments.

In 2022 the Government decided that the Minister for Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate for State Pension payments calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of Budget discussions, on an annual basis, starting from September 2023.

Since then, this calculation has been prepared and submitted annually to Government as part of preparations for the Budget.

The Government has also committed, under the Programme for Government - "Securing Ireland’s Future", to increase core welfare payments, ensuring that resources are also targeted at people who are unable to work over the lifetime of the Government. Consequently Budget 2026 included increases in core social welfare rates.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.