Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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678. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection given the ongoing housing crisis, if his Department will consider adjusting the means assessment criteria for social welfare claims to allow for deductions in respect of rent and mortgage payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61917/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

By its nature, the means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital. It does not take account of a person’s expenditure.

Introducing a rent or mortgage disregard in the means test for social protection payments would have significant budgetary implications and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes. It would also significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment. Any changes in this regard would have to be considered in the overall policy context.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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679. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to remove the requirement for an application to have an underlying entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance for those seeking to qualify for the back to work enterprise allowance, where said applicants have previously satisfied the nine month qualifying period on jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61918/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to re-entering the labour market. The scheme supports people in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their payment over two years.

To qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme, a person is required to have received an eligible income support payment continuously for nine months. A person is also required to have an underlying entitlement to a qualifying scheme. If, for example, a person has received Jobseeker's Benefit for nine months, they must have an entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance in order to qualify for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance which is then payable for up to two years. The time spent on the Jobseeker's Benefit is counted towards the qualification period.

Having an entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance ensures that the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is targeted at those who require financial support. The use of the means test is a method of targeting scarce resources to those with an identified financial need. Removal of the means test for Jobseeker’s Allowance, in the case of entitlement to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme would have significant policy and budgetary implications and reduce the scope for my Department to provide income supports to lower income households.

Applicants claiming either Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit may be entitled to the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance which is available for the duration of their scheme, for up to six or nine months.

Any changes to the conditions of the scheme would need to be considered in the wider budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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680. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to payment of fuel allowance to polio survivors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61953/25]

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.

While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to my Department's schemes, awarding the Fuel Allowance payment solely due to a medical condition and regardless of means would change the targeted nature of the scheme. Any such change would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations.

My Department does provide Additional Needs Payments to people who have essential expenses, which they cannot meet from their own resources, including people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills.

Furthermore, under the scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Heating Supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the full year.

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.