William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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689. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in County Laois who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62224/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is available to people aged 66 or over receiving a State Pension or other qualifying payments, and to people under 66 who are getting a long-term illness or disability payment.

There were 241,450 people in receipt of a LAI in 2023, 248,671 in 2024 and 253,737 as of the end of August 2025. There are currently 3,961 customers in receipt of the LAI with an address in County Laois.

The LAI is included as part of the primary scheme and therefore it is not, in general, subject to a separate control review. It is normally included during a control review of the primary scheme if it is in payment. Data on the number of scheme control reviews undertaken each year is available, however it is not possible to provide data on the number of schemes reviewed where a Living Alone Increase was in payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.,