Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to assist low- and middle-income households struggling with the rising cost of living, particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61549/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is very aware of the impact of the increased cost of living pressures on low and middle income households. Budget 2026 therefore focused on targeting supports to those most in need.

Next year my Department will invest a total of €28.9 billion in social welfare in 2026, including over €1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist households and €320 million to reduce child poverty.

Key Budget 2026 measures include:

• The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the State, with increases of €8 for children under 12 and €16 for children aged 12 and over. These increases will benefit over 300,000 children and bring the weekly payments up to €58 and €78 respectively.
• A €60 increase in Working Family Payment income thresholds for all families. This will result in the 48,000 families currently in receipt of this payment receiving an extra €36 weekly. In addition, it will allow more low-income families to become eligible for this payment.
• From January 2026 all households in receipt of the Working Family Payment will qualify for Fuel Allowance.
• A €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance rate.
• An expansion of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to children aged 2 and 3 for eligible participants.
• A €20 increase in the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• Record increases in the Carer’s Allowance weekly income disregard, with an increase of €375 to €1,000 for a single person, and an increase of €750 to €2,000 for a couple. The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will also increase by €375 to €1,000 per week. These changes will take effect from July 2026.
• To support people with a disability to transition into employment, allowing people on Disability Allowance and Blind Pension to retain Fuel Allowance for a period of 5 years if they leave the payment to take up employment from September 2026.
• A €10 increase in weekly social welfare payments
• A Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients.