Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

361. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 27 November 2025, if he will clarify a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68958/25]

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

Members of the Oireachtas who resign or lose their seats receive a termination lump sum and monthly termination payments prior to receiving pension entitlements, subject to certain conditions. Provision of these payments is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

In terms of any additional the statutory entitlement to social welfare schemes for former members of the Oireachtas, after the period when their entitlement to the termination payments and lump sums from their employment as a member of the Oireachtas ceases, the PRSI class K public office holder charge was brought in Budget 2011 as a solidarity measure. It was never intended that such contributions under PRSI class K would give rise to a right to any benefits available under the Social Insurance Fund.

Class K contributors may establish entitlement to social insurance benefits based on income(s) other than what is applicable under this class. For example, employees pay class A PRSI on their employment income which entitles them to all of the social insurance benefits available.

Furthermore, where a person does not qualify for a contribution based payment, my Department provides non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as disability allowance. Entitlement to this support is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. It is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability. Similarly, a person who is unemployed can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to persons whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. In addition, my Department may make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources.

I am satisfied with the current PRSI categorisation of public office holders whose income from that employment is liable to the class K charge.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.