I thank the Deputy for her question. In April 2024, the European Parliament and the Council introduced eIDAS regulation 2. The overall aim of this regulation is to create a predictable and legally binding framework for digital identities that will enable citizens, residents and business to securely access public and private services across member states. The regulation requires each member state to develop and provide at least one European digital identity wallet by the end of 2026. The wallet will enable people to store various identity credentials, such as driving licences, EU health insurance cards and age verifiers, securely on their mobile phone or device and produce them, at their own discretion, to evidence entitlement to services and benefits anywhere in the EU. A key benefit of the wallet is that the personal data will be held and controlled by the citizen. The citizen will decide whether they want to use the wallet, what credentials they hold in the wallet and where and to whom they provide any credential. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has responsibility for implementing the regulation while the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has responsibility for the development of the Government digital wallet. The wallet must meet EU technical, security, interoperability and certification requirements. My Department’s role is to use the existing MyGovID service to verify that the person seeking a wallet and wishing to download identity credentials into the wallet is the person they claim to be. We will also provide the core public service identity data, such as the name and date of birth, but we will not hold or have access to any of the credentials from other public service providers they subsequently download. We will not know what other credentials have been downloaded, nor will we have any access to usage data. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, is currently inviting the public to take part in a consultation and testing phase of a pilot Government digital wallet. Launching a consultation and testing at this stage enables the Government to engage with the public to understand what they would like from the Government digital wallet.
Sentiment score: 0.26
As the Deputy said, the ruling is under appeal. We are appealing it. I also thank the committee for beginning pre-legislative scrutiny of the social welfare Bill yesterday. There are initiatives contained in that Bill for a card holder to use their public service card for identity purposes at their own discretion in exactly the same way they can do with a driving licence or a passport. That is particularly for people looking for ID for bank accounts or credit unions, etc. We are trying to give people the ability to use the card at their own discretion and judgment. The public service card currently does not display card holders' dates of birth. The proposed changes provide for a card holder to opt in to have their date of birth inscribed on their public service card. If they so wish, they can have it removed at a later point. Since 2012, over 5 million people have completed the SAFE registration process for the public service card. There are approximately 3.5 million users of MyGovID who complete about 60 million transactions per annum. It makes the provision of services a lot easier and quicker for citizens.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I look forward to engaging with the committee on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. I emphasise the voluntary nature of this. It is the Department’s policy that this is digital by desire. We understand there are people who do not wish to or are not comfortable using digital services. We will continue to make our services available on an optional basis. Equally, there is a level engagement with the public services card. There are a total of 3.4 million verified MyGovID accounts. In 2025 alone, we had over 44 million logins. That gives the Deputy a sense of the level of interest and use of it. We will have further questions later about the ongoing online services. I have made it clear within the Department that this should be digital by desire. If someone is not comfortable with it – I am speaking as one such person - those services and options should be fully available.
Sentiment score: 0.09
It is important to ensure people claiming benefits satisfy the criteria established by the Oireachtas for entitlement to that benefit. However, in doing so, it is also important that we offer people who may not receive a favourable decision the opportunity to seek a review of that decision and submit a formal appeal. In that way, we work to ensure the entitlement is not denied to people who have a need for support and satisfy the relevant qualification conditions. In the case of invalidity pension, we offer claimants both a review by the decision area as well as a formal appeal mechanism. In most cases, these reviews and appeals can be dealt with expeditiously. We are also continuously working to improve the service. For example, over the past year, we have introduced new regulations that extend the period of time during which a person can make an appeal from 21 to 60 days. The new regulations also grant additional rights to seek an oral hearing of the appeal and receive an explanation if an oral hearing is not granted. In addition, they grant specify specific timelines for the exchange and processing of appeal documentation. In parallel, we have introduced a new IT system, including the ability to submit appeals online. An average of 60% of appeals are now received online. We have also significantly increased staffing in the appeals service. Indeed, I welcome members of the appeal service, who are in the Public Gallery. These changes have resulted in a reduction in the number of appeals on hand from 21,630 appeals at the end of December 2024 to 7,470 appeals on hand at the end of March 2026. Processing times have also improved from an overall average of over 23 weeks in 2024 to just 9.5 weeks today in the case of invalidity pension. However, having said all of that, some cases, in particular those involving the exchange of complicated medicine, take time to finalise. With respect to the case referenced in the Deputy's question, while I cannot discuss specific details on the floor, I have raised the case with the chief appeals officer, who acts independently in the performance of her duties, I will engage directly with the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.40
I can absolutely assure the Deputy that is not the policy and approach. As I said in my initial response, we are working continuously to improve the appeals process and are continuously investing in that process. We are also investing in the initial process in terms of medical assessment and knowledge. By introducing a new IT system, we have given people the capacity to make appeals online. They do not have to physically post applications; they can apply and exchange information online from the comfort of their own homes. We have also increased staffing in the appeals process office considerably. As I want to reiterate, some 21,630 appeals were on hand at the end of December 2024, which we reduced to 7,470 by the end of March. More importantly, the processing times for appeals have reduced from 23 weeks in 2024 to nine and a half weeks today, in particular in the case of invalidity pension. I am very focused on appeals. I thank the appeals office, which is independent, for its work in this space. There is a specific issue with regard to the case raised by the Deputy, which we will discuss separately. I assure him that there is no policy to dissuade people from applying for any payment or making appeals.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I can do some work and come back to the Deputy on invalidity generally. As he said, there have also been increases in disability and other areas, such as carer's allowance. There is definitely no policy to discourage people from applying. It can be challenging in terms of getting the necessary medical information, in particular where a case is not as black and white as other cases may be. The appeals team and medical team are very much attuned to those cases. That is why we have put a focus on invalidity and domiciliary care allowance appeals and reducing the processing time in order to give certainty to those making the appeal. I will engage with the Deputy directly on the specific case he mentioned and will come back to the House generally on invalidity pension and illness benefit and the relevant figures.
Sentiment score: 0.12
I thank the Deputy. We are all greatly disturbed by recent geopolitical developments, including the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Wars are destroying lives across the world and in communities and will deepen and entrench rather than resolve any situation. As a nation, we feel the impact of these conflicts in the upward pressure on fuel costs, in particular. We should always remember those who are suffering in other ways. In response to the spike in fuel prices, the Government has acted more decisively than many other Governments. We have made an investment of over €750 million, which will bring down fuel prices and provide targeted support to households on low incomes in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. More generally, the Government increased core welfare rights above the rate of inflation in budget 2026. In 2026, my Department will spend €28.9 billion on schemes and services, which includes €1.15 billion in new measures, comprising an above-inflation increase of €10 per week in core rates and a range of targeted supports, including €320 million in measures that are alleviating child poverty. This also includes the largest ever increase in the child support payment. The budget also provided significant support to help households with the cost of heating and other energy bills. The fuel allowance has increased by €5 per week, or 15%. For the first time, families in receipt of the working family payment qualify for the fuel allowance. The Government has also extended the period of time during which the fuel allowance is paid by four weeks to the end of this week. Combined, the changes in fuel allowance equate to a year-on-year increase of nearly 32%. The fuel allowance is paid to just under 469,000 households across the country. Taken together, the increase in core rates, the child support payment and the fuel allowance mean that, for example, a lone parent family with one child will see an increase of over 9%, or nearly €1,800, in payments from the Department, while a household comprising two adults will see an increase of over 8% percent or €2,300 in their payments. Those increases are significantly ahead of inflation and we will continue to monitor the situation and cost-of-living pressures, including those arising from any developments. I will continue to revert to the House on that.
Sentiment score: 0.05
We have acted. I again emphasise the increase in the fuel allowance and the extra four weeks of the payment bringing it to the end of this week, which is the beginning of the month of May. That has not been done previously. We increased the fuel allowance by €5 per week. As I said, the increase in the fuel allowance is a 32% increase for the 469,000 households that are in receipt of it. For the first time, the fuel allowance is now being paid to working families. Those in receipt of the working family payment were eligible for the fuel allowance. We made a back payment to the beginning of January so that those in receipt of the working family payment received a lump sum for January and February at the beginning of March and now have the benefit of the extension. That is a very targeted intervention to those 469,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance. We continue to pay the household benefits package. Over 500,000 households are in receipt of that. That is a direct payment that people can use in relation to fuel and energy supports. We have just finished a run of engagements across the country with Members of the House around availability of additional needs payments. That may be something we can come back to.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I acknowledge that pressure. We see that as well - we are not immune from that - but we also have to be honest with people about our ability to make interventions. We cannot make interventions every few months. There will be an intervention in the context of the forthcoming budget. We have made a €750 million intervention since March in two packages, which has reduced the day-to-day cost of fuel for people and has brought in a targeted extension of the fuel allowance payment, giving people access to the fuel allowance to the beginning of May. This was not previously available to those 469,000 households. Some 500,000 households are benefiting from the households benefits package, which will be paid all year around, including the summer. We will continue to review all of the pressures people are under. We get it, but we also have to be honest. We cannot support all of those pressures, and we have to do this in a manner that is feasible and allows us to respond when the winter comes when energy prices and energy pressures will possibly be worse.
Sentiment score: 0.09
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste ar son na ndaoine faoi mhíchumas. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a shuim san ábhar seo. Tá sé ráite sa chlár Rialtais go mbeimid ag seasamh le daoine faoi mhíchumas agus go bhfuil muid ag obair go crua air sin. Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. That is why the programme for Government is introducing a number of commitments to improve the position of people with disabilities, including a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. Under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. This is being led by my Department, but it should, must and does include other Departments as well as disabled people and their advocates. We have had a series of meetings with a number of organisations, including disabled persons organisations, DPOs, to discuss the structure and content. A public consultation process is also being established on how a cost-of-disability payment can best be achieved. That was launched on Friday, 20 February. It ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday 7 April. I am pleased that there was an exceptional response, with over 1,000 submissions received. Some 87 submissions were from groups and organisations and 12 were from disabled persons organisations and disabled persons representative organisations. Accessible ways to partake were widely used, with almost 60 submissions made over the phone, 20 received by post and seven by video. I thank all of the contributors, including Members in the Chamber, for taking the time to make a submission to the process. The summit will now be held on Lansdowne Road on 13 May. It will be an in-person event, with online access also available. The summit and the submissions received through the consultation process will help inform the approach to be taken in delivering on our programme for Government commitment.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I thank the Deputy for his input. We will be having the summit on 13 May, which is next Wednesday week. Following the summit and the consultation process, we will be preparing a paper that will outline the key learnings and any tangible outcomes that support how we deliver in this area going forward. I will work with my colleagues in government in relation to a potential proposal around the eligibility for the payment, who should get the payment and how it should be paid. We will have engagement around that with the committee on social protection. I wish to emphasise that we have made increases this year to the fuel allowance and the weekly rate of disability allowance. Additional needs payments are also available through the community welfare office network. I encourage people to ensure that they have access to those payments and have engaged with the network in respect of them. We have done a lot of work in recent weeks to make information about those payments available to Members of the Oireachtas so that they can pass it on.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I have absolutely no doubt that the Department of foreign affairs is fully monitoring that situation. Our thoughts are with all of those Irish citizens this morning and with their families here at home. Regarding the Deputy's question, the cost of disability and the challenges facing those with disabilities is not solely a matter for the Department of Social Protection. It is essential for transport costs and employment costs - there are other supports from the Department of Health, obviously - that all of those Departments are part of this conversation. That is our intention and our priority as regards both the summit and the paper that will inform decisions. We will be prioritising the cost-of-disability payment from the Department of Social Protection in this year's budget but other Departments are going to have to come to the table as well with supports to allow to people to travel, use medical services, access primary medical certs, avail of motorised transport and deal with the various costs that are there. A whole-of-government approach is necessary. We will work closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and other Ministers in relation to this.
Sentiment score: 0.07