I thank the Deputy for his question. There have been significant improvements in recent years to the fuel allowance scheme, which has resulted in more than 100,000 additional households qualifying for the payment. The budget for the fuel allowance scheme has increased significantly, to €557.4 million in 2026. That compares with €290.45 million in 2020. In January 2023, enhanced fuel allowance measures for people aged 70 or over were introduced. These have since been extended to those aged 66 or older. This included a new weekly means threshold, which now stands at €534 for a single person or €1,068 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital that is disregarded in the means test was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. The weekly means threshold for those aged under 66 was also increased by €80, to €200, above the appropriate rate of the contributory State pension. In response to the rise in fuel prices, the Government has approved the extension of the 2025 to 2026 fuel season by four weeks, until the end of this week. This provides an additional €152 to some 470,000 households at an estimated cost of €71.4 million. A number of other important improvements to the scheme have been introduced. In budget 2025, we allowed the carer's allowance to be considered as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance for the first time. The fuel allowance was extended in budget 2026 to recipients of the working family payment from January 2026. In budget 2026, we allowed those who leave their disability payment to take up employment to continue to receive the fuel allowance for five years after exiting the payment. We do not hold data on household composition to be able to identify where a member of the household is over 70 years of age, and therefore, cannot provide a costing for the measure that is proposed by the Deputy. However, the criteria for the fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources that are available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Extending the eligibility to include automatic entitlement to the fuel allowance for those over 70 years of age could change the targeted nature of the fuel allowance payment. It would require additional funding and would need to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Sentiment score: 0.10
Absolutely. The Deputy's question was framed in the context of the fuel allowance, but the living alone allowance would be the payment in relation to those people. It is a payment that I intend to focus on in this year's budget. There is no doubt that people on their own have extensive outgoings, particularly those who may end up on their own following the death of their partner or separation. It is an area that I am going to be very focused on in the context of this year's budget. The proposal to give an automatic entitlement to the fuel allowance for somebody who is over 70 would require significant resources and would take away from my capacity to do something on the living alone allowance, but also de-target some of the necessary element of the fuel allowance which we can target at people. I am very conscious of those living of their own and older people living on their own and the very disproportionate bills that they face, oftentimes without any warning or notice. I am going to be very focused on the living alone allowance in the context of budget 2027.
Sentiment score: -0.04
We have made considerable changes to the fuel allowance in recent years. We have considerably increased the disallowance in the context of means. A lot more people have qualified for it. We have gone from €290.4 million in 2020 to €557.4 million in 2026. A total of 470,000 households qualify. We need to do more work on the living alone allowance to cater specifically for the kind of cohorts that the Deputy spoke about. In many cases, for the fuel allowance and somebody living on their own, many people will qualify. We will do some more work around communicating the new means. I will be specifically targeting the living alone allowance to address that kind of cohort of people, particularly those who are left on their own, either by death or separation, with large expenses. The Deputy is absolutely right. We have the retrofit programmes and various support programmes, but for many older people it is a very big project to take on. I am going to be doing a lot of work in that space.
Sentiment score: -0.03
I thank the Deputy. The key national metric relating to the measurement of poverty is that of consistent poverty. It records those households who are both at risk of poverty and are experiencing deprivation. It is independently measured by the CSO through the survey on income and living conditions, SILC. SILC 2025, which is based on income data from 2024, was published in March. This shows a reduction in the child consistent poverty rate in 2025, from 8.5% to 7.8%. This is equivalent to an 8% reduction year-on-year. As SILC 2025 is based on 2024 income data, the survey does not take into account Government measures to reduce child poverty that were included in budgets 2025 and 2026. Budget 2026 included some of the most significant investments any government has made in tackling child poverty in order to make progress towards our new child poverty target. Budget 2026 contained a €320 million social welfare package specifically to reduce child poverty. Key measures included the largest ever increases to child support payments, with a 16% increase for children under 12 and over 25% increase for children over 12, higher income thresholds for the working family payment and expanded access to the fuel allowance and the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. Taken together, the increases in core rates, the child support payment and the fuel allowance as well as the recent four-week extension in the payment of that fuel allowance means that a lone parent family with one child will see an increase of over 9%, or nearly €1,800, in payments from the Department and a two-adult household will see an increase of just over 8%, or €2,300, in their payments. Budget 2025 extended the hot school meals scheme to make it available to all primary schools. This additional investment supplements other cross-government supports such as free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards and enhancements to early childhood care and education schemes. While the impact of some of these non-cash measures will never be fully reflected in poverty statistics, I am confident that, together, they will bring us closer to achieving our target, which I am determined we will meet.
Sentiment score: -0.03
In budget 2026, we introduced record increases in the child support payment, which are making a direct impact for families as shown by the figures I have provided. In relation to a targeted child benefit payment, I want to announce to the House that I am introducing a public consultation, opening next Tuesday, 5 May, and look forward to the input of Members of the House around that. It will be aligned with a consultation on a working age payment. Both payments are aligned and will have impact. We will review what comes back from that consultation. Through the Taoiseach's intervention, we have a child poverty unit in his Department which is driving all of us across government to take the appropriate action. We can take action in the Department of Social Protection but it also requires input from the Departments of children, health, transport and education. That is also happening. We will be in a position to make reports on that in the context of the Taoiseach's office and the roadmap for social inclusion. I will be publishing a new roadmap before the summer recess, which will have a specific focus on child poverty on a cross-government basis.
Sentiment score: -0.01
Absolutely. I think I have taken it on. We have directed our resources through a €320 million package in this year's budget. My new measures package was €1.2 billion and €320 million of that went specifically to child poverty measures - a 25% increase in child support for children over 12 and 16% for those under 12. They are making a difference. A lone-parent family with one child will have an increase of nearly €1,800 in their payments from the Department this year while a two-adult household will see an increase of just over €2,300. That is a direct difference and is making a difference in weekly payments as we speak. There is the increase in and, particularly, the expansion of the fuel allowance. The working family payment will assist children under the pressure the Deputy outlined. We will publish the roadmap for social inclusion 2026-30 before the summer recess. That will focus on child poverty. The child poverty unit in the Department of the Taoiseach continues to keep every part of Government focused on this space.
Sentiment score: 0.01
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, 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. This includes supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources and which are deemed to be necessary. The main items eligible for assistance include utility bills, repairs to household appliances, clothing, child-related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs, and travel costs. The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to give more complete information; therefore, the format requested by the Deputy is not available for previous years, including 2019. I have a tabular statement for this reply and will provide it to the Deputy separately. It outlines the number of additional needs payments registered and awarded, by category, in County Cork in quarter 1 of 2025 and 2026. In 2025 there were 1,078 awarded in quarter 1, compared with 1,038 in quarter 1 in 2026. The largest number of claims fall into the general category, followed by housing and then clothing. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information. Applications are assessed on the basis of identified need, income, available resources and essential expenditure. I would encourage anybody to engage with the community welfare service. We have done a lot of work in recent weeks to connect that service to Oireachtas Members through mywelfare.ie or through the community welfare contact centre.
Sentiment score: 0.12
I share the Deputy's concern about the low number. That is why we put in considerable effort, following submissions from the Deputy's colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, and other Deputies in recent months, to bring the community welfare service here. We had a very good afternoon in the audiovisual room a few weeks back. Each community welfare service had a clinic in every part of the country for Oireachtas Members to attend, meet them and get information. We have provided considerable information to every Member in recent weeks about that contact point, the qualification, the means test and so on. I will give the Deputy's office that information again. I want people to avail of these services. We have done a lot of work in relation to feedback about the ESB and, in particular, meters - the so-called pay as you go. There is an awareness of the difficulties people are under there, from feedback from Deputies. If the Deputy feels we need to do more in the Cork area in terms of information, we will do that. We have tried to use Oireachtas channels to provide that information; if there are other channels, we will use them.
Sentiment score: 0.02
As I said earlier, this year, 2026, we are going to spend €557 million on the fuel allowance. We have extended it to May. It is being paid right until the beginning of May. It has been extended by four weeks and increased by €5 per week. It has been extended to 50,000 people who are on the working family payment. That is a significant extension. In 2020, we spent €290.4 million on the fuel allowance. This year, we will spend €557.4 million. The household benefits package continues to be paid. I am very much open to getting information about additional needs payments out. A household with two children on €45,000 a year can still qualify for an additional needs payment. Our community welfare teams, including the local ones we all engage with but also the central one, through mywelfare.ie, are available to assist people in any given situation. The supports are available and open. Once again, we will make information available on them. With regard to the fuel allowance, an investment of over half a billion euro is very significant.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I thank Deputy McCormack for his question. Jobseeker's pay-related benefit is a new social insurance income support that replaced the jobseeker's benefit scheme for people who became fully unemployed since 31 March 2025. This is a significant reform that brought Ireland in line with many other European countries. Jobseeker's pay-related benefit means that the income support is directly linked to a person's previous earnings. People with five years' PRSI contributions receive 60% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of €450, for the first 13 weeks. After that, the rate reduces to 55% of earnings, subject to a maximum of €375, for the following 13 weeks. A further 13 weeks sees a payment at a rate of 50%, up to a maximum payment of €300. People with between two' and five years' paid contributions receive 50% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of €300 per week, for up to 26 weeks. The scheme is demand-led and cost €297 million in 2025. We have provided over €560 million for the scheme in 2026. It is important to emphasise that jobseeker's pay-related benefit costs are funded by the increases in PRSI that have been legislated for. Over 97,000 people have been awarded jobseeker's pay-related benefit within its first year. There are currently almost 34,500 claimants. Of these, the majority, 84%, qualify for the higher rates payable to those with at least five years' PRSI contributions. Over half of those who qualify for the higher rates are being paid the maximum weekly rate of €450 for the first three months of the payment. The jobseeker's pay-related scheme is in its early days. We are closely monitoring its impact and the pay-related approach to a benefit payment. It is still too early to make assumptions about trends or patterns. However, the data so far show that those on the scheme are returning to employment and generally close their claims before decreasing to the second tier of payment after 13 weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I thank the Deputy. His overview of people's feelings about the scheme is absolutely correct. There are 34,500 claimants of the benefit in the first year, 84% of whom qualified for the higher rates payable. Over half of those who qualified for the higher rates were paid the maximum rate, €450. We have begun an analysis of the first full year of operation, which ended at the end of March. It is too early to identify a trend or pattern from that, but most people are closing their claims before moving to the second tier of payment after 13 weeks. That is welcome and it explains the link to earnings. We will share the full analysis when we have it later in the year. It is important to emphasise that this scheme is funded through the Social Insurance Fund, through people's own PRSI contributions. In this regard, people are basically getting back what they are putting in through PRSI. We will be learning from the jobseeker's pay-related benefit scheme for the lifetime of the Government and considering how a similar pay-related approach might be applied to other schemes.
Sentiment score: 0.20
Absolutely. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government commits to introducing a pay-related parent's benefit and also to exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. Parental leave and benefit were introduced in 2019. As the Deputy knows, parents can take up to nine weeks of leave in blocks of a minimum of one week in the first two years following the birth of their child. We are now going to examine the experiences from the first year of operation of jobseeker's pay-related benefit to inform thinking on extending pay-related benefits to parental and other benefits. We will be launching a public consultation to capture the views of the wider public on that process at some stage during this year. This is the first scheme of this type introduced in the country and I want to ensure we have a very good understanding of its benefits, but also any challenges that may have arisen, inadvertently or otherwise. Once again, it is important to emphasise that any pay-related scheme is funded through increases in PRSI contributions that have already been legislated for.
Sentiment score: 0.28
There is no direct correlation between the number and percentage of disability allowance decisions and the number of appeals that are registered during a particular time period as time differences always apply. This is particularly the case given that appeals regulations that came into effect on 28 April last year are now giving customers 60 days to make an appeal from the date of their decision. This is an increase from 21 days previously. Accordingly, appeals received in January 2026 may refer to decisions that were made in November 2025. However, as an indication of the appeal rate, 8,786 disability allowance decisions were made during quarter 1 of this year with 1,951 appeals being registered in the same period. That represents an appeal rate of approximately 22%. A total of 24% of appeals that were determined by appeals officers were allowed in favour of the appellant with a further 36% awarded by the decisions team without the need to complete the formal appeals process. Taken together, this means that 60% of appeals received had a favourable outcome, which represents about 13% of all disability allowance decisions that are made. It is important to note that where decisions are allowed on receipt of an appeal, this may not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information that was not made available when the decision was first made. In other jurisdictions, appellants are not allowed to submit additional information but instead are required to submit a new claim. By referring the appeal papers back to the deciding team for a review, the process is more flexible. It does not require a person to restart his or her entire claims process. As a result, 606 of the 1,096 disability allowance appeals granted in quarter 1 of 2026, which is about 60%, were made by way of revised decision of the scheme deciding officers.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I will come back to that.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have emphasised that 60% did not go into an appeals process. There was engagement with the person through that. As I said, in other jurisdictions, the person would be asked to submit an entirely new application. In respect of the 40%, if that decision remained unchanged, the appeal went to a formal determination by the appeals officer. The appeals officer then examined the documentary evidence that was presented and considered the appeal. Where an oral hearing is required, the appellant is generally given up to two or three weeks advance notice. A person can avail of an oral hearing. Regarding going back to the original team and providing extra information, I have drilled into this quite considerably over 15 months as Minister. It is getting about the information, which can be difficult at times, and getting the medical information. We have tried to ask our team to engage with medical professionals so that there is consistency in the information that is provided. I accept that this is a very difficult process and I do not want to make people's difficult journeys even more difficult but, equally, there is a minimum threshold of information we need to make a decision and we continue to engage with medical professionals in particular in that space.
Sentiment score: 0.13
It is not tangential. It is really crucial that we get consistency of information and a certain level of information and engagement. I will revert with regard to that. During quarter 1 of this year, nearly 9,000 disability allowance decisions were accepted and approved so we also have to look at the overall approval rate, which continues to be quite high. I will follow up with engagement with the various organisations regarding the consistency of information that is provided. It is important our medical assessors and appeals teams have engagement and consistency around the information that is provided. What the Deputy said was not tangential. It is crucial to the quality of the application. Those making these applications deserve that level of support and that level of consistency from medical professionals with regard to the completion of their application forms.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I am certainly very aware of the situation and very much acknowledge the work of our branch managers around the country in the delivery of our services. The introduction of auto enrolment in January 26 2026 sought to address the employee pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland in order to provide all employees with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. As the Deputy knows, each social welfare branch office is operated and managed under a contract for service by our branch managers. As independent contractors, branch managers do very significant work on a commercial contract for service that is subject to public procurement rules. As is standard in commercial agreements, each branch manager is expected to meet operating costs from within the agreed pricing. Auto enrolment obligations involving 1.5% of payroll costs now apply across the economy and with the exception of those community and voluntary organisations paid on a cost-recovery basis via grants, it is not appropriate for the Department to unilaterally approve changes to pricing arrangements to fund auto enrolments costs under commercial contracts such as those in place. However, we have received a request for review the overall remuneration arrangements for branch managers. We are engaging at the moment with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and will be in a position to revert to branch managers in the coming days with an update. I am hopeful that we can finalise revised terms very shortly. I am very conscious of their work, the contribution they make and the presence they give the Department around the country.
Sentiment score: 0.29
I can assure the Deputy there has been a lot of engagement from my Department's branch office support unit with both branch manager associations. Over the course of 2025, both associations expressed their intentions to seek a request for the review of the remuneration package. The representative group of branch managers submitted its formal request and case to the Department in May and the branch manager association did so in August. They all reflected not just auto enrolment but also the operational challenges of the branch office network, other costs that have increased and the cost of living. We have been engaging with the Department of public expenditure on that and in respect of our responsibilities to engage with that Department around that. I acknowledge the frustrations with the time it has taken but we have to engage with that Department regarding this space, and we are nearly there. I wish the Deputy well in the lotto, also.
Sentiment score: 0.42
I thank Deputy Wall for his question. The Government recognises the important and valuable role of family carers and we - myself in particular - are committed to continuing to improve the supports available to them. Carer's allowance provides a personal rate for the carer with additional increases for child dependants. If the carer is providing full-time care to more than one person, the rate payable is increased by 50% of the standard personal rate. As part of budget 2026, the personal rate of carer's allowance increased by €10 per week. A person caring for more than one person and receiving the maximum rate now receives a personal rate of €405 per week if aged under 66 or €462 per week if aged 66 or over. An accurate estimate of the full year cost of paying carers who care for two or more people with a full carer’s allowance in respect of each person, as requested by the Deputy, is not currently available. However, I have asked for that to be prepared and I will forward the same to the Deputy. Carer's benefit also provides an enhanced payment where care is provided to more than one person. The weekly personal rate of payment increased to €271 where a person is caring for one person and €406.50 where two or more people are being cared for. The annual carer's support grant is available to all carers providing full-time care regardless of their means. Last June, this grant was increased by €150 to €2,000 - the highest ever level. Domiciliary care allowance is payable to a parent or guardian of a child under 16 with a severe disability. Where a person is caring for more than one child, they may claim the allowance for each child. There is no restriction on the number of children being claimed for. The programme for Government commits to examining how best to support carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person. This work will continue to be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, taking account of available resources and the broader budgetary context. However, in line with the views expressed to me by carers and carer associations, my first priority will be the removal of the means test.
Sentiment score: 0.44
We also engage with the carer organisations and we look forward to engaging with them on their work yesterday and at our annual carers' forum, which is being held next week on 7 May. This gives carers and carers' organisations a chance to engage directly with not just myself but also with officials from across the Department and a range of budgets. We also have our pre-budget forum as a Department on 1 July, at which carers will be represented and will be part of. There are a number of issues and I will pursue the costings as regards the Deputy's proposal, particularly for those carers who provide care for several people. I am determined to abolish the means test during the lifetime of this Government but I am also very aware of existing carers for whom that will not make a difference in their weekly payment and in the supports available. I will be very focused on what we can do for those who are on the existing payment regarding providing extra supports for them in their very important work.
Sentiment score: 0.46
That is a very sensible proposal and those who care depend on heat and very high energy usage in terms of washing machines, tumble dryers, electrical equipment, beds, etc. I will look at that and see what the reason is. We introduced carers as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance a number of years ago. We will do some work to make sure those who are supposed to get it are getting it. As I said, this year we expanded the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment but, obviously, anything we do has to be done within a very strict budget envelope and there are many priorities. However, I can assure the Deputy and the carers organisations - we will spend a day engaging with them next week - that their work is valued by the Government and by myself and we will certainly try to look at the schemes we can do, not just removing the means test for potential carers but also for those on existing carers payments.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputy Callaghan for her question. As part of budget 2026, I announced a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, which included a €10 weekly increase across social welfare schemes from 1 January 2026. This raised the maximum personal rate of State pension contributory to €299.30 per week and non-contributory to €288.00 per week. These increases were set above the prevailing consumer price index, CPI, with pension rates rising by 3.46% for contributory and 3.60% for non-contributory. In determining these budget increases, consideration was given to the most recent available consumer price index data and the broader cost of living pressures were also assessed in areas such as housing, energy and food. I am very conscious of the impact that increases in the cost of living are having on those who rely on social protection supports, particularly older people who may not have the ability to get extra income, but also carers, those with disabilities and low-income families. Additional relevant measures contained in budget 2026 included a €5 increase in the fuel allowance, which brought it to €38 per week, and a Christmas bonus was paid to pension recipients in December. In March, as the Deputy knows, the Government also approved an extension of the 2025-26 fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will see it continue to the end of this week, as part of the temporary and targeted measures to help those most vulnerable to rising energy costs. That included pensioners, and over 460,000 households are in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. While it is not possible at this stage to set out specific budget parameters for budget 2027, we are very much closely monitoring developments. All changes to the current rate of payment for contributory and non-contributory payments will be considered in a budgetary context but with a very sharp eye on the pressures our pensioners are facing.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I am not saying that it is not going to be possible to do anything. We are obviously not in the budget situation yet, but I am very aware of the pressures people are under and that those pressures will increase during the winter. That is why, in the context of our initial €750 million response, we have made it clear that we may have to produce further responses. However, it is important that we give ourselves the ability to be in a position to respond, and do so quickly, if this energy crisis continues through the winter. I had a very good discussion with Deputy Colm Burke earlier around the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance. I am going to be particularly focused on the living alone allowance because, for many older people who are left alone by being widowed or through separation, their expenses and the cost of running large houses remain but their income has been halved. I am going to be very focused on the living alone allowance as well as looking at how we continue to use the fuel allowance on in a targeted manner to support those most at risk of energy poverty, which includes our pensioners.
Sentiment score: 0.05
I agree, particularly in relation to the fixed nature of pensioners' incomes and the challenges they face. They will be a priority for me in the context of budget 2027. I assure the Deputy of that, not just in the context of 2026 but also with regard to the increased energy costs they will face. I am very much aware of their need to have security. In respect of information, unfortunately, we will not be able to do that until budget day, but the Deputy should be very aware that I look forward to working with colleagues across the House in relation to providing them with security and support. They should not have to have that worry at this point in their lives. They have given enough. They have done and worked hard enough for this country and we should give them comfort and security now that they are in retirement. As Minister for Social Protection, I will certainly continue to invest in our pensioners - not just in the weekly rate but the supports and other payments that are available, such as the living alone allowance, the fuel allowance and access to other payments. As I have said throughout the morning, we have done a lot of work in recent weeks to give information to Oireachtas Members about additional needs payments and community welfare supports that are available. I encourage Members to use those supports.
Sentiment score: 0.34
I thank Deputy Boland for her question. As she acknowledged, parents' benefit provides nine weeks' paid leave to parents during the first two years of a child’s life or following adoption. Any proposal to extend the period of leave is a matter for Deputy Foley, who has legal and policy responsibility for family leave as Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. My Department has legal and policy responsibility for the payment of the associated benefits. Parents' leave and benefit were introduced in November 2019. The Government has provided over €123 million for the scheme in 2026. The scheme provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth or placement, in the case of adoption, of their child. The nine weeks can be taken in any combination of minimum one week to a maximum of nine weeks' leave. The 2019 Act is in line with the EU directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers. It provides that the nine weeks' leave is non-transferrable between parents. That is in order to promote the equal participation of men and women in the workplace and in caring roles. The leave was extended from the original two weeks in November 2019 to five weeks in April 2021, seven weeks in July 2022, and nine weeks in August 2024. The number of applications for parents' benefit by both men and women has steadily increased. Our Department's statistics for quarter 4 of last year show that 40% of all applicants for parents' benefit were men and 60% were women. In providing nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to each parent, parents' benefit in effect ring-fences leave for fathers and it is hoped that this approach will encourage fathers to avail of their leave entitlement. While Ireland is atypical among EU member states in paying a flat rate for all family leave benefits of €299, it provides one of the most generous durations of maternity leave, with 26 paid weeks and 16 unpaid weeks available to new mothers. I will certainly take Deputy Boland's proposal on board in relation to awareness around parents' benefit, particularly for men.
Sentiment score: 0.35
As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government has a commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit. We are looking at that. We introduced pay-related jobseeker's benefit in March 2025. That has just finished its first year of operation and I am undertaking a full review of it. We will learn from the lessons of pay-related jobseeker's benefit what we can do before we carry out a consultation later in the year in relation to parental benefit. We introduced a very specific child poverty package of over €260 million this year looking at families on lower incomes. We have a very specific focus on children who are at risk of poverty and on reducing that rate to zero, ideally. No child should be at risk at poverty. I take on board the Deputy's suggestions and proposals on the need for greater awareness, particularly for fathers, around the supports that are available. We will engage with the Department on that.
Sentiment score: 0.10
I agree and I think we have done that. This year, the fuel allowance has been extended to those on the working family payment. It is the first time the fuel allowance is available to those who are also working. That means that 50,000 extra people now qualify for the fuel allowance payment. We also ensured that it was backdated to 1 January so that the 50,000 or so families with children would receive a lump sum payment in the beginning of March for January and February and were now getting the payment up to the end of this week to assist with the energy crisis at the moment. We are going to look at the experience of the pay-related jobseeker's benefit's first year and how it worked and then apply the lessons to forming a consultation document on parental leave. The Deputy has raised it with me and Deputy Currie and colleagues across the Government are relating to me that we need to look at those payment rates. The point I always make about jobseeker's pay-related benefit is that it is people's own money being paid back to them. They have paid PRSI and they have paid into the Social Insurance Fund and that is what it is there for.
Sentiment score: 0.03