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worse off as a consequence of the budget. It cut the disability support grant, a loss of €400. It cut the living alone allowance, a cut of €200. It reduced the fuel allowance, a loss of €160. It cut the October double payment, a loss … excuse before the budget, from the Tánaiste's predecessor as Minister for Finance, was to say we do not need cost-of-living payments because "inflation has now returned to normal rates. We now know that was a load of nonsense. He is now in Washington where

supposed to protect the most vulnerable households in our society, including older people, low-income families, people living alone and those wholly dependent on supports like the fuel allowance. Right now the scheme is failing them and it is about to get far worse. I will outline … people on the fuel allowance, the key qualifying criteria for the warmer homes scheme, is expanding dramatically. From next year those on the working family payment will be eligible. That is an additional 50,000 households, bringing the total number of fuel allowance recipients to more than

with energy poverty this winter. If someone is an older person living alone, this week, he or she will, quite rightly, have received a double payment of their State pension. Older people will receive the fuel allowance, which is now up to over €1,000 a year. That

intellectual disabilities, brain injuries or mental health challenges. Carers and front-line workers know exactly what will happen without them. These packs allow people to live independently. They prevent confusion, mixed doses, missed doses and double dosing. The human stories coming in since yesterday are stark. We heard … cannot afford to pay for, her grandmother loses her independence. We heard from front-line workers deeply worried about their frail clients living alone, often taking ten or more tablets a day, who are confused over what tablets to take and when. We heard from families caring

will allow for the constitutional ratification of the trade agreement between the EU and Canada and other international agreements. I am not alone in acknowledging the transformative effect that open and fair trading relationships have had on this island. I am also not alone in acknowledging the major … live in a geopolitical climate that demonstrates the true value of long-term rules-based and amicable trading relationships. If we are to secure the benefits we accrue from our trading relationships, the message is clear: rules matter. Of course, it is important that we do not allow

will also develop a child and family homelessness action plan and a whole-of-government homelessness prevention framework. Both will allow for a co-ordinated approach to addressing the root causes of homelessness. I also want to detail some of the action the Government is taking to support … people to get a home and the Government has committed to record levels of direct funding for housing to support this. In 2026 alone, over €9 billion capital funding will be provided through the Exchequer, LDA and Housing Finance Agency. This funding is targeting never before seen levels

civil partnership with the relevant owner at the time the legislation was brought in and subsequently, for example, separated but is still living in that property - I know there are a small number of such cases - can avail of the scheme and get his or her current home … different people who have been brought to his attention. That is something I have been working on with him. Another important step allows two semi-detached builds to be progressed at the same time rather than having to be done separately, which created many issues

from a location for other people's productions into a country with a rich, self-confident screen culture of its own. Since 2018 alone, the agency has supported the development of more than 100 feature films, dozens of TV dramas and documentaries and a constant stream of animation … taxation side, there have been important enhancements to section 481. The 8% Scéal uplift, introduced in 2025, strengthens the economics of live-action and animated features with budgets under €20 million, a zone where Irish and European co-productions thrive. A further 8% uplift for VFX in budget

framework, it is important to acknowledge the full application in July of this year of Ireland’s online safety code. To allow for the implementation of the code, it was rolled out in two parts. Part A, which has general obligations, has applied since November 2024. Under Part … will be the minimum age for social media, grounded in European law. It is important to say that regulation alone will not address all the challenges, nor allow children and young people to derive all the benefits that the online world can bring. We must work to support

scheme, introduced November 2024. The accelerated capital allowances scheme is a tax incentive that encourages businesses to purchase equipment that are highly energy efficient and thus make significant savings on energy costs and reduce carbon emissions. The accelerated capital allowances scheme for energy-efficient equipment is extended until … March next year, and backdated to January. In addition, from September 2026, those who move from disability allowance or blind pension to employment will be able to retain their fuel allowance for five years. Additional needs payments are available for people who have essential expenses, which they cannot

asked the Minister for Social Protection the net change in income in 2026 compared with 2025 for a single adult on disability allowance living alone, taking account of the withdrawal of once off supports in Budget 2025 including the €400 disability cost-of-living payment, the €300 fuel

asked the Minister for Social Protection the net change in income in 2026 compared with 2025 for a single adult on disability allowance living alone, taking account of the withdrawal of once off supports in Budget 2025 including the €400 disability cost-of-living payment, the €300 fuel

Social Protection if he will consider changing the rules so that a person in receipt of death benefit is entitled to the living alone allowance upon reaching the age of 66. [70229/25

review the one-payment-per-household rule for the fuel allowance scheme whereby adult children on low incomes are living in the family home due to the housing crisis and are refused support based on parental income alone, despite individually qualifying for the scheme; and the plans