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living lump sum payment for people in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension or blind pension in November 2024; a €200 cost-of-living lump sum payment to people who are getting a living alone allowance in November 2024; and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate

overall increase of the €10 was welcome, many people have seen their income fall in real terms since the budget. Removing the living alone allowance, the disability support grants, electricity credits and the October double payment has hit hard. We then have all the additional energy and fuel

they lose their partner. They are left with the same expenses but their income is reduced. We are definitely looking at the living alone allowance but, as I said, when you look at the level of increase since 2019, it is 144%. It was €9 per week … allowance and the free TV licence. We are looking to see if those payments continue to be relevant in the context of different forms of communication, such as streaming services, etc. I want to make sure that communications are as relevant as possible because for somebody living alone

indicate that over 100,000 people are potentially in poverty. The vast majority of those would be individuals living alone. Again, the living alone allowance is designed to help support those. I welcome it but, again, I am reiterating the point that it does need to be increased … number of people in the property. As a constituency TD, similar to the Minister, many of the requests we get are from people living alone in terms of the difficulties they face in meeting daily costs and running a household. I appreciate the Minister's response. Again

double payments for child payment for each child, one on 5 November and the second on 3 December; €200 for the living alone allowance on 11 November; €400 for domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant on 11 November; and €100 for each qualifying child … fruition for four or five years is wrong. They talk about more gardaí, teachers and nurses but where are they going to live? If a nurse and garda marry each other and look to buy a house in the mid-east region, both incomes do not allow them

from increasing it, as promised, the Government abolished it completely. It slashed other payments that disabled people rely on, like the living alone allowance lump sum and the electricity credit. Even taking into account small increases to the disability allowance, the Government still took well over … disabled people. It is shocking in one of the richest countries in the world, with a budget surplus and with the cost-of-living crisis ongoing, that the Government made disabled people poor. That is not just in real inflationary terms but even in nominal terms

measures taken in the budget, we can see that: the disability support grant was removed, resulting in a loss of €400; the living alone allowance was removed, resulting in a loss of €200; the fuel allowance was reduced to €160; the October double payment was removed, resulting … resulting in a €250 loss. The total amount of those losses is €1,404. This is outside of the impact of cost-of-living increases. The loss in question affects for people with disabilities who work and those who do not work. The Government reduced

payable to all those aged 66 and over, who are in receipt of a State pension payment from my Department. The living alone allowance has risen by over 144% since 2019, when it was €9 per week. It is paid to about 260,000 people every week … groups such as the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and its minimum essential standard of living, which has just been published today. I am very conscious about the pressures facing those living alone. It will very much feed into my work in the context of budget

million would build between 600 and 800 social homes. There has been a lot of talk about the €3 increase in the living alone allowance. I do not want to dump too much on the Minister, Deputy Calleary, because I genuinely believe he is an effective Minister … disregard for carers but the means test has to go. The fact that the Minister has done something on the cost of living is tentatively welcome but we need action on a permanent cost-of-disability payment next year. To go back to my point on capital gains

further expansion of hot school meals, which must be high-quality and nutritious, a universal back to school clothing and footwear allowance, and a reversal of fee increases on State exams and school transport. Children get just one chance at childhood, but the Government is squandering … terms in the allocation for overseas development aid as war rages across the world. Only a tokenistic increase was made in the living alone allowance after older people were promised €7 more per week. There was a failure to extend the domiciliary care allowance to all under

significant shopping streets worthwhile going to, and that has to be addressed in the context of Government funding. Some €3 for the living alone allowance was absolutely pathetic, particularly given the tax breaks we have given to the banks and the vulture funds. I cannot explain to people … pensions. Again, I have advocated in the past for a substantial increase in pensions to ensure that those people on them will live reasonably well during the course of a week. That has not happened. That €10 is well gone by the time it is going

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

made disabled people poorer, despite the measures he is announcing. The disability support grant was cut by €400. In respect of the living alone allowance, the lump sum of €200 was cut. That is another €200 gone. The fuel allowance was reduced for disabled people, resulting … That is in nominal terms as opposed to real terms. In real terms, namely in the context of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, it is even worse. We know that the cost of having a disability in this country back in 2021 was over

introduced in the last budget. The disability support grant was €400 previously. It has been removed, meaning a loss of €400. The living alone allowance saw a loss of €200. The fuel allowance saw a loss of €160. The October double payment saw a loss … longer able to afford to put her child in a crèche. These are horrendous stories and the Government has made these people's lives worse. It could reverse that. We will come to the next question on an emergency payment while we are waiting for this annual cost

only option. Since 2008, the consumer price index has increased by 20.8%. The State pension has increased by 24% before adding the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance. Since 2016, CIÉ salaries for active staff have increased by approximately 30% while the increase for pensioners has been … well. Women's pensions constitute a hugely important issue. Many women in retirement come to us. They have worked hard all their lives but have been left without a pension, which is very unfair. While this Bill is going in the right direction and we support it, other

helping families with the cost of heating their homes and filling up at the petrol pump. We are also increasing the living alone allowance, fuel allowance and pension and providing additional support for carers and people receiving social welfare payments, helping their money go that bit further. Alongside … permanent €500 cost-of-disability payment. I regularly meet disabled people and families who tell me about the additional costs that come with living with a disability, whether that is heating, transport, specialist equipment or simply everyday costs. This new payment is an important first step in helping

Society of St. Vincent de Paul said €16 were needed to be added to every core weekly payment, we agreed. We made allowance for that in our costed alternative budget. As for Fine Gael, we had the usual pre-budget whining, pitting one section of welfare recipient against … package going up, for example. It has not gone up in 12 years. We would push it by €10 a week. The living alone allowance has not gone up in years. It should have gone up by at least a fiver to €27. We also believe child benefit

their constituents. Regarding older people who come through my office doors, how is an increase of €3 per week in the living alone allowance justified? It is literally the price of a packet of firelighters. You would not even get a cup of tea or coffee … last year in the budget. The Government has come out with something that is disconnected from the financial realities of the cost of living with a disability. I wish the members of Government luck. I would not like to be in their position going back to their communities

workers are telling me they would be better off staying at home as they would qualify for the medical card, free travel, fuel allowance, supplementary welfare payments and a social house. While the carbon tax applied to kerosene home heating oil and natural gas has been reduced … were on to me this morning very early saying they cannot manage if they are on their own. The increase in the living alone allowance was shameful. I said here before that €3 would not buy a cup of coffee or a bar of chocolate

been said again and again but cannot be said enough that the disabled support grant has been cut by €400, that the living alone allowance lump sum of €200 is being cut, that the fuel allowance is being reduced for disabled people with a net loss … poverty increases to between 65% and 76%. We know that 39% of those who are unable to work due to disability are living in enforced deprivation, which is quite grinding poverty. We know we have the worst rates of employment of disabled people of any country

fuel, the cost of heating your home, continues to rise. There are no energy credits and there is a cut to the fuel allowance. I genuinely do not understand it and I feel that we are going to be back here debating emergency measures. It is like … Government, yet people must wait. In the few seconds remaining to me, I want to talk about the €3 added to the living alone allowance. That is, quite frankly, an insult and I do not say that on my behalf. I say that on behalf of an elderly

government in 2011. This budget was one of the meanest of the decade for the elderly. A paltry €3 increase to the living alone allowance will hardly feed the cat, never mind keep up with the highest electricity prices in Europe. My staff yesterday spoke to a pensioner

Government and, by God, will it pay a price. As to pensioners, an equal increase in social welfare payments and the living alone allowance are, of course, welcome, but they are miserly and a pittance when you see the cost of everything. Certainly, I have to welcome

working family payment will be better off by nearly €1,600. A pensioner who is getting the pension and the living alone allowance will be better off by over €600. If they are eligible for the fuel allowance, they will be better off by another €1,200, which

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give consideration to changing the living alone allowance in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46357/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the number of people in receipt of the living alone allowance per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53261/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the living alone allowance, per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53262/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding living alone allowance to all individuals over the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53263/25

Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of death benefits under the occupational injuries scheme can avail of the living alone allowance; if not, if he will consider such a request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53769/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2026 if the living alone allowance increased to €26 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53848/25

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased in budget 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52686/25

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to increase the rate of for the living alone allowance payment; if not, if he will consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52593/25

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [50015/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48845/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase the living alone allowance to ensure a targeted measure to support single adult households, in line with MESL research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41048/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to extend the entitlement to the living alone allowance and household benefits package to one-parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44036/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost for every €1 increase in the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44037/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the living alone allowance for each of the last four years; the number per county; and the cost to his Department for each of those last four years, in tabular form

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €1. [37458/25

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional first-year and full-year cost of increasing the living alone allowance. [36576/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the improvements he is planning in relation to the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32979/25

asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the living alone allowance. [28459/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23976/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to amending the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance, to allow individuals who do not qualify for the State pension (contributory or non-contributory) to access the allowance; and if he will make

Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the living alone allowance increased to €25 per week. [18970/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11070/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give due consideration to extending the living alone allowance to those in receipt of pensions as a qualified adult (for example, cases where the other spouse or partner is in nursing-home care

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the fuel allowance that live alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61840/25

undertaken an assessment of the cumulative impact of Budget 2026 measures on households where a person is in receipt of disability allowance, particularly those living alone; and if he will publish any such analysis. [1595/26