Social Welfare Payments
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-15
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

Every day is a school day. We appreciate the pressures that every family is under. That is why we introduced permanent increases in budget 2026, which took effect from 1 January. The €10 increase in the weekly rate of payment brings to €51 the increase in the weekly disability income support payment since budget 2021. There are the highest ever increases in child support payment and a €20 per month increase in domiciliary care allowance. We have also made changes that allow those being paid disability allowance who take up work to retain the fuel allowance payment for five years. We have made changes to the wage subsidy scheme to encourage employers to give more employment. I am focused on making real and permanent changes. The one-off payments are not financially sustainable. I want to ensure we have in the system a permanent payment that most importantly reflects the views of those with disabilities in terms of how it is designed and paid.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:30+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-15