Social Welfare

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#Social Welfare

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said Fianna Fáil had promised in its pre-election manifesto to increase welfare rates by €12 each year.</p>

politics

State pension will rise to €350 a week by 2030, Taoiseach promises

Micheál Martin defended the Coalition’s €10 increase in the State pension in Tuesday’s budget, as the opposition accused him of breaking a promise to raise it by €12 each year

<p>Beginning in the new year, there will be a €10 increase in weekly core social welfare payments, including the State pension. For the first time in history, the State pension will exceed €300. File picture</p>

politics

Budget 2027: Here are the changes to pensions and other welfare payments and when they kick in

<p>Social protection minister Dara Calleary: 'We are not, in the first year, in a position to respond to the entire cost. My first job this year was to get [the cost-of-disability support] in as a budget line.' Picture: Alexis Haultot/EP</p>

politics

Budget 2027: Dara Calleary vows to build on new cost-of-disability payment

munster

Kerry 80-year-old: 'You get the pension on Friday and on Monday there isn’t too much of it left'

politics

Budget 2027: The main takeaways

politics

Budget 2027: Social welfare rates to rise by €10 a week as disability supports increase

Social welfare, tax changes, and childcare costs: Everything we know about the budget so far

People set to benefit from tax band changes, cuts to childcare costs, and reduced college fees, writes Political Correspondent Louise Burne

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Nearly €1bn in social welfare overpayments not recovered by the State

€354m was lost because of unrecovered overpayments between 2016 and 2025 — in addition to an outstanding debt balance of €597.4m at the end of 2015

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Budget 2027: Proposed childcare package could save some parents €1,000 a year

The Irish Examiner understands that while negotiations are still ongoing, 'good progress was made' on childcare costs.

Sun, 04 Oct, 2026

Depressed crying little boy holding head in hands

Elaine Loughlin: Ireland has a cost-of-living crisis. But the gap between those living it is getting wider

As Budget 2027 approaches, stark differences in household spending raise questions about who really needs State support

Sat, 03 Oct, 2026

Close up stressed unhappy mature man looking at phone screen

Charity calls for targeted budget supports for older people living alone and those in energy poverty

Alone says an ageing population comes with more people living with multiple health conditions and increasing financial pressures around housing, heating and food

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Carbon tax changes under consideration as minister defends home energy grants

The Government is considering changes to carbon tax as rising energy and fuel costs put pressure on households and businesses

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Young woman with smartphone near a radiator in winter

Government may boost Living Alone Allowance to ease energy costs

The Government is considering improvements to social welfare supports in the budget for people living alone to help address escalating energy bills.

Thu, 24 Sep, 2026

Budget 2027: Increase to child benefit all but ruled out

The €140 monthly child benefit payment has not increased since 2011

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Social welfare payments to be paid early ahead of August bank holiday weekend

Monday payments will be issued early because of the bank holiday as families are reminded about the Back to School Allowance

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Government's €102.8m Deloitte bill branded 'absolutely shocking'

Figures show millions spent on digital services as opposition calls for greater in-house IT capacity across the public sector

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

State paid €5.5m in social welfare overpayments due to official errors

Contributory State Pension accounted for the highest value of official overpayments recorded in 2025

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

ESRI says 'no systematic difference' in welfare receipt rates between immigrants and Irish-born

Immigrants in Ireland overall make 'positive fiscal contribution, fully financing their share of public services'

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

School uniform and schoolbag hanging on hook

Back to School Allowance expanded to include two and three-year-olds for first time

More than 109,000 families will receive automatic payments as eligibility is extended to younger children

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Suspected social welfare fraud payments hit €29m in 2025, new figures reveal

New figures show the value of suspected social welfare overpayments increased significantly despite a drop in cases

Wed, 27 May, 2026

Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader clash over Cost of Disability payments

Mary Lou McDonald claimed the Government had made a “cruel decision” in October’s budget that left disabled people €1,400 'worse off'

Wed, 27 May, 2026

People turning down work over fears they would lose social welfare payments, Dáil committee told

The measures, which are out for consultation, aim to remove 'cliff edges' and propose changes to the ‘four‑in‑seven’ rule, which assumes a five‑day, 9‑to‑5 working week

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Government considers social welfare change with reform of Jobseeker's Allowance

Department of Social Protection document proposes to change the 'four in seven' rule which assumes a five-day working week of 9am to 5pm

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Second tier of child benefit proposed to replace two social welfare entitlements

The document says there would be a higher rate of payment for children over the age of 12

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Social welfare payment dates changed due to Easter bank holiday

Early social welfare payments and fuel supports aim to ease pressure on households during Easter bank holiday period

Wed, 01 Apr, 2026

Social welfare probe as more than €25m overpaid to people who have died

This was up from €24.5m in 2024, €23.9m in 2023, €17.5m in 2022, and €23.5m in 2021

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

One Family calls for urgent reform of family law, housing and child poverty supports

Campaign highlights need for mediation, housing supports and poverty measures to improve outcomes for one-parent families and children

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

One in eight people at risk of poverty, says CSO

Median nominal household disposable income in 2025 was €61,666, says survey

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Q&A: Should we expect Government support as oil prices continue to increase?

A massive response to an economy-altering war is not a new thing for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to have to contend with

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Welfare benefits cut for 11,000 people who failed to engage with jobseekers services

Social protection minister Dara Calleary confirmed the crackdown, stating that there are 'rights and responsibilities' to jobseekers' eligibility

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Minister rolls out world first permanent basic income scheme for arts

Move will "set Ireland apart from other countries with regard to how we value culture and creativity"

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

New child maintenance guidelines don't add up

Reform of the child maintenance system is welcome, but the new formula ignores education, childcare, medical and disability related costs and may disadvantage the poorest

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

'Alarming' figures show 15% of people in receipt of lone-parent payments were underpaid

Call for social protection minister Dara Calleary to investigate 'as a matter of urgency' and provide a timeline for repaying the money

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

'We're seeing people who never needed support before': Pre-Christmas calls to SVP hit record high

Record demand for SVP support highlights growing pressure from rising energy, food and housing costs after removal of universal credits

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Over 500 suspected welfare fraud cases investigated last year

Social welfare inspectors and investigators carried out more than 609,000 reviews of claims, which yielded savings of over €505m

Sat, 14 Nov, 2020

Social welfare payments stopped or reduced in 3,536 fraud cases last year

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which probes suspected social welfare fraud, made ‘control savings’ of €72m last year.

Wed, 29 Jul, 2020

#Social Welfare

State pension will rise to €350 a week by 2030, Taoiseach promises

Budget 2027: Here are the changes to pensions and other welfare payments and when they kick in

Budget 2027: Dara Calleary vows to build on new cost-of-disability payment

Kerry 80-year-old: 'You get the pension on Friday and on Monday there isn’t too much of it left'

Budget 2027: The main takeaways

Budget 2027: Social welfare rates to rise by €10 a week as disability supports increase

Social welfare, tax changes, and childcare costs: Everything we know about the budget so far

Nearly €1bn in social welfare overpayments not recovered by the State

Budget 2027: Proposed childcare package could save some parents €1,000 a year

Elaine Loughlin: Ireland has a cost-of-living crisis. But the gap between those living it is getting wider

Charity calls for targeted budget supports for older people living alone and those in energy poverty

Carbon tax changes under consideration as minister defends home energy grants

Government may boost Living Alone Allowance to ease energy costs

Budget 2027: Increase to child benefit all but ruled out

Social welfare payments to be paid early ahead of August bank holiday weekend

Government's €102.8m Deloitte bill branded 'absolutely shocking'

State paid €5.5m in social welfare overpayments due to official errors

ESRI says 'no systematic difference' in welfare receipt rates between immigrants and Irish-born

Back to School Allowance expanded to include two and three-year-olds for first time

Suspected social welfare fraud payments hit €29m in 2025, new figures reveal

Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader clash over Cost of Disability payments

People turning down work over fears they would lose social welfare payments, Dáil committee told

Government considers social welfare change with reform of Jobseeker's Allowance

Second tier of child benefit proposed to replace two social welfare entitlements

Social welfare payment dates changed due to Easter bank holiday

Social welfare probe as more than €25m overpaid to people who have died

One Family calls for urgent reform of family law, housing and child poverty supports

One in eight people at risk of poverty, says CSO

Q&A: Should we expect Government support as oil prices continue to increase?

Welfare benefits cut for 11,000 people who failed to engage with jobseekers services

Minister rolls out world first permanent basic income scheme for arts

New child maintenance guidelines don't add up

'Alarming' figures show 15% of people in receipt of lone-parent payments were underpaid

'We're seeing people who never needed support before': Pre-Christmas calls to SVP hit record high

Over 500 suspected welfare fraud cases investigated last year

Social welfare payments stopped or reduced in 3,536 fraud cases last year

Latest

Mick Clifford

#Social Welfare

State pension will rise to €350 a week by 2030, Taoiseach promises

Budget 2027: Here are the changes to pensions and other welfare payments and when they kick in

Budget 2027: Dara Calleary vows to build on new cost-of-disability payment

Kerry 80-year-old: 'You get the pension on Friday and on Monday there isn’t too much of it left'

Budget 2027: The main takeaways

Budget 2027: Social welfare rates to rise by €10 a week as disability supports increase

Social welfare, tax changes, and childcare costs: Everything we know about the budget so far

Nearly €1bn in social welfare overpayments not recovered by the State

Budget 2027: Proposed childcare package could save some parents €1,000 a year

Elaine Loughlin: Ireland has a cost-of-living crisis. But the gap between those living it is getting wider

Charity calls for targeted budget supports for older people living alone and those in energy poverty

Carbon tax changes under consideration as minister defends home energy grants

Government may boost Living Alone Allowance to ease energy costs

Budget 2027: Increase to child benefit all but ruled out

Social welfare payments to be paid early ahead of August bank holiday weekend

Government's €102.8m Deloitte bill branded 'absolutely shocking'

State paid €5.5m in social welfare overpayments due to official errors

ESRI says 'no systematic difference' in welfare receipt rates between immigrants and Irish-born

Back to School Allowance expanded to include two and three-year-olds for first time

Suspected social welfare fraud payments hit €29m in 2025, new figures reveal

Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader clash over Cost of Disability payments

People turning down work over fears they would lose social welfare payments, Dáil committee told

Government considers social welfare change with reform of Jobseeker's Allowance

Second tier of child benefit proposed to replace two social welfare entitlements

Social welfare payment dates changed due to Easter bank holiday

Social welfare probe as more than €25m overpaid to people who have died

One Family calls for urgent reform of family law, housing and child poverty supports

One in eight people at risk of poverty, says CSO

Q&A: Should we expect Government support as oil prices continue to increase?

Welfare benefits cut for 11,000 people who failed to engage with jobseekers services

Minister rolls out world first permanent basic income scheme for arts

New child maintenance guidelines don't add up

'Alarming' figures show 15% of people in receipt of lone-parent payments were underpaid

'We're seeing people who never needed support before': Pre-Christmas calls to SVP hit record high

Over 500 suspected welfare fraud cases investigated last year

Social welfare payments stopped or reduced in 3,536 fraud cases last year

Latest

Mick Clifford

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