Social Welfare

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#Social Welfare

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The department spent €102.8m on Deloitte services between 2020 and 2025, with expenditure peaking at €22.2m in 2024. File picture</p>

politics

Department spent €102.8m on Deloitte over six years for IT and digital services

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

<p>Department of Social Protection errors led to €5.5m in welfare overpayments. File picture</p>

news

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

<p>A new report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows there is "no overall evidence" of systematic difference in welfare receipt rates between immigrants and Irish‑born people in Ireland. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire</p>

economy

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

School uniform and schoolbag hanging on hook

news

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

Fianna Fail Enterprise Roundtable

politics

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

Dublin Central by-election

politics

Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader clash over Cost of Disability payments

DENIS SCANNELL

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

Intreo job Centre stock

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

Fianna Fail Enterprise Roundtable

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 office

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

Euro banknotes

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

Mother's and a child hands

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

Save money for home cost

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?

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

Intreo job Centre stock

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

Art programme launched

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

Financial problems

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

'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

'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

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

CC CONVENTION CENTRE

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