LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct

SOCIAL PROTECTION MINISTER Dara Calleary has defended the Government’s discussions for the leaner Budget, calling its €28.9 million package the “biggest budget ever” for the department.

Weekly social welfare payments will increase by €10 in 2026, the government has announced today.

These include the State Pension, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Asked why he didn’t get a €12 increase to core social welfare payments over the line as he had hoped, Calleary told reporters that negotiations were often difficult for funding in the Budget.

I really wanted to focus in this year on the Child Support Payment because that’s very targeted.

“I had a very big wish list going into these talks, what we decided was to target payments,” the Fianna Fáil TD said, pointing to the €160 million increase in Child Support Payment as an example of a “very targeted” measure.

“The negotiation to get the €10 was tough but we had a very construction negotiation at all times. So I was happy to be able to get those targeted payments, Child Support, Working Family, Fuel Allowance, while getting that €10 increase.”

Those in receipt of any long-term social welfare payment will, as they have in recent years, get a double payment at Christmas.

The State Pension (non-contributory) will go from €278 for people aged 66 to 79 to €288. For those aged 80 and over, it will go from €288 to €298 per week.

Jobseeker’s Allowance will also get a €10 increase across all rates. For example, recipients aged 25 and over with no adult dependents will receive €254 per week from 2026.

All rates of Disability Allowance will get a €10 boost, bringing the personal rate from €244 to €254.

The Child Support Payment will increase by €8 for children under 12 and €16 for children over 12. It’s the largest ever increase in this rate.

The income threshold to receive the Working Family Payment will increase by €60 per week.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Payment will be extended to two and three year olds.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said this is part of the government’s commitment to reducing child poverty, which is said to be on par with the “darkest days” of the economic crash.

Carers

The Carer’s Allowance increase will mean those under 66 who are caring for one person will get €270 per week from next year. Carers aged over 66 or those caring for two or more people will also see a €10 increase in their weekly payment.

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The income disregard for carers will also increase to €1,000 for single people and €2,000 for couples.

The Domiciliary Allowance, for carers of children with severe disabilities, will increase by €20 per month, making it €380.

In last year’s budget, the blanket increase to all core social welfare payments was €12.

Speaking today, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said targeted supports will help those “most in need”, “in a way that is affordable for Ireland”.

In a post shared on social media last night, he said it “aims to address the challenges of today while ensuring we have the capacity to invest in our future”. 

The government decided not to include a special cost of living package in this year’s Budget, which the public became accustomed to in recent years.

For live coverage of all parts of Budget 2026 as they’re announced, follow our liveblog.

With reporting by Eoghan Dalton