Category: Government of Ireland

Source: Government of Ireland

ata-block-key=”wpbmm”>Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly met yesterday (Thursday 4 June). The meeting was called to discuss road safety and An Garda Síochána’s enforcement actions against anti-social behaviour on our streets.

Minister O’Brien noted the regulations now in place, known as Grace’s Law in memory of Grace Lynch, to address the dangerous driving of scramblers and the prohibition of their use in any public place. The Commissioner welcomed the regulations and outlined An Garda Síochána’s approach to enforcement, including a significant increase in the number of scramblers (and similar vehicles like quadbikes) seized in recent months, as well as new options and technologies being explored to expand this enforcement action.

The meeting also discussed measures to further strengthen the sanctions on the owners of scramblers which are seized. Minister O’Brien committed to following up on any requests from An Garda Síochána that require legislative change to the Road Traffic Acts to increase the effectiveness of their enforcement.

Source: Government of Ireland

data-block-key=”9ss9u”>The Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced the approval of Leitrim County Council’s application for funding under the Office of Public Works’ Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under the scheme, the OPW has approved additional funding of €321,949 for proposed works which include the construction of earthen embankments/concrete flood defence walls at each of the properties that have been identified at risk of flooding. This brings the total funding approved for this project to €910,369.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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Notes

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works in 2009. Since then, 33 funding applications by Leitrim County Council have been supported under this scheme see (https://www.floodinfo.ie/county-summary/).

The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio.

Works that are normally the responsibility of the local authorities will generally not be considered for OPW funding. Where such works would also mitigate the risk of flooding to properties, partial funding may be considered by the OPW.

The Local Authorities must be satisfied that the works will not have a significant impact on flood risk elsewhere.

The commencement and progression of any works for which funding is approved is a matter for each Local Authority concerned.

More information, including annual lists of projects for which funding under this scheme has been approved, is available at https://www.floodinfo.ie/minor-works/

Source: Government of Ireland

Source: Government of Ireland

ata-block-key=”3z1xc”>Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Budapest today (Thursday, 4 June) to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The visit is part of his programme of meetings with EU leaders ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council, which begins on 1 July.

The leaders will discuss preparations for Ireland’s Presidency as well as international issues and bilateral relations.

The Taoiseach will also undertake a series of other engagements while in Budapest, including a visit to the Hungarian Parliament and a meeting with Irish-Hungarian community leaders.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Taoiseach said:

Source: Government of Ireland

ata-block-key=”zyp23″>Minister Calleary announces extension of the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include children aged 2 and 3

• 2026 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance now open for applications
• More than 109,000 families will automatically receive the allowance in July
• Extension of the scheme in 2026 to include 2 and 3-year-olds for the first time
• Government is providing €60.4 million for the scheme this year

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has today opened applications for the 2026 Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which last year supported over 144,000 families with back-to-school costs.

The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.

The scheme has been extended this year to include children aged 2 and 3 for the first time. As a result of this extension, it is estimated that approximately 37,000 additional children will qualify for the allowance this year.

The rate of payment for 2026 is €160 for children aged 2 – 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.

Commenting on the scheme, Minister Calleary said:

“I know that the costs for going back to school or preschool can place real pressure on families. That is why I am particularly pleased that, with the support of my colleague Minister Norma Foley, we are extending the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to include 2 and 3-year-olds for the first time. This means thousands more families across the country will receive practical support at a time when it matters most”.

“Applications for 2026 are now open. Last year, 144,000 families in respect of 256,000 children benefitted from the scheme. The extra investment this year will help even more parents and guardians with the cost of clothing and footwear, while giving children the best possible start as they prepare for the year ahead”.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley commented:

“”Education begins at the earliest point of a child’s life, so early years education is vitally important. I welcome the extension of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance by Minister Calleary. It will truly support parents of young children as they begin their journey in education”

The majority of payments will be paid automatically with no application form required. Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid automatically to more than 109,000 families in respect of almost 202,000 children during the week beginning 13th July.

The Department of Social Protection is currently processing these payments and customers will receive confirmation informing them of their automatic entitlement, on their MyWelfare account or by post. This will result in over €42 million paid to these families during the week beginning 13th July.

Families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment should make an application online on www.MyWelfare.ie, even if they received a payment last year. Online applications can be made from today, Wednesday, 3rd June.

Minister Calleary added:

“More than 75% of payments under this scheme will be paid without the need to make an application. My Department will issue automatic payments to more than 109,000 families in July and I would urge all families to check their eligibility for this important scheme.”

Notes:

The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.

In 2025, over 144,000 families benefitted from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme in respect of over 256,000 children at a cost of €55.4m.

The rates of payment for the 2026 BSCFA scheme are €160 for children aged 2-11 years on or before 30th September 2026 and €285 for children aged 12-22 years on or before 30th September 2026. Students aged between 18 – 22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of 2026 to retain an entitlement to payment.

The Department is providing dedicated phone lines 071-9193318 and 0818-11-11-13 to answer enquiries relating to the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance during usual business hours Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. People also have the choice of emailing the Department at bscfa@welfare.ie if they have an enquiry regarding their application or entitlement.

The closing date to apply for this year’s Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30th September 2026.

Further information on the eligibility criteria for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is available at www.gov.ie/bscfa.

Source: Government of Ireland

€336 million in Carer’s Support Grant payments issuing this week

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has today announced that the annual Carer’s Support Grant is being paid this week to over 147,000 carers.

The annual grant, which stands at €2,000 per care recipient, is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.

The overall value of the grant payments being paid this week is expected to be in the region of €336 million.

The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for. Over 18,000 carers are providing care for two or more people and will receive a grant for each person they are caring for.

Carers will receive their Carer’s Support Grant payment(s) in their nominated post office or bank account on Thursday, 4th June.

The Carer’s Support Grant is paid automatically to all people receiving Carer’s Allowance (whether full rate or half rate), Carer’s Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance. It is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments.

Minister Calleary commented:

“I am very pleased to announce that over 147,000 carers will receive the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000 this week. This will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance.

“The Carer’s Support Grant was increased to €2,000 as the first of a number of improvements introduced in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society.

“As part of Budget 2026 I announced further improvements to the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance which will come into effect from next month, in July.

“As Minister for Social Protection, I want to take this opportunity to thank all carers in Ireland for the vital and valuable contribution you play in our society and in all our local communities. Your commitment and work in supporting those that need help and support is hugely important and is greatly appreciated.”

Further information on the Carer’s Support Grant is available at www.gov.ie/csg.

Notes:

How to Qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant:

You automatically qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant if you get Domiciliary Care Allowance.

If you are not getting any of these payments, you may still qualify if you meet these conditions:

• you are 16 or over
• you ordinarily reside in the Irish State
• you care for the person full time
• you have been caring for the person for a continuous period of at least six months, and this period includes the first Thursday in June
• you live with the person you are caring for or you are contactable quickly by a direct system of communication such as a telephone or an alarm

You do not qualify for Carer’s Support Grant if you are:

• working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. (Note: you must show us that the person you are caring for has adequate care while you are working, on an education course, or both)
• getting Jobseeker’s Benefit
• signing on for credited contributions
• living in a hospital, convalescent home or similar institution

If you are caring for more than one person, you will get a grant for each person cared for.

The Carer’s Support Grant is exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.