Minister for Social Protection

And ultimately, they will acknowledge, while there is something in terms of the income tax changes, they just feel that won't go far enough.

Well, also on Morning Ireland, Gavan put this to Minister for Social Protection, Darragh O'Leary.

Over a billion euro in tax cuts when there were none last year, but for over half of workers, it only amounts to around 250 euro a year, three times that if you earn over 100 grand.

You said you wanted to target those who need it at most, but you gave a tax break to those who need it at least.

Okay

... parents won't have to pay for a school lunch for their children in primary school.

Minister for Social Protection, Darragh O'Leary, on Morning Ireland.

But as the week progressed, there was one budget cut that made headlines.

Spoiler alert, they're not happy.

The Minister for Social Protection, Darragh O' Leary, is with us in our studio.

You're very welcome to Morning Ireland.

Thank you, Gavin.

Yes

... to actually show that work is worth it.

Minister for Social Protection, Darragh O'Callaghan, thank you very much for coming into our studio today.

It's almost 25 past 8.

It'll be a €500 lump sum, and will be delivered in February of next year as a once-off payment.

But Darragh Cleary, the Minister for Social Protection, who actually got a good few bits across the line this time, I think he was one of the few winners in this budget, has said that he intends to consult with various stakeholders, campaign groups, around this disability payment now that he has got it as a permanent fixture in the budget.

Um, and that the actual, uh, way in which that will be paid, perhaps the amount as well, will be hammered out and will be, uh, decided before the end of this year.

Um, probably in time for budget, budget, budget 2028, when we may see, I'd say for those with disabilities, hopefully an increase.

Yeah.

I suppose moving on from that, we had a meeting with the Minister for Social Protection yesterday in relation to the cost of disability.

And he's pushing for a line in the budget specifically for a cost of disability, which is good news.

But our real worry is what is that going to look like? We don't feel that we're even going to get anything close to the €55.

Well, he's not the only member of the coalition to try and dampen expectations.

Ahead of that announcement tomorrow week, of course, we heard yesterday from the Social Protection Minister, Dara Killery, saying the government wouldn't be able to deal with all the challenges facing the country in this year's budget, whilst the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this lunchtime as well saying the government would try to deal with the cost of living as best it could with the resources available to it.

But key meetings are continuing around here in Leinster House and government buildings today.

The three leaders of government, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the leader of the independence group in government, Sean Canney, and the public expenditure minister, jack chambers there to hold a critical meeting this evening in government buildings while those bilateral discussions between ministers are also continuing and one to potentially watch there will be the chat between the public expenditure minister jack chambers and the social protection minister dara kaliri and their next bilateral what sort of increase might we see in the core social welfare rate will it be just to the tune of €7.50 or will it match the €10 of last year? And we know as well that Mr.

Cleary is seeking to bring in a cost of disability payment.

Of course, the political framing of this is all very delicate given that threat of further fuel protests that we heard in the meeting in Moton County, Westmead last night and indeed with all those various industrial actions planned by public sector workers as well in the weeks ahead.

Uh, and we learn now today in the Irish Times that the state's Hot School Meals scheme is to be overhauled following two reports that found shortcomings in the quality of food provided and a high level of waste.

The analysis, commissioned by Minister for Social Protection, Darragh Cleary, compromised two reports, uh, an audit of the nutritional value of what was on offer, and a survey of pupils, parents, and teachers' views on the scheme.

Uh, the Hot School Meals scheme was first introduced as a pilot in 37 Deis primary schools in 2019 and has since expanded to provide meals to approximately 550,000 primary school children in 3,200 schools across the state, and it is funded by the Department of Social Protection with a budget of, uh, 286 million this year.

While the nutrition review report carried out by a dietician found that while the majority of meals did not contain foods considered high in fat, salt, or sugar, these options were chosen over healthier alternatives when available on a menu.