Some 15% of people in receipt of lone parents’ payment in the last 10 years were underpaid, new information provided to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee has confirmed. The Department of Social Protection sent the information to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) following its appearance in front of TDs in December. The documents include estimates of how many people are receiving underpaid social welfare payments. However, Ms O’Reilly told the Irish Examiner social protection minister Dara Calleary must investigate the figures. Some 4.1% of jobseeker’s allowance recipients and 3.5% of disability allowance recipients also experienced underpayments.

Source: Irish Examiner February 02, 2026 23:30 UTC