New figures supplied to Carol Nolan TD have shown that 925,000 applications were processed for social protection scheme payments in 2 years where the persons applying have arrived from outside Ireland – with 127,000 of those applying under the Habitual Residence Condition rejected.
The Independent TD for Offaly said new figures supplied to her by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, demonstrate the scale of pressure on Ireland’s welfare system while also underlining the importance of maintaining robust eligibility checks for access to taxpayer-funded supports.
The figures were revealed to Deputy Nolan in response to a parliamentary question, with the Minister confirming that, over the 24-month period to the end of September 2026, approximately 925,000 applications were processed for social protection scheme payments where the Habitual Residence Condition applies, with approximately 127,000 of those applications rejected.
The Minister also confirmed that, to date in 2026, some 106,000 Habitual Residence Condition assessments have been carried out in respect of new Jobseeker’s Allowance applications, with a further 29,000 conducted in relation to Disability Allowance claims.
“The Minister has now confirmed to me that almost one million applications were processed for welfare schemes subject to the Habitual Residence Condition over the last two years, with 127,000 ultimately rejected. That is an extraordinary figure,” said Deputy Nolan.
Deputy Nolan noted that the Minister had also reiterated that the Habitual Residence Condition requires applicants to demonstrate a genuine and ongoing connection to Ireland as a condition of accessing many State-funded supports.
“The Habitual Residence Condition is one of the State’s principal safeguards governing access to welfare payments by those arriving from outside Ireland. While it can also apply in other circumstances, including to returning Irish emigrants, it is entirely reasonable to conclude that the vast majority of the 925,000 assessments carried out over this period involved non-Irish nationals seeking access to taxpayer-funded welfare supports.”
“The purpose of these rules is clear. They exist to ensure that welfare payments are reserved for those who can establish a legitimate entitlement under Irish law. When 127,000 applications for schemes subject to habitual residence requirements are rejected in just two years, it is reasonable to conclude that very substantial numbers of people are applying for payments despite ultimately having no entitlement to receive them.
“MASSIVE SCALE”
“The welfare system is being targeted on a massive scale,” the Offaly TD said.
“These figures expose the sheer volume of applications that are being screened out before public money is paid over.”
Deputy Nolan said the figures should serve as a warning against any attempt to dilute eligibility requirements or weaken the State’s ability to scrutinise applications:
“Every euro paid out in social welfare is funded by Irish taxpayers. That is why the public rightly expects these resources to be protected from welfare tourism and other forms of abuse, and that payments will only be made where the statutory conditions have been strictly satisfied.”
The Offaly TD said she also found the Minister’s admission that his Department does not maintain statistics on the reasons claims are rejected, or subsequently overturned on appeal, to be “simply bewildering, but not surprising given the number of data blind spots that continue to exist across Government”.
“The Government can tell us that 127,000 applications were rejected, but it cannot tell us with any precision why those applications failed. That is a remarkable position for any Department to find itself in.”
“What is beyond dispute, however, is that these figures demonstrate the importance of rigorous eligibility checks. At a time of increasing pressure on public finances, public services and housing, the Government should be strengthening these safeguards and ensuring that taxpayer-funded supports remain reserved for those who are lawfully entitled to them.”
“The Irish people are generous and support a social protection system for those who genuinely need it. But that generosity depends on public confidence that the rules are being enforced, eligibility is being properly scrutinised and taxpayer-funded supports are not being exploited. These figures show exactly why those safeguards matter,” Deputy Nolan concluded.
The Minister said that “to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition, a person must have the legal right to reside in Ireland, and they must have the legal right to claim social protection benefits. The Habitual Residence Condition is assessed against the five grounds set out in legislation:
Length and continuity of residence in Ireland.
Length and purpose of any absence from Ireland.
Nature and pattern of employment.
The applicant’s main centre of interest.
Future intentions to live in Ireland as it appears from the evidence provided.
“The Habitual Residency Condition and visa requirements work together to ensure the State’s resources are targeted to people with a long-term interest in Ireland, and not those here on a temporary or short-term basis. As most of my department’s means-tested payments, as well as Child Benefit, have habitual residence as an eligibility condition, habitual residence assessments are carried out for all such claims. To date in 2026, this means that 106,000 Habitual Residency Condition assessments have been carried out across new Jobseeker’s Allowance applications
alone; a further 29,000 on Disability Allowance.”
“Over the 24-month period up to the end of September 2026, there were approximately 925,000 applications processed for schemes that have habitual residence as a condition. Of these claims, approximately 127,000 were rejected for any reason. My department does not maintain statistics on the reasons for claims rejected and so figures on the number of claims rejected due to failing the habitual residence condition and subsequently progress to an appeal, are unavailable. My department is committed to ensuring that only those people who are eligible receive welfare and other payments,” he said.
347,736 SOCIAL WELFARE RECIPIENTS NON-IRISH
Last month, Deputy Nolan also released figures she had obtained showing that 347,736 social welfare recipients were recorded as non-Irish nationals at the end of 2025.
The figures, supplied by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Nolan, show that of the 1.97 million people receiving at least one social protection payment, 347,736 were recorded as holding a non-Irish nationality.
“The debate on migration, housing, public services and State spending is far too often conducted in an atmosphere where legitimate questions are dismissed rather than answered. The public deserves facts and honesty,” the Independent TD said.