Intent: To highlight issues around Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, Pay Related Parent's Benefit, Working Age Payment, Cost of Living Increases, and Congress Pre-Budget Submission
18 May 2026 Mr Dara Calleary, Mr Simon Harris, Mr Jack Chambers on Pay Related Job Seekers Benefit18 May 2026 Mr Dara Calleary, Mr Simon Harris, Mr Jack Chambers re Pay Related Parents Benefit12 June 2026 Dr Niall Egan, DSP re Working Age and Child Payments Consultation1 July 2026 Mr John Callinan, Dept Taoiseach re Cost of Living Increases and Future Social Dialogue15 July 2026 Mr Jack Chambers, Mr Simon Harris, Mr Cian O'Callaghan, Mr Pearse Doherty, Mr Ged Nash ICTU Pre-Budget Submission - Letter
Intent: To disseminate the findings of the MESL annual update report and the associated evidence-based policy recommendations in the Pre-Budget Submission
Details: Disseminate annual Minimum Essential Standard of Living report and associated pre-budget submission policy recommendations
Attended the National Economic Dialogue, discussing MESL findings on needs for children, working-age and older adults. - Event / ReceptionEmail sent on 9th June to inform of upcoming publication of MESL 2026 report and Budget 2027 recommendations, and to invite to MESL seminar - EmailMESL seminar held on 18th JuneIncluded presentation from MESL Research Team on the cost of a MESL in 2026, giving an overview of the: - change in cost of the minimum essentials required to live with dignity - cumulative impact of inflation since 2020 on minimum living costs and income adequacy - assessment of adequacy of social welfare supports - examination of the impact of services and in-work supports - outlining key policy recommendations for Budget 2027. - Event / Reception
Intent: To inform that the Minimum Essential Standard of Living 2026 report and associated pre-budget submission policy recommendations will be published in June, with details to follow
Intent: A meeting with the Minister and department official, to be confirmed.
Details: Emailed Niall Egan, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Social Protection. It was a follow-up to a meeting sent to Minister Dara Calleary in June about the Department’s consultation on a successor to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 requesting an opportunity to meet the Minister and D, ...
Intent: Disseminate a new research paper on the MESL needs of school age children, highlighting the additional costs associated with children aged 12 and over::Informing that new MESL research website is live, and updating links to research reports, publications, data, etc.::Announcing the availability of the new MESL calculator, which demonstrates the gap between current social welfare supports and households minimum expenditure needs.
Details: Informing of new MESL research publications
Email newsletter to inform that the new MESL website and calculator were live, and to disseminate the findings of a MESL research paper on the needs of school age children. - Email
Intent: To inform that the MESL analysis of the impact of Budget 2026 was published.To provide evidence based forecast of adequacy of social welfare rates, National Minimum Wage and in-work supports in 2026.
Details: Distribution of Budget 2026 MESL Impact Briefing
