S.I. No. 252/2026 - International Protection Act 2026 (Section 212(3)) (Prescribed Social Welfare Payments) Regulations 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 16th June, 2026.

I, JIM O’CALLAGHAN, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by subsection (3) of section 212 of the International Protection Act 2026 (No. 9 of 2026) having regard to the matters specified in subsection (5) of that section (other than paragraph (c) thereof) and with the consent of the Minister for Social Protection, hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the International Protection Act 2026 (Section 212(3)) (Prescribed Social Welfare Payments) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 12 June 2026.

2. The following payments under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005) are hereby prescribed for the purposes of section 205(6)(b) of the International Protection Act 2026 (No. 9 of 2026):

(a) jobseeker’s allowance;

(b) State pension (non-contributory);

(c) blind pension;

(d) bereaved partner’s (non-contributory) pension;

(e) guardian’s payment (non-contributory);

(f) one-parent family payment;

(g) carer’s allowance;

(h) supplementary welfare allowance;

(i) disability allowance;

(j) farm assist.

The Minister for Social Protection consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal, of the Minister for Social Protection.

10 June, 2026.

DARA CALLEARY,

Minister for Social Protection.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

11 June, 2026.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN,

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The International Protection Act 2026 introduces changes for family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection. These regulations prescribe a list of social welfare payments for the purpose of section 205 of the Act, which provides that a person may not be in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a period of two years prior to their application for family reunification (subject to a grace period of 6 months cumulatively in the previous 2 years).