Parliamentary questions

State Pensions

Brendan Griffin

122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a chief appeals officer review of the decision on a State pension (contributory) backdating appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45617/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of further information submitted for a review of a decision on a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45618/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

124. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount the operation of JobPath has cost in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; if there has been an analysis of its efficacy, namely results and the number of persons successfully re-entering the workforce; and if a review of the programme has been considered in view of these findings. [45625/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

125. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in place for determining eligibility to JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45628/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

126. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the decision-making process that takes place to determine if a person repeats the JobPath process or if they return to jobseeker's allowance. [45629/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

127. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken regarding the unspent funding that does not get allocated to applicants via the JobPath scheme; if it is returned to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45630/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

128. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the oversight systems in place to evaluate the performance of the JobPath; if it has annual figures of the proportion of applicants versus those who successfully regain employment or any other key performance indicator analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45631/21]

Employment Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

129. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the upper limit of financial support for training available to a person on JobPath versus a person on social welfare; if she will provide a comparative analysis and justification of these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45632/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Brendan Griffin

130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment placement will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45635/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) continues to pay a deduction from their social welfare payment each week; when such payment is expected to stop; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44436/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Thomas Pringle

400. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when the changes were made in relation to the income of a retained firefighter being used to calculate income for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance (details supplied); if this change is used for all applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44444/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to refuse a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44459/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Neale Richmond

402. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of domiciliary care allowance by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44642/21]

Rental Sector

Eoin Ó Broin

403. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of active rent supplement payments that are currently in place. [44644/21]

Birth Certificates

Jim O'Callaghan

404. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the relevant section of the Civil Registration Act 2014 will commence whereby it becomes obligatory for a father’s name to be on a birth certificate when the birth is being registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44689/21]

Rental Sector

Bernard Durkan

405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when assistance applied for via an application for rent supplement will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44700/21]

Pension Provisions

Niamh Smyth

406. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot have an invalidity pension awarded to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44731/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if payments in respect of an overpayment can be reduced in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44735/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Chris Andrews

408. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding community employment schemes (details supplied). [44847/21]

Departmental Properties

Holly Cairns

409. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the locations of all offices and buildings either owned or used by her Department or by public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit which are usually open to the public to access services. [44920/21]

School Meals Programme

Gino Kenny

410. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of providing free school meals for all primary school pupils. [44940/21]

School Meals Programme

Gino Kenny

411. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of providing free school meals for all post-primary school pupils. [44941/21]

Gender Recognition

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

412. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection when the draft legislation in relation to gender recognition for transgender persons aged 16 and 17 years will be brought before Dáil Éireann recognising the delay due to the dissolution of the last Dáil; the progress made to date in relation to the other matters set out in the Programme for Government relating to this issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44980/21]

Departmental Communications

Carol Nolan

413. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45044/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Catherine Murphy

414. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community employment scheme that had been extended from 2020 to 31 October 2021 will be extended further due to the continued public health restrictions that were imposed on many aspects of the operations of her Department. [45102/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Cathal Crowe

415. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) and persons like them can be considered for a form of social welfare income given the unusual circumstances surrounding their case. [45196/21]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

416. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of research into the cost of disability here which was commissioned by her Department (details supplied); and when it is expected to be published. [45207/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

417. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Irish-born children of mothers who are seeking international protection are prohibited from access to any social protection benefits in Ireland. [45250/21]

Social Welfare Code

Catherine Murphy

418. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the process in respect of part-time workers who during the academic year require the support of jobseeker’s benefit on weeks in which the school or college is closed (details supplied) will be examined; if consideration will be given to a specific school staff streamlined way to support part-time workers who work around the school academic calendar and have no income when the school or college is not open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45253/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

242. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications that have been made for phenylketonuria; and the number of applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years. [44284/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision to reduce or phase out the pandemic unemployment payment over the coming months with recipients moving to a more traditional social welfare payment, is causing significant anxiety particularly among low income families who are fearful of a marked decrease in income coming up to Christmas; if she will give compassionate consideration in view of the very difficult past 18 months to delaying the reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment and transition to other payments until after the holiday period in order that families can enjoy Christmas without additional financial stress during this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44292/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

244. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a child benefit or family benefit application dating back to 2014 which is now under appeal with a request for an oral hearing will be expedited and approved for a person (details supplied). [44316/21]

State Pensions

Kieran O'Donnell

245. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review will be undertaken of the social insurance record of a person (details supplied) with a view to awarding a higher rate of pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44331/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Éamon Ó Cuív

246. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if with the partial but incomplete opening of the performing arts sector and the uncertainty in relation to the sector she intends temporarily increasing the earnings cap for persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment from the performing arts industry until the sector is totally reopened, particularly in view of the importance of the industry for mental health reasons and the number of planned but constrained autumn festivals that are also planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44334/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

247. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons with enhanced illness benefit for Covid-19 that were transferred over to disability allowance after the ten week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number of such claims that were rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44365/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

248. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that all staff in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit who, by necessity of their work have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44381/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Willie O'Dea

458. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding efforts to resolve the issue of providing a pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44164/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

459. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing more flexibility for participants over 55 years of age that are currently engaged in a community employment scheme given that at present they are unable to have their contracts renewed. [43207/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Haughey

460. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the eligibility criteria for jobseeker’s allowance in order that adult children living with their parents can be assessed as individuals regardless of household income in order for them be eligible for the workplace experience programme and similar schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43216/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

461. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; the purpose of any such engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43246/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

462. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when payment will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied) who received no payment this week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43253/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael McNamara

463. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer’s allowance review application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43270/21]

Social Welfare Code

Róisín Shortall

464. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position for mature students returning to full-time education who wish to also keep claiming for social welfare credits towards their pension as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43278/21]

Civil Marriages

Éamon Ó Cuív

465. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason State registry offices are only allowing ten guests at civil ceremonies in view of the current health guidelines allowing 100 guests at weddings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43285/21]

Government Communications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

466. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings she has had with businesses, workers, and representatives of the events industry since July 2020; and the dates of each meeting. [43288/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brendan Griffin

467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a free travel companion pass by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43302/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

468. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43320/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Louise O'Reilly

469. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount allocated towards the work placement experience programme. [43328/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a domiciliary care allowance backdating appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43343/21]

Budget 2022

Brendan Griffin

471. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter in relation to the upcoming Budget 2022 and pensioners who have not received an increase in their payments in the past few budgets or during the pandemic for fuel (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43365/21]