Parliamentary questions

Pension Provisions

John McGuinness

448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a query in respect of a State pension benefit (details supplied). [6520/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Róisín Shortall

449. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are available for low-income households who are facing multiple price hikes by private waste collection companies; if her Department will consider additional supports for older people who may be facing these same price hikes while not being able to bring their waste to public waste collection centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6533/24]

Fuel Poverty

John McGuinness

450. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance in the name of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined. [6540/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

451. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a late illness benefit application will be accepted from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6541/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

452. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the payment of carers allowance and arrears due will be made immediately in the case of a person (details supplied). [6548/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

453. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to child benefit for children over 16 years who are in full-time education, if she is aware of child benefit payment being suspended whilst a child is not in school and resuming in September at the start of the school year; if consideration has been given to addressing this anomaly to ensure consistency for families throughout the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6549/24]

Tax Credits

Pearse Doherty

454. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on commitments made to introduce a mortgage interest supplement for those with insufficient income tax liability to avail of the mortgage interest tax credit introduced in the Finance Act 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6554/24]

School Meals Programme

Michael Lowry

455. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to small rural primary schools that do not have the equipment or staff to heat, maintain and serve hot school meals through the hot meals programme; if her Department will provide such schools with additional funding to obtain heating equipment and the finances to compensate an existing member of staff, such as the school secretary, for the additional work and time needed to prepare, heat, and serve these meals to students five days per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6564/24]

Food Poverty

Paul Donnelly

456. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place for persons with dietary requirements, specifically coeliacs for assisting with the cost of foods available for those with special dietary requirements. [6613/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denise Mitchell

457. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person applying for disability allowance on the basis of a recently diagnosed medical condition would have to quit their current employment in order to be eligible before seeking reemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6648/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

229. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection what progress has been made to realise recommendation 41.2 of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (0-24) 2023-2028 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5795/24]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

230. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 828 of 13 June and 829 of 13 June 2023, what if any benefits accrued to Department of Social Protection employees who were former community welfare officers under the HSE and who paid a 5% levy on their incomes from October 2011 to December 2015; if no pension benefit has accrued in respect of these payments, if her Department will sanction the return of these payments to the employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6010/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

231. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster carers will be included in the access to the State pension (contributary) measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5794/24]

Departmental Staff

Cathal Crowe

232. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a cohort of workers funded by her Department (details supplied) have not received a pay increase in 15 years; if any pay increases are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5813/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Haughey

233. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place in relation to the issue concerning class S PRSI contributions arising solely from personal pensions and the implications for those who are applying for the benefit payment for 65 year olds; if it will be acknowledged that these potential claimants are not self-employed and that they should be considered for this payment provided all other criteria are met; if this payment can be made to claimants in these circumstance who reached 65 years in the last 12 months; the position regarding a particular claimant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5814/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

234. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 882 of 17 January 2024, if the case will be reviewed, given the person (details supplied) did not receive the payment.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5831/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

235. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements under class P PRSI contributions; how long a person needs to pay class P contributions in order to benefit; if there are other qualifying requirements for persons to claim class P; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5840/24]

State Pensions

Duncan Smith

236. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the old age pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) has been processed and awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5902/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Duncan Smith

237. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of an old age pension (contributory) and is now aged 67 years, but who continued in employment, which is now about to cease, is entitled to receive a redundancy payment, in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5903/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Creed

238. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on a carers allowance application (details supplied). [5925/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Creed

239. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision on a domiciliary care allowance application (details supplied). [5926/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a person (details supplied); whether they are entitled to an increase in the qualified adult payment in respect of their payment of invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6025/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of her four-year-old child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6026/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6029/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6030/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Murphy

291. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 23 January 2024, if she can offer further advice in relation to a person (details supplied) obtaining official ID. [4936/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

292. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection how many employee applications for clarification on PRSI and pension class have been made to scope section; how many are awaiting a decision; and how many decisions have been held due to An Post withholding service histories. [4990/24]

State Pensions

Éamon Ó Cuív

293. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a review of means for an increase on a State pension (contributory) for a qualified adult will be decided (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4997/24]

Social Welfare Code

Patrick Costello

294. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the minimum income threshold for working people in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5031/24]

Social Welfare Code

Patrick Costello

295. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the minimum income threshold for people in receipt of disability allowance if their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5032/24]

Social Welfare Code

Patrick Costello

296. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is appropriate that persons in receipt of disability allowance can lose their allowance as a result of marriage or cohabitation, thus increasing their reliance on their partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5033/24]

Social Welfare Code

Patrick Costello

297. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons in receipt of disability allowance to not take into account the cost of their monthly rent when doing disability allowance means test assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5034/24]

State Pensions

Louise O'Reilly

298. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether contributions made from working in a country (details supplied) can be used to calculate entitlements to a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5036/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Louise O'Reilly

299. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a way to have contributions for self-employed persons working the requisite number of hours to qualify for carer's benefit where they do not pay contributions in class A, B, C, D, E and H; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5039/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Cormac Devlin

300. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5066/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

301. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost to increase the number of advocates in the National Advocacy Services for People with Disabilities to 50. [5192/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an appeal (details supplied); when a final determination is likely to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5217/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

303. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5218/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

304. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times she embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days she abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by her Department in relation to each trip, in tabular form. [5249/24]

Departmental Staff

Denis Naughten

305. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection her total Departmental headcount; the headcount for staff dealing with social assistance claims; the corresponding figure for social insurance claims; the average processing time for each social assistance and social insurance scheme respectively; the number of applications under each scheme in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5338/24]

Departmental Advertising

Peadar Tóibín

306. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5356/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

307. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5374/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

308. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5392/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

309. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [5410/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

310. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a jobseeker's payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5426/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Niamh Smyth

311. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a case (details supplied); if she will provide advice on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5504/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Neasa Hourigan

312. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reassess the criteria around the duration a person can be in receipt of partial capacity benefit, in the case of both someone moving from illness benefit and someone moving from an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5541/24]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Creed

313. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite arrangements for the delivery of PPS numbers to EU applicants wishing to work here in the construction sector; if she is aware that the construction industry has indicated that its international recruitment efforts are being hampered by this delay of up to 12 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5561/24]

State Pensions

Paul McAuliffe

314. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many adults over the age of 66 years are in receipt of the increase for qualified adult under the State pension (contributory). [5568/24]