Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Rates

Michael Ring

235. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons under 25 years of age can receive the back-to-education allowance at the rate of €220 per week but those getting the back-to-work enterprise allowance are only given €129.70; if there are any plans to amend this disparity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26827/23]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined to ensure they are on the correct rate; if they are entitled to optical benefit; and if their employment record has been considered. [26853/23]

Departmental Bodies

Rose Conway-Walsh

237. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a full list of public bodies under the aegis of her Department; and Oireachtas contact details for each. [26919/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Healy-Rae

238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has plans to assist people who paid class D contributions in the public sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26951/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal against a decision to refuse the invalidity pension will be allowed in the case of a person (details supplied), having regard to the fact they have had no income for 20 weeks and are now in a very serious family situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26980/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26981/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing can be arranged in respect of appeal against a decision to refuse disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26982/23]

School Meals Programme

Holly Cairns

91. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will further expand the hot school meals programme to secondary schools. [26522/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Violet-Anne Wynne

92. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of extending the fuel allowance to all recipients of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26703/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment can issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26508/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

94. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26509/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Holly Cairns

95. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reduce waiting times for parents seeking additional needs payments where children are at risk of going without essentials. [26527/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Holly Cairns

96. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the qualified child payment in line with inflation. [26528/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Denis Naughten

97. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of her engagement with the Minister for Health on designating long Covid as an occupational illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26646/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

439. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students at primary and post-primary who were provided with free school meals in 2022, 2021 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26193/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

440. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing school meals per child in primary school and the cost per child in post-primary schools. [26194/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Patricia Ryan

441. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government has plans to review the criteria for home care workers' entitlement to DSP payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25551/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Sherlock

442. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who had been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and who has since transitioned to illness benefit, does not qualify for the €200 cost-of-living support. [25570/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

443. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection how many others she was referring to in her letter dated 9 May 2023 in relation to a customer who “like others, did everything right in keeping her Department informed” of their participation on the basic income for artists scheme but have had their claims for social protection stopped as a result; and how many customers have been asked to repay social protection payments as a result of participation in the basic income for artists scheme. [25572/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Kehoe

444. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25575/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Ivana Bacik

445. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reducing the qualifying period for community employment schemes from 12 months on the live register to nine months for all qualifying social welfare recipients, in line with the reduction to nine months' qualifying time applied to Ukrainian nationals in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25604/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can detail the supports that are available for a public sector employee diagnosed with a serious illness (details supplied) who does not qualify for any payments from their employer, the HSE, because of previous use of critical illness benefit, and who has paid PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25610/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 11 May 2023, whether a decision to refuse a State pension takes into account employment from 2008 and from 2016 on a 'stamp 1 basis in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25621/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

448. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25633/23]

Employment Schemes

Mary Lou McDonald

449. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the delay in completing the reasonable accommodation fund review and consultation, due to be completed by the end of 2019 under commitments within the comprehensive employment strategy; when the review report will be published; if the report will include recommendations to address the concerns of deaf people who are often marginalised in the workplace due to a lack of communication support; and when recommendations in the report will be implemented. [25653/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Ring

450. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the back-to-work enterprise allowance to those aged 18 to 24 years and not living independently, to the increased rate of €220 per week in year one and €165 in year two, in view of the increasing costs for businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25656/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

451. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if cognisance can be taken in the case of a person (details supplied); if the status quo in respect of their payment will be maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25726/23]

Social Insurance

Michael Ring

452. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when payment will issue to persons (details supplied) under the redundancy payment scheme from the Social Insurance Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25740/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Ring

453. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an unemployed person (details supplied) was not approved even a basic rate of social welfare considering that they have no income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25741/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

454. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carers allowance will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25742/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

455. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25743/23]

Disability Services

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

456. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she received correspondence from the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to concerns raised by a campaign (details supplied); if she has responded on the matter; if so, the date on which she responded; and what the content of her response was. [25759/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Ring

457. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is not being paid disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25775/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Sherlock

458. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments made under additional needs payments relating to energy bills in 2022 and to date in 2023, by month. [25856/23]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

459. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the due diligence and background checking that was undertaken in respect of the hiring of a person (details supplied) by her Department; and if the person remains an employee of her Department. [25877/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

460. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a review of a decision sought in relation to a carer's allowance refusal (details supplied) will issue; the reason for the delay with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25879/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Maurice Quinlivan

461. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25925/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

462. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered what it would cost to extend the fuel allowance to persons who have been six months on an assistance payment, and to those in receipt of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25958/23]

Childcare Services

Carol Nolan

463. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department assists with, or makes a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position; if so, the names of the providers; the costs incurred for the period 2020 to date in 2023; the number of staff who have availed of such assistance over this timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25980/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patrick O'Donovan

464. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on the social welfare appeal (details supplied) registered in the social welfare appeals office on 7 December 2022; if she can confirm the reason it took so long for the requested files to be sent to the appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25984/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patrick O'Donovan

465. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25988/23]

Employment Schemes

Mark Ward

466. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review of the reasonable accommodation fund will be completed; if she will provide a breakdown of how the €1 million expansion of the reasonable accommodation fund allocated in budget 2023 will be utilised; the provisions for mental health in the revised reasonable accommodation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25998/23]

Disability Services

Mark Ward

467. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of advocates, per county, in the national advocacy services for persons with disabilities in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25999/23]

Disability Services

Mark Ward

468. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans being put in place to address the findings of the cost of a disability research report published in December 2021; the way in which it is proposed to reduce day-to-day costs for persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26000/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

469. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for an exceptional needs payment by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26072/23]

State Pensions

Michael Creed

470. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is in receipt of the maximum contributory pension; if not, if her Department will review this case with regard to credit for social insurance contributions paid while working in the UK between 1964 and 1967; if she will further consider 2003 when the pensioner considers that they would have paid a PRSI contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26087/23]

Domestic Violence

Mary Lou McDonald

471. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the total annual number of victims of domestic violence who received rent supplement from 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26104/23]

Domestic Violence

Mary Lou McDonald

472. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual monetary amount spent on translation services for victims of domestic violence from 2016 to 2023 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26105/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Creed

473. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is currently conducting a review of the continuing eligibility of recipients of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26108/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Verona Murphy

474. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer’s allowance review initiated on 7 February 2023 for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26115/23]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Sorca Clarke

475. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a PPS number. [26152/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Denis Naughten

476. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26160/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

477. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying the living wage and the minimum wage to all workers on the CE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26180/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Ivana Bacik

478. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid by her Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms, and consultants in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26239/23]

Social Welfare Application Forms

Seán Haughey

479. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if the application process for jobseeker's benefit for educators and education support staff at all levels, who are making a claim in respect of a holiday period, can be streamlined and speeded up; if she is aware that some applicants have received their initial payment in mid-August, or when they have returned to work after the holiday period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26251/23]

Social Welfare Offices

Brendan Howlin

480. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the operation of her Department's central call centre when clients are seeking to make contact with individual social welfare offices; if she has reviewed the operation of this centre to ensure that all clients are speedily responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26366/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

188. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange to issue a decision on a domiciliary care allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [25345/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

189. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to address the anomaly whereby someone who was on one social welfare payment and was entitled to the Christmas bonus, and has moved to another social welfare payment is not entitled to the spring cost-of-living payment, despite having been on a social welfare payment for longer than 12 months. [25362/23]

Data Protection

Louise O'Reilly

190. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if mobile and software applications from a company (details supplied) will be banned from Government devices to protect users’ data from being passed to state security services, in light of information outlined in a media report. [25382/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

191. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite the review and re-instatement of a carer’s allowance payment for a person (details supplied). [25395/23]

State Pensions

Paul Kehoe

192. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an application for a State pension (non-contributory) for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25465/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

193. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a disability allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25466/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Kehoe

194. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any update on her Department's position regarding the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease for frontline health care workers in Ireland, as per EU ACSH Agreement in May 2022, following the monitoring of the European Commission's work and recommendations in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25480/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum social protection payment available under whatever heading in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25499/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an emergency payment, given that they have received no payment since January last and have accumulated considerable local authority rent arrears of €720; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25500/23]

State Pensions

Michael McNamara

139. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline her plans to bring the State pension (contributory) up to 34% of the average industrial wage index linked, as promised in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25030/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25045/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Ring

141. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person who is in receipt of a payment under the occupational injuries scheme and is paying their PRSI contributions is not entitled to receive illness benefit when required, in view of the fact that they are paying their contributions and now cannot avail of the benefits of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25076/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Róisín Shortall

142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness for healthcare workers; if so, the timeline she is working towards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25093/23]

Social Welfare Code

Seán Sherlock

143. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to publish an updated proposal following the recent public consultation on pay-related jobseeker’s benefit; when that can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25104/23]

Community Welfare Services

Brian Stanley

144. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the complaints from charities and public representatives regarding the difficulties that people are having in contacting a community welfare officer when applying for supplementary welfare allowance and the additional needs payment. [25128/23]

Community Welfare Services

Brian Stanley

145. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department recognises that the removal of the physical clinics held by community welfare officers has led to difficulties for applications who are in a financially vulnerable position; and if her Department will now reinstate this face-to-face service. [25129/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Robert Troy

146. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer’s allowance appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied) and ensure an oral hearing is scheduled in advance of any decision. [25130/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

147. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will include new agricultural schemes as eligible payments for farm assist, given that a significant number of schemes have changed under the new CAP; if she will provide a list of schemes which will be included under farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25134/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a farm assist payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25286/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

149. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25294/23]

Pensions Reform

Thomas Pringle

78. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has considered the benefits to the State coffers of a smoothed approach to the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22110/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Thomas Gould

85. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any additional supports for parents coming into the summer months. [24631/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aindrias Moynihan

86. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider a review of the child benefit scheme, including students still in full-time second level education after reaching their 18th birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24640/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig O'Sullivan

87. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the research conducted within her Department for linking jobseeker's benefit to previous earnings; if she is seriously considering such a reform; the likely implementation date for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24158/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Thomas Gould

88. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for people struggling to pay their grocery bills. [24630/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peter Fitzpatrick

89. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims in the education sector for short-term jobseeker’s payments from substitute teachers and all non-permanent education employees in each of the past five years to date for school summer-holiday periods; the average length of time for processing the claims; if she will review the way in which claims are processed to ensure that payments are issued in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24668/23]

Pensions Reform

Thomas Pringle

90. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by Government can stay below the 0.5% maintenance costs proposed in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22107/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

91. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to reinstate the multiple payment of child benefit to parents of twins, triplets, and so on, which were previously given at primary and post-primary school entry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24248/23]

School Meals Programme

Willie O'Dea

92. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has measured the progress and success of the school meals programme relating to diet, attendance and educational attainment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24447/23]

State Pensions

Matt Carthy

93. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposed timeline regarding the development of administrative and IT systems to facilitate the provision of pensions to carers. [24659/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

94. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the one-parent family payment. [24299/23]

Social Welfare Code

Catherine Connolly

95. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 28 March 2023, the status of the promised straw-man proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments; the timeline for the public consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24649/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

96. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the date in June that she expects the lump sum child benefit payment of €100 per child to be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24446/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Moynihan

97. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the farm assist payment for each year from 2016 to 2019 inclusive; how these numbers compare with the number of recipients of this payment for 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24682/23]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

98. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the adequacy of supports for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; if there are any tailored supports specifically for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; if she has any plans to introduce tailored supports specifically for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24676/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the number of appeals against decisions made by her Department have increased or decreased in respect of means-tested payments; the number of applicants refused payment for whatever reason to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24622/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Peter Fitzpatrick

100. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals received by the social welfare appeals office per month since 2021; the current average processing time for an appeal with the social welfare appeals office; the efforts being made to reduce appeal processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24671/23]

School Meals Programme

Catherine Connolly

101. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the recently published independent evaluation of the school meals programme; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24633/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

102. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of applicants to date in 2023 for exceptional needs payments, by category of the exceptional need (for example, energy bills, and so on); the number of those that were successful in receiving a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24651/23]

State Pensions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

103. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a State pension solution for long-term family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24663/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

104. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has investigated areas where there are very high concentrations of claimants of jobseeker’s allowance, one-parent family allowance, disability allowance or other indicators of concentrated need; and if she is considering innovations in these areas to break the cycle. [24636/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Cathal Crowe

105. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of jobseeker’s allowance for each year from 2016 to 2019 inclusive; how these numbers compare with the number of recipients of this payment for 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24445/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

106. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to introduce cost-of-living supports for adult dependents or those on non-contributory pensions, as many have been left out of earlier cost-of-living supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24247/23]

Departmental Strategies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

107. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Protection 2020-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24632/23]