Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

108. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will introduce a social energy tariff, targeted at households on means-tested social welfare payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24643/23]

School Meals Programme

Joan Collins

109. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite the process of extending school meals to all schools way before the previous timeline (details supplied). [22812/23]

State Pensions

Matt Carthy

110. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposed timeline to introduce legislation facilitating the provision of pensions to carers. [24658/23]

School Meals Programme

James O'Connor

111. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Cork east in receipt of the school meals scheme for the 2022/2023 academic year; how this number compares with the 2021/2022 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24678/23]

School Transport

Peter Fitzpatrick

112. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that she has had with the Minister for Education on the matter of school transport since 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24670/23]

Departmental Reports

Brendan Smith

113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Social Protection Annual Report for 2022 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24441/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peter Fitzpatrick

114. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider in Budget 2024 extending the child dependent cut-off age to 24 years if the child is still attending a third-level course. [24669/23]

Employment Schemes

David Stanton

115. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the way her Department is supporting people with disabilities to gain employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24637/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

116. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the number of people who benefitted from the social protection lump sum payments; if further cost-of-living measures will be considered going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24393/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability payments and invalidity pension refused for whatever reason in the past twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24623/23]

Employment Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

118. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money paid through her Department in 2022 to employers that take on workers under the Jobs Plus scheme; the number of employers who availed of the scheme; the number of employees who benefitted from the scheme in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24624/23]

Departmental Consultations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

119. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the consultation process as part of her Department's work on addressing the cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24664/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

120. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the proposed legislation on child maintenance system changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24665/23]

Departmental Policies

Ruairí Ó Murchú

121. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the nature and extent of the engagement that her Department has had with other Government agencies and Departments in relation to the problems faced by workers who live in the North and who work for Southern-based companies, who wish to work from home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24625/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are or will be available for older people facing higher energy bills, in particular, high gas bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24650/23]

Departmental Programmes

James O'Connor

123. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who availed of the activation and family support programme in 2022 to fund the cost of training supports and education courses for people on social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24677/23]

Public Transport

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

124. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the use of a designated Leap card for the free travel pass, with a view to cross-departmental collaboration towards better public transport services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24634/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare recipients that were subject to means testing as a part of the assessment of their entitlement to a social welfare payment; the progress made with the review of means testing for all schemes that entail an element of means testing in them; when this review will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24673/23]

State Pensions

Pauline Tully

126. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if the new enhanced State pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years, due to be implemented by January 2024, will include retrospective payments for those carers who are currently of pension age but were denied a pension due to the current eligibility criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24675/23]

Social Welfare Code

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will review the PRSI contributions system in order that adult dependents who have worked in the home may be entitled to full future social welfare benefits, such as the recent €200 cost-of-living support payment; if she will provide a full explanation for the reason that adult dependents and others with insufficient PRSI contributions who have worked in the home were not entitled to the recent €200 cost-of-living support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24440/23]

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

128. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on her Department's review of means testing for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24667/23]

Social Welfare Code

Pádraig O'Sullivan

129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to removing the means test for carer's allowance or to increasing the carer's allowance income threshold given the significant increase in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24157/23]

Departmental Reports

Aindrias Moynihan

130. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the report being compiled by her Department on expanding the free travel scheme for people who have been excluded from driving with epilepsy is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24641/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Moynihan

131. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of trips that were taken by senior citizens on the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24681/23]

State Pensions

Paul McAuliffe

132. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in examining options for a pension solution for carers, in recognition of the enormous value of the work carried out by them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24656/23]

Social Welfare Code

Alan Dillon

133. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising the age limit for domiciliary care allowance to 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24638/23]

Social Welfare Code

Holly Cairns

134. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will adjust upwards the income from work that is not taken into account to qualify for disability allowance. [24298/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Gary Gannon

135. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will adjust the rate of fuel allowance in a way which will be determined by a strong evidence base on the minimum energy needs of households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24644/23]

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

136. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will ensure that households that have accumulated significant debts, including arrears on bills and on pre-payment meters, have access to sufficient support to avoid a long-term legacy of indebtedness and reduced financial resilience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24666/23]

Gender Recognition

Carol Nolan

447. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of genders currently recognised by her Department; if the expression transgender has been defined in Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24024/23]

Legislative Measures

Carol Nolan

448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 9 May 2023, the steps which have taken place from November 2019 to date in relation to the preparation of the legislation referred to in her response; when she expects to publish same; if she will list the dates of all meetings between her, or her predecessor, with officials in her Department or with the Attorney General which have taken place in relation to this legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24025/23]

School Meals Programme

Robert Troy

449. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on the tendering process for the provision of meals for pupils at a school (details supplied). [24031/23]

State Pensions

Jim O'Callaghan

450. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused an old age pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24089/23]

State Pensions

Fergus O'Dowd

451. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the position with regard to the issue where priests were prohibited from paying a contribution before 1988 and where those priests who have since retired are now unable to achieve a full State pension due to the lack of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24102/23]

State Pensions

Jim O'Callaghan

452. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is not receiving their full pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24115/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Robert Troy

453. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on their social welfare appeal. [24126/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

454. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive the €200 cost-of-living payment. [24128/23]

Construction Industry

Michael Healy-Rae

455. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of support that the Government will give to the construction industry that brings in workers from abroad (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24135/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

456. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if full carer's allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24173/23]

Community Welfare Services

Martin Browne

457. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers allocated to County Tipperary; and the number of vacant posts, broken down on a county and office basis. [24194/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

458. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if partial capacity benefit will be approved immediately for a person (details supplied). [24196/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

459. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24246/23]

State Pensions

Noel Grealish

460. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to a person who has modified PRSI contributions before paying A class contributions, if the effective date of entry into insurance for the calculation of State pension contributory can be the date that the full-rate reckonable contributions started being paid, given that the modified PRSI contributions were paid from 1981 and full-rate reckonable PRSI contributions commenced in 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24250/23]

Wildlife Conservation

Holly Cairns

461. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and public bodies or agencies that operate under her remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species, such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24269/23]

Social Welfare Code

Holly Cairns

462. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify whether returning review letters for child benefit can still be sent by freepost, or if individuals are required to pay for the postage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24354/23]

State Pensions

Holly Cairns

463. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will improve the State pension (contributory) for foster carers by extending the number of homecaring periods that a foster carer can accrue throughout the years they foster; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24356/23]

State Pensions

Eoin Ó Broin

464. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason pensioners in receipt of the qualified adult increase receive the Christmas bonus but were not paid the recent cost-of-living increase that was paid to pensioners on the State pension (contributory) and (non-contributory). [24360/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

465. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) has been registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24361/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

466. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the disability allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24364/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Brendan Griffin

467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the rate of disability being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24383/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Emer Higgins

468. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to review carer's allowance in the context of budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24388/23]

State Pensions

Seán Canney

469. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the contribution history records currently being used by her Department do not show home making and home caring credits; if she agrees that this is putting many parents and carers at a disadvantage in terms of receiving their correct pension entitlement; if she further agrees that this is having a particularly negative effect on the ability of many older women to access a proper pension; the steps she is taking to address this serious deficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24390/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision to disallow a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24391/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the limit of off-farm earnings in farm assist by €5, €10 and €20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24398/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

472. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the depreciation of assets for farm assist to 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24399/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

473. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the capital disregard of farm assist to €36,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24400/23]

State Pensions

Sean Fleming

474. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if the State pension can be increased to 34% of average earnings in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24402/23]

Departmental Policies

Mary Lou McDonald

475. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government has any plans to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease for front-line healthcare workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24462/23]

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

476. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage increase she prescribed by which the preserved benefit of occupational pension schemes should have been adjusted each year since 2013 under Section 33(4) of the Pensions Act, 1990/the Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations; for schemes exempted under Section 37(1) of the Act on the basis that they provide benefits that are no less favourable to members concerned than those required by the Act, how her Department monitors that these schemes continue to meet the criteria for exemption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24495/23]

State Pensions

Mairéad Farrell

477. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can outline the reason a person (details supplied) in receipt of an old age (contributory) pension as a qualified dependant on her husband's pension received the October and Christmas bonus, but has been told she is ineligible for the spring bonus, and as she had previously inquired with her office but could not get an explanation. [24498/23]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

478. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of each €1 per week increase in payments to international protection applicants living in direct provision accommodation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24543/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul McAuliffe

479. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of successful applicants for fuel allowance in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24551/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

480. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance will be awarded when waiting on a probate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24561/23]

Food Poverty

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

481. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the pilot food poverty programme announced in budget 2023; the timeline for implementation of the programme; if there has been any work undertaken by her Department to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24593/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

482. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the amount of income disregarded in respect of the farm assist scheme to 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24642/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Bríd Smith

483. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that people dependent on disability benefit are living significantly below the poverty line; the measures she will take to protect them against increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/23]

Social Welfare Code

Thomas Pringle

484. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by the Government could be provided at a lower cost to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

485. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to award foster carers' entitlements to PRSI credits to recognise their contribution as carers of vulnerable children on behalf of the State; and if this cohort will qualify for the enhanced State pension in January 2024. [24719/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Murphy

486. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of applications for the additional needs payments, including the exceptional needs and urgent needs payments, made to her Department or community welfare services for the year 2022, broken down month by month; and a further breakdown of the number of these applications that were granted, refused, appealed and granted or not on appeal. [24758/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Murphy

487. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of applications for the additional needs payments, including the exceptional needs and urgent needs payments, made to her Department and community welfare services to date in 2023, broken down month by month; and a further breakdown of the number of these applications that were granted, refused, appealed and granted or not on appeal. [24759/23]

Legislative Measures

Claire Kerrane

488. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the proposed legislation to bring forward changes to the child maintenance system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24763/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Holly Cairns

489. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on increasing the household benefits package to match the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24798/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Sean Fleming

490. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the reason the adult dependant was excluded from the recent additional payment of €200 that was issued to persons in receipt of social protection payments, and no additional pro-rata payment was paid in respect of the adult dependent; if this matter can be examined and a payment made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24816/23]

Citizens Information Services

Ivana Bacik

491. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide information regarding the reasoning behind the decision by the Citizens Information Board that volunteer information officers would not return to their normal work when citizen information centres reopened in autumn 2021 and Covid rules were relaxed, and the decision that from 31 August 2022 these volunteer information officers could not return unless they accepted a reduced administrative role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24821/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Ring

492. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection why the spring cost-of-living bonus has not yet issued to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24824/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

493. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any circumstances in which carer's benefit can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24831/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

James Lawless

494. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case where a person (details supplied) has waited six months for a decision relating to a paternity benefit appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24844/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

John Lahart

495. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider including qualified adult payment recipients in the Christmas bonus double payment and any such double payment in future budgets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24942/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

496. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a supplementary welfare allowance appeal can be awarded for a person (details supplied). [24985/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Ged Nash

497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that separated couples who have divided responsibility for childcare across a given week are currently caught in a situation where neither party is deemed to be entitled to the working family payment, despite the children being entirely dependent on both parties; if she has plans to address this unfair anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24987/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ged Nash

498. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the light of the changing shape of the Irish family, her Department has plans to review the eligibility criteria for family-based social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24988/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

499. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of cases referred to appeal in respect of all means-tested payments; the extent to which such cases are successful on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24997/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants whose applications for the State pension have been deemed unsuccessful in the past three years on the grounds of insufficient contributions or a lack of the minimum requirement in terms of overall contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24998/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

501. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to examine the situation whereby women who left full-time employment to care for a relative or family member and returned to the workforce with insufficient time to enable them to make the necessary contributions can meet the necessary contributions to qualify for a pension; if she continues to examine such cases with the prospect of remedial action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24999/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she might examine the extent to which a shortfall in an applicant's contributions has affected their entitlement to the State pension (contributory); if there remains an option of increasing their contributions up to the required level to enable them to qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25000/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently in hand in respect of means-tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25001/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for various health-related payments that have been refused in the past three years on the basis of failure to qualify on health grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25002/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

505. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments to men and women throughout the country on reaching their 100th birthday in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25003/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Bernard Durkan

506. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently employed on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25004/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

507. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of carer's allowance in respect of family members and non-family members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25005/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for exceptional needs payments in the past three years to date; the numbers pending, refused and successful in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25006/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

509. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of deserted wives' benefit payments that have been discontinued for whatever reason in the course of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25007/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

510. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of widow's pension payments that have been discontinued for whatever reason in the course of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25008/23]

Departmental Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

511. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual budget for the JobPath scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25014/23]

Employment Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

512. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual budget for the JobsPlus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25015/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Sherlock

513. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on funeral costs under the supplementary welfare allowance for the years 2016 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and the average cost of funerals. [25018/23]

Public Services Card

Seán Sherlock

514. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for a public services card in 2022 and to date in 2023. [25019/23]

Public Services Card

Seán Sherlock

515. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of transport used under public services cards by individuals, by county, in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [25021/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Sherlock

516. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people incorrectly awarded the spring bonus; and the estimated cost of recouping that. [25022/23]

Paternity Leave

Catherine Connolly

351. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending paternity leave by two weeks. [23758/23]