Parliamentary questions

Local Authorities

Thomas Gould

657. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has implemented second chance principles for those in recovery from addiction to access social housing. [14583/24]

Mayoral Election

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

658. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what progress has been made to have an election for a directly elected mayor for the city of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/24]

Development Contributions

Colm Burke

659. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a scheme (details supplied) will be extended beyond 24 April 2024 to all permitted residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/24]

Housing Schemes

Louise O'Reilly

660. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much funding was allocated by his Department in 2023 and 2024 to the communal facilities in housing projects; and how much funding was allocated to the same scheme by the National Lottery in 2023 and 2024.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14641/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

661. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list, in tabular form, the community and communal facilities funding options available for new mixed tenure housing developments. [14642/24]

Derelict Sites

Thomas Gould

662. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the derelict sites levies levied, collected, owed and cumulatively owed and the number of sites on their register on 31 December 2023 and at current date, by local authority, in tabular form. [14647/24]

Commercial Rates

Paul Kehoe

663. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there is any consideration being given to waiving rates for charity shops given the increasing cost of doing business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14661/24]

Water Services

Paul Murphy

664. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in relation to his commitment to support a referendum enshrining public ownership of our water services in the Constitution, he will confirm when the Government will announce a date for the water referendum (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/24]

Development Contributions

Cathal Crowe

665. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the temporary development contribution waiver scheme beyond April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14709/24]

Wildlife Regulations

Patrick Costello

666. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many bird of prey licences were issued for taking birds from the wild from 2014 to date; and the breakdown of taking birds from the wild licences for each of those years, by species, gender and by location, in tabular form. [14717/24]

Planning Issues

Cian O'Callaghan

667. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of any meetings, correspondence, or communications between a developer (details supplied) in relation to the refused planning application;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14764/24]

Planning Issues

Cian O'Callaghan

668. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage his reasoning for choosing the wording "housing growth target” in Amendment No. 640 to the Planning and Development Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14765/24]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

669. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the prospect of implementing a rent transparency register in the private rental sector which he supported during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018 in 2019; if his Department has further investigated the GDPR implications of a rent transparency register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pearse Doherty

670. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the second meeting of the sub-group set up to examining issues relating to the enhanced DCB scheme, which met on 11 January 2024, did not meet as planned on 21 February; the reason a meeting did not take place in March; if there has been further communication with homeowner representatives attending the sub-group since its first and only meeting; and if he will commit to convene a second meeting in a timely manner with meetings then scheduled on a monthly basis. [14842/24]

Local Elections

Pa Daly

671. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if firefighters can be excluded from Circular LG(P) 06/09 ''Local Government Act 2001 (Section 161) Order 2004'' which prohibits local authority employees from contesting the forthcoming local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14843/24]

Local Authorities

Paul Kehoe

672. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of affordable housing schemes, in tabular form, by cost rental and affordable purchase, that are planned per council area in the next three years; the number of homes involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14855/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Christopher O'Sullivan

673. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps are being taken by the NPWS to prevent severe overgrazing in Killarney National Park by non-native invasive species such as sika deer and feral goats (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14883/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Christopher O'Sullivan

674. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is aware that overgrazing by two non-native invasive species, primarily sika deer and feral goats, is contributing to habitat loss as well as the spread of rhododendrum ponticum in Killarney National Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14885/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Christopher O'Sullivan

675. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps are being taken to control the sika deer population in Killarney National Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14886/24]

Rental Sector

Seán Haughey

676. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board in order that legal assistance can be given to users of the service to have judgements actually enforced; if he will introduce further changes to allow orders against incomes or social welfare benefits in the case of rent arrears owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14895/24]

National Parks

Christopher O'Sullivan

677. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a park management plan has not been produced for Killarney National Park since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14897/24]

National Parks

Christopher O'Sullivan

678. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the highly effective rhododendron removal campaign run by an organisation (details supplied) for over three decades in Killarney National Park was ended by National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14910/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Christopher O'Sullivan

679. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a proper science-based and holistic ecological restoration programme, based on IUCN guidelines, would be implemented in the park by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/24]

National Parks

Christopher O'Sullivan

680. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that are being taken to address the issue of rhododendron infestation in Killarney National Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14935/24]

Fire Safety

Paul Murphy

681. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if those affected have to pay out in relation to the fire safety redress scheme in order that works can be completed and then the OMC can seek the refund from the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14984/24]

Housing Schemes

Carol Nolan

682. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the implementation of the Government agreement to extend the rent-a-room relief scheme disregard to social welfare recipients, extend the disregard into medical card criteria, and permit local authority tenancies access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14996/24]

Local Authorities

Eoin Ó Broin

683. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the 1830 social housing acquisitions in 2023, by categories, vacant acquisitions, tenant-in-situ acquisitions, buy and renew acquisitions and mortgage-to-rent acquisitions; and to provide a breakdown of each category, by local authority. [14999/24]

Local Authorities

Eoin Ó Broin

684. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the 8110 social housing new builds delivered in 2023, by delivery streams, SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Local Authority Part V, Approved Housing Body Part V and regeneration and PPP. [15000/24]

House Prices

Eoin Ó Broin

685. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of affordable homes delivered in 2023 under the Affordable Housing Fund (total cost and AHF cost), the Cost Rental Equity Loan (total cost and CREL cost) and LDA cost rental. [15001/24]

Planning Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

686. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of planning appeals decided within four months which is the statutory objective under the current law; whether it is intended to provide further resources urgently to An bord Pleanála to ensure that this objective is achieved in the vast majority of all appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15002/24]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

687. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to the Exchequer resulting from funding the Land Development Agency either directly or indirectly through other public bodies such as the ISIF each year since 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15005/24]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

688. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact on the Exchequer of the Government decision in 2023 to provide the Land Development Agency with an additional €1.25 billion in funding through the ISIF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15006/24]

Local Authorities

Eoin Ó Broin

689. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost per unit of new-build social housing delivered in 2023, broken down by SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction (including full cost and CALF cost), CALF turnkey (including full cost and CALF cost), CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Local Authority Part V, AHB Part V, acquisition, Affordable Housing Fund (including full cost and AHF cost), Cost Rental Equity Loan (including full cost and CREL cost), in tabular form. [15017/24]

Departmental Schemes

Robert Troy

690. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reconsider awarding a built heritage investment grant to a person (details supplied); and if there is an appeal avenue for this grant scheme. [15019/24]

Local Authorities

Peadar Tóibín

691. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on local authority housing lists aged over 65 years, by gender and by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15025/24]

Office of Public Works

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

692. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to assist a service in supplying a support (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15037/24]

Departmental Reports

Robert Troy

693. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the criteria for housing adaption grants in order that a change of circumstances that is, a reduction in earnings, can be taken into consideration rather than the earnings of the previous calendar year. [15049/24]

Housing Schemes

Sorca Clarke

694. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many homes were delivered through the repair and lease scheme in Longford for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [15070/24]

Vacant Properties

Thomas Gould

695. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of a property (details supplied) in Cork city that has been reportedly vacant for five years and is causing issues for tenants in the property next door; and whether an application for repair of the property has ever been made by Cork City Council. [15120/24]

Legislative Programme

Pádraig O'Sullivan

696. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15123/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

697. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average duration of the lease agreement in place for properties restored under the repair and leasing scheme; the cost of the scheme in every year since 2017; how many units are targeted for 2024; the reasons the majority of homes delivered to date are concentrated in one local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15171/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

698. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many units have been delivered under the buy and renew scheme in each year since it was introduced; the total cost in each year; how many units are targeted for 2024; if he will provide a breakdown, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15172/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

699. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing delivery targets for 2024; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the projected new build targets by LA, AHB and Part V; if he will provide a breakdown of projected acquisition, by local authority, housing agency, AHB, and CALF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15173/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

700. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing delivery targets for 2024 under the various leasing initiatives; if he will provide a breakdown by Part V, SCHEP long- and short-term leasing, and the targeted leasing initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15174/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

701. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the affordable housing delivery targets for 2024; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown by affordable purchase (LA affordable purchase scheme, First Home Scheme and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant) and by cost-rental (local authority/AHB/LDA); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15175/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

702. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approvals have issued under the First Home Scheme to date; how many of those approvals have been drawn down; if he will provide a breakdown of how many of those approvals were for self-build; how many have been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15176/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

703. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approvals have issued under the First Homes Tenant Purchase Scheme to date; how many of those approvals have been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15177/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

704. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many cost rental tenant-in-situ proposals have been completed to date; how many have been acquired by the Housing Agency; if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of referrals to the Housing Agency; the number completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15178/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

705. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many tenant-in-situ purchases were completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many from 2023 are still outstanding; how many purchases have been completed to date in 2024; how much funding is available for 2024; how many homes it is expected will be bought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15179/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Kehoe

706. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that were made to a Land Development Agency cost rental scheme in an apartment complex (details supplied); the number of eligible applications; where the process currently stands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15199/24]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

707. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on how he and his Department will simplify and enhance the application process and application timelines on the croí cónaithe scheme considering the worrying figures reported in a newspaper (details supplied) on the number of applicants who have successfully drawn down funding on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15200/24]

Departmental Schemes

Niall Collins

708. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grant assistance is available for a club (details supplied) to provide worker accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15202/24]

Local Authorities

Violet-Anne Wynne

709. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total social housing output as advised to his Department by a local authority (details supplied) in the years 2018 to 2023 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/24]

Housing Provision

Cathal Crowe

710. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a progress report on the €8 million project of 30 new social houses at Deerpark, Ennistymon, County Clare (as announced in late 2020); if he can clarify the reasons for delays encountered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15268/24]

Development Contributions

Denise Mitchell

711. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any intention to extend the temporary development contribution waiver scheme beyond the end of April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15343/24]

Fire Stations

Fergus O'Dowd

712. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the new fire station in Dunleer, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15346/24]

Water Pollution

Darren O'Rourke

713. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a situation (details supplied); what measures he plans to introduce to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15355/24]

Development Contributions

Richard Bruton

714. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered extending the deadline for the temporary waiver of development fees, as many applicants were unable to complete the process within the short timeframe given. [15376/24]

Water Supply

Alan Dillon

715. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on the total subsidy due to a water scheme (details supplied); the reason for withholding this payment; when they can expect to receive it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15377/24]

Departmental Staff

Eoin Ó Broin

716. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all ASGs and POs in his Department with their current responsibilities. [15378/24]

Planning Issues

Pauline Tully

717. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Planning and Development Act 2000 incorporates the principles of Universal Design; and if the Planning and Development Act 2000 places an obligation on local authorities to incorporate the principles of Universal Design in the delivery of public infrastructure and the built environment. [15442/24]

Defective Building Materials

Joe McHugh

718. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next sub-group meeting regarding defective blocks will happen; if he will consider up-front payments to homeowners who are currently struggling with finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15476/24]

Homeless Persons Supports

Violet-Anne Wynne

719. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many people in Clare have died while homeless in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15499/24]

Homeless Persons Supports

Violet-Anne Wynne

720. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many people in Clare have died while in emergency accommodation in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15500/24]

Housing Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

721. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the homeless HAP for single parents who have received a notice to quit in the Mid-West region, as the current rate of homeless HAP for rural counties is not sufficient to meet rental costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Violet-Anne Wynne

722. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if having rent arrears as a HAP tenant is a reason to withhold emergency accommodation for a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15503/24]

Defective Building Materials

Violet-Anne Wynne

723. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the initial grant offered to homeowners impacted by the defective blocks scheme; the reason there will be variances in the amount of grant received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15504/24]

Development Contributions

James Lawless

724. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine a matter in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15514/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Niamh Smyth

725. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the dietary supplement payment was stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15052/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard O'Donoghue

726. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit payments can be extended for students in full-time education up to the age of 21 years, due to the escalating cost of living families are enduring at this present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13566/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Danny Healy-Rae

727. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on an invalidity pension application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13581/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

728. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a State pension (non-contributory) will be approved for a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency. [13585/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ruairí Ó Murchú

729. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to allowing the payment of children's allowance to all students over 18 who are still in school, from when they turned 18, and their children's allowance was stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13659/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Carol Nolan

730. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the estimated savings that may accrue in a full year following recent changes to social protection payments to beneficiaries of temporary protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13670/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ivana Bacik

731. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is considered a disability for disability payment purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13676/24]

Social Welfare Code

Bernard Durkan

732. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the blind pension is means tested while the invalidity pension is not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13742/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

733. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13813/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

734. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of properties either owned or leased by her Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13831/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

735. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that her Department is asking people who received an award under the Caranua Scheme to supply a letter from Caranua confirming the date and amount of the award, despite the fact that they signed a non-disclosure clause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13849/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Mick Barry

736. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to ensure that the person involved will have access to a social protection payment that will allow them to apply for social housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13889/24]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

737. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that all calculations for the purpose of determining an entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult for the State pension (contributory) have been determined correctly in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13901/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

738. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when child benefit will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13916/24]

Pensions Council

Thomas Pringle

739. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the Pensions Council has failed to publish an independent evaluation report (details supplied) along with the approved minutes of its December 2023 meeting, as required by Rule 18 of its rules of procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13918/24]

Social Insurance

Neasa Hourigan

740. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department's policy on protection of social insurance entitlements for parents who leave paid work to provide periods of care in the home, such as for young children; her plans to review situations where workers have lost social insurance entitlements as a result of exiting the workforce for periods to provide care in the home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13968/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

741. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13980/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

742. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of disability allowance for a person in County Cork (details supplied). [13986/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

743. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance appeal (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13988/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Kathleen Funchion

744. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an invalidity appeal (details supplied) is taking so long to obtain an answer [13990/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael McNamara

745. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14066/24]

Employment Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

746. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a pay claim by RSS and TÚS supervisors that was lodged with the Department some time ago; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14069/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael McNamara

747. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to delays in the processing times of working family payment applications; what measures are being taken to have these times reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14080/24]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

748. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14137/24]

State Pensions

Paul McAuliffe

749. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to carry out a review of the pension contributions of a person (details supplied). [14138/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

750. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will issue on a carer’s allowance application (details supplied). [14139/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

751. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will issue on a disability allowance application (details supplied). [14151/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Jim O'Callaghan

752. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of 18-year-olds that will now qualify for child benefit on foot of the recent changes introduced, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14154/24]

Departmental Advertising

Jackie Cahill

753. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department uses community radio for advertising and public awareness campaigns; if not, the reason, given the vital role community radio often plays in the dissemination of information to local communities; if her Department will consider using community radio for public awareness campaigns in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14173/24]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

754. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students at primary and post-primary respectively provided with free school meals in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [14224/24]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

755. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing school meals per child in primary and post-primary schools respectively, in the academic years 2022-2023 and to date in 2023-2024, in tabular form. [14225/24]

Maternity Leave

Colm Burke

756. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the duration of paid maternity leave to facilitate more women to continue breastfeeding for longer than they otherwise would have had they returned to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14235/24]