Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

88. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she has considered the situation of those providing kinship care, and the discrepancy between the financial supports provided to kinship carers by comparison to non-familial foster carers. [7915/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Emer Higgins

89. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing children suffering hair loss to avail of the grants for wigs based on their parents PRSI contributions. [7786/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard Bruton

90. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered initiatives to identify the extent of underclaiming of entitlements from her Department by categories such the low paid at work, by carers, and by pensioners, for whom rules of entitlement may be poorly understood; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7859/24]

Pension Provisions

Niamh Smyth

91. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the specifics regarding the pension entitlements being worked on for carers by her Department presently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7584/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Christopher O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who claimed jobseeker's benefit for self-employed and exhausted that benefit, is treated differently from a person who claimed jobseeker's benefit and exhausted that benefit when applying for the benefit for 65 year-olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7803/24]

Pension Provisions

Matt Carthy

93. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in light of recent court judgments, she intends to provide State pension entitlements to the long-term non-married partners of deceased persons. [7885/24]

Poverty Impact Assessment

Paul Murphy

94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out a poverty impact assessment of extending child benefit to 16, 17 and 18 year-olds not in full-time education or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7896/24]

Departmental Reviews

Éamon Ó Cuív

95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is intended to introduce changes to means testing based on the report being prepared by her Department on means testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7780/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brian Leddin

96. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Social Protection in light of her announcement that the free travel scheme is to be extended this July to people who have never been able to drive due to a disability, her views on the idea to expand the free travel scheme to the shared bike and e-bike schemes in towns and cities across the country to the same cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7861/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

97. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the fact that standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments do not apply in the means testing of the guardians payment non-contributory. [7914/24]

Poverty Data

Gary Gannon

98. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection what measures will be taken to respond adequately to the report carried out by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and presented to the United Nations, which found that the State was failing to address the root causes of poverty through its ''short-term, emergency and temporary measures". [7890/24]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she might review cases where a contributory State pension was refused on the grounds of insufficient contributions, with particular reference to allowing partial payment in line with the level of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7788/24]

Departmental Strategies

Alan Farrell

100. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Government’s ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4001/24]

Departmental Bodies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

101. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection to report on the latest meeting of the Smart Energy Steering Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7856/24]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

102. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the steps her Department is taking in addressing the 'cliff-edges' in welfare systems; as she is aware these 'cliff-edges' in the welfare systems are where benefit entitlements and other supports are withdrawn sharply; these 'cliff-edges' disincentivise individuals from increasing their work hours or accepting pay rises as they might end up financially worse off due to the sudden loss of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7456/24]

Departmental Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the Irish sign language voucher scheme and when will it be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7775/24]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

104. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the measures being taken to support low-income families, such as increases in weekly social welfare payments, an increase in the domiciliary care allowance, and increases in the income thresholds for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/24]

Departmental Data

James O'Connor

105. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount her Department spent on the farm assist payment in Cork east in 2023; the total number of recipients in Cork east for the same year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7857/24]

State Pensions

Aindrias Moynihan

106. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider including adult dependant recipients who are 80 years and over for increase of payment which presently is only available to State pension recipients over 80 years and over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7935/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Niamh Smyth

107. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans to extend child benefit to those continuing in secondary education but who have turned 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7585/24]

Departmental Reviews

Éamon Ó Cuív

108. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date with the review of means testing of social protection schemes; when the report arising from this review will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7779/24]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received by her Department under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of Galway city and county since the flooding in Galway in November 2023; the amount paid out to-date under the scheme to the residents of Galway city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7854/24]

Industrial Disputes

Catherine Connolly

110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 7 December 2023, for a status update on his Department's engagement with representatives of community employment supervisors and Tús supervisors with a view to resolving the pay gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7853/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Thomas Gould

111. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the supports provided to family carers. [7887/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Seán Sherlock

361. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications and awards for supplementary welfare under the criteria or reference to, the need for mental health supports, by county, in tabular form. [8075/24]

State Pensions

Michael Collins

362. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons over the age of 70 years who are capable and willing to work could be eligible for additional the State pension benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8087/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Niamh Smyth

363. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7411/24]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

364. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to urgent concerns raised from the local deaf community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7425/24]

Tax Collection

John Paul Phelan

365. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue which will be generated in 2024 from the increases to PRSI announced as part of the Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7432/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Martin Browne

366. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if provision will be made to assess a family (details supplied) for carers allowance before their twin children return from hospital where their parents have been accompanying them since the birth of their children at great financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7553/24]

School Meals Programme

John Lahart

367. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a progress report on the school meals programme and its successful expansion. [7554/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Niamh Smyth

368. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans to extend child benefit for those continuing in secondary education but who have turned 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7558/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Colm Burke

369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the current position where a person is in receipt of carer’s allowance, and they are also working part-time, but due to hospitalisation are not able to work for a period of time; if there are proposals to amend the current system that does not allow them to qualify for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/24]

School Meals Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the timeline for the full installation of the hot school meals programme; if there is a commitment by her Department to cover all schools by the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Alan Kelly

371. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people benefit from the wage subsidy scheme, by county and by month for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7616/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Alan Kelly

372. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people under the wage subsidy scheme have lost that payment following the acquiring of hotels and other accommodation settings for Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, by month and by county for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7617/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Alan Kelly

373. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people under the wage subsidy scheme have lost that payment following the acquiring of hotels and other accommodation settings for Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, by month and by county for 2022, 2023 and for January 2024. [7618/24]

State Pensions

Seán Canney

374. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in long-term nursing care rents out their principal private residence, which is vacant, will there be any negative implications on their State pension (non-contributory) or any other tax issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7653/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

David Stanton

375. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans she has to backdate the recently announced child benefit payment to families with children who are 18 years of age and over, and who are still attending second level school, to the birth dates of any such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7677/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

David Stanton

376. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection with respect to the recently announced child benefit payment to families with children aged 18 and over and who are attending second level school, if she will allow the payment to continue beyond the child’s 19th birthday while they are still attending second level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7682/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

377. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a redundancy application in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7689/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

378. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) are eligible for optical benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7694/24]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

379. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection whether her attention has been drawn to the non-payment of sign language interpreting services under the voucher scheme for interpreters, and the resulting cancellation of all interpreter bookings from 20 February 2024; whether she will ensure that this funding is released urgently in order to allow the deaf community to avail of ISL interpreters under the voucher scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7737/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Emer Higgins

380. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection how child benefit payments are paid per area in Newcastle, Rathcoole and Saggart County Dublin and Celbridge, County Kildare. [7829/24]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Murphy

381. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the 2023 and 2024 current budget funding allocated towards the humanitarian support scheme, in tabular form. [7844/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Violet-Anne Wynne

382. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7910/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Pauline Tully

383. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to increase the wage subsidy scheme in line with the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7924/24]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

384. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has concerns regarding the suspension of the social inclusion fund for the deaf community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7925/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Niamh Smyth

385. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review/appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7953/24]

School Meals Programme

Paul Murphy

386. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that children with coeliac disease are properly catered for in the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6385/24]