Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

847. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for persons who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and had their payments ceased as a result of reaching 66 years of age; if consideration has been given to allowing recipients of the State pension (contributory) to receive the pandemic unemployment payment in circumstances in which their employment continues to be affected as a result of public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30588/21]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

848. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the uptake and funding rates of the disability awareness support scheme between 2017 and 2021, in tabular form. [30609/21]

Haulage Industry

Jackie Cahill

849. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advertise grants for Heavy Goods Vehicle, HGV, and bus driver lessons as part of the back to work scheme given the pressing need to get drivers trained for the transport and haulage industries due to a shortage of drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30616/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Fitzmaurice

850. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's application by a person (details supplied) who is providing full-time care for both their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30659/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Ring

851. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families in receipt of monthly child benefit payments, per county, in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30695/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Connolly

852. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 666 of 28 April 2021, her plans to defer the 13-week requalification period in respect of persons on partial capacity benefit until after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in view of the financial difficulties endured by many as a result of the pandemic; the analysis her Department has carried out of the financial cost of such a deferral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30698/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Connolly

853. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in the moderate, severe and profound categories of illness who have started their 13-week requalification period for the partial capacity benefit in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30699/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Connolly

854. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who successfully transferred from partial capacity benefit to supplementary welfare allowance or another social welfare payment for the duration of their 13-week partial capacity benefit requalification period in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30700/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Pauline Tully

855. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider automatically extending the free travel scheme to persons who lose their driving licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures; if she will consider making the scheme a stand-alone scheme in order that persons who are diagnosed with epilepsy or breakthrough seizures but who do not meet the requirements for a qualifying payment such as disability allowance or invalidity pension can apply directly for a free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30714/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Darren O'Rourke

856. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing maternity benefit from 26 weeks to 29 weeks. [30726/21]

Departmental Staff

Darren O'Rourke

857. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff by grade working in the household benefits section; and the number of vacancies by grade within the section. [30727/21]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Murphy

858. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of advocates in the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities; and the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of advocates by six, 10 and 25 staff, respectively, in tabular form. [30742/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Murphy

859. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the carer's support grant by €75, €150 and €225, respectively, in tabular form. [30743/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Rose Conway-Walsh

860. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the State of providing a free travel pass to persons who lose their licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30772/21]

State Pensions

Willie O'Dea

861. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will allow an individual grievance, conversation or mediation regarding an unsolved pensions issue ongoing for 25 years in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30818/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Eoin Ó Broin

862. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households eligible for schemes (details supplied) effective from 1 August 2018. [30826/21]

Low Pay Commission

Michael McNamara

863. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the implementation of the universal basic income pilot committed to as part of the request to the Low Pay Commission to examine universal basic income committed to under the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30832/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

864. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on allowing schools (details supplied) with registered charitable status to participate in the Tús scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30844/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

865. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of social welfare payments for April, May and June and to date in 2021; and the number in receipt of each social welfare payment in tabular form. [30858/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

866. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the expenditure incurred by staff in her Department under the heading of travel and subsistence from 1 January 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30872/21]

Departmental Reviews

Carol Nolan

867. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of each value-for-money and policy review conducted by her Department from 1 January 2019 to date; if external costs were incurred; if so, the details of such costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30889/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Rose Conway-Walsh

868. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the back to education allowance for each year for which data is available; if this cost covers fees and-or the student contribution charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30989/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

869. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of parent’s leave and benefit by month in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [31085/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

870. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the artists pilot scheme for social protection has been developed since 2017; the number of artists who have been recipients under the scheme each year since it was established; the cost of the scheme each year since it was established; and her plans to extend the programme. [31098/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

871. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families that receive child benefit payments; and the number of children these are in respect of. [31166/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

872. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of making a one-off annual double payment of child benefit to all recipients in September 2021. [31167/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

873. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the school meals programme budget by 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively; and the estimated cost of extending the programme budget to include provision for breakfast in addition to lunch. [31168/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

874. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children availing of free hot school meals; the cost of same; and the cost per child and school of delivering same. [31169/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

875. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing hot free school meals to all children currently availing of free school meals. [31170/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

876. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing free hot school meals to all children attending DEIS schools. [31171/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Brendan Griffin

877. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment placement will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31199/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

878. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to the full rate of carer’s allowance. [31207/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

879. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31218/21]

Irish Sign Language

Pa Daly

880. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the review by her Department of the functioning of the IRIS application; if she will consider keeping the on-demand element open on an interim basis whilst the review is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31226/21]

Departmental Data

Violet-Anne Wynne

881. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department can withhold personal data for up to seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31234/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Violet-Anne Wynne

882. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if there can be a grace period of reopening for business owners who are on the pandemic unemployment payment and are taking tentative steps to rebuild their business model to reflect this time such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [31235/21]

Parental Leave

Róisín Shortall

883. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding parent’s leave benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31263/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

John Lahart

884. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider eligibility for the free travel scheme for persons who are disqualified from driving due to epileptic or breakthrough seizures in order that they can maintain their independence and continue in work or in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31267/21]

Departmental Funding

Violet-Anne Wynne

885. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a training fund of up to €1,000 is available for persons in receipt of jobseeker’s payment but is not available for participants of JobPath who can only avail of job related training on a discretionary case by case basis such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [31274/21]

Departmental Websites

Holly Cairns

886. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to have a statement on the compliance of their websites and mobile applications with the regulations under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31290/21]

Departmental Websites

Holly Cairns

887. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to subject to Regulation 6, public sector bodies shall, in accordance with Regulation 3, take necessary measures to make their websites and mobile applications more accessible by making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31308/21]

Pension Provisions

Michael Creed

888. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to arrears of a contributory pension. [31368/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Seán Canney

889. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the threshold for earned income in order to qualify for deserted wife’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31381/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Seán Canney

890. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection when the existing level threshold for earnings to qualify for the deserted wife’s benefit was last reviewed; if she plans to review the threshold limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31382/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Robert Troy

891. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if Covid-19 supports will remain in place for certain sectors beyond September 2021; and her views on whether certain employment such as wedding bands will not be able to take up full employment again on the lifting of restrictions and will have to wait for bookings to start coming in. [31396/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

James Lawless

892. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer’s benefit allocation of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31419/21]

Departmental Staff

Róisín Shortall

893. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employees who are on secondment from her Department to other organisations; the number of these who are in receipt of a higher duty allowance; the number of staff who were previously seconded and subsequently returned to work in her Department on a lower grade than their secondment position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31424/21]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

894. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the amount spent on the grants for employers to retain employees with disabilities in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31434/21]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

895. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of extending current supports which encourage and incentivise employers to hire and retain a person with a disability such as the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities and the grants for employers to retain employees with disabilities to allow self-employed persons with a disability apply for these supports to hire and retain themselves; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31435/21]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

896. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of permitting self-employed persons with a disability to apply for and the grants for employers to retain employees with disabilities and the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities for themselves as if they were an employee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31436/21]