Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25861/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Kehoe

104. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue from the appeals office following an oral hearing in January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25661/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

105. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of her Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if she or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25677/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and each body and agency under the remit of her Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25695/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

David Stanton

1. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases currently being considered by the social welfare appeals office, in tabular form; the longest waiting times under each scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25415/24]

Citizens Information Services

Pauline Tully

2. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to put adequate funding in place to ensure that the business case submitted to the Citizens' Information Board by the National Advocacy Service in relation to pay, grades and other conditions, on foot of a Labour Court recommendation, is undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25425/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Bernard Durkan

3. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent, if any, to which improvements might be made in respect of various social welfare payments which currently might fall short of an equality with other recipients of payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25394/24]

Social Insurance

Paul Murphy

4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support withdrawing the planned increases to employees' PRSI and increasing employers' PRSI towards European levels instead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25407/24]

State Pensions

Violet-Anne Wynne

5. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that foster caring for children with additional complex needs does not qualify one for full pension support, even in cases where Tusla has advised these carers they need to be on call 24-7 to support the child's medical needs and therefore one carer per household should not rejoin the workforce (details supplied); if she has liaised with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this matter, as that Department's Minister promised in Question No. 1347 of 17 January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25424/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Ruairí Ó Murchú

6. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times at the Social Welfare Appeals Office; if additional resources will be allocated to it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25416/24]

Community Employment Schemes

Richard Bruton

7. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community employment scheme has been subject to programme evaluation; if there are plans for its evolution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25413/24]

School Meals Programme

Violet-Anne Wynne

8. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to expand the hot school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25423/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Paul Murphy

9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase social welfare rates in budget 2025 in order that no one is living below the poverty line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25409/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

David Stanton

10. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, with reference to section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the number of revisions carried out under the section in each respective year from 2021 to 2023 inclusive; the number of these revisions that resulted in a changed decision; the number of revisions currently being considered under the section; of these, the longest waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25414/24]

School Meals Programme

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expand the free school meals programme to all schools from September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25410/24]

Disability Services

Catherine Connolly

12. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 25 April 2024, her plans to reconsider the introduction of a cost-of-disability payment; the details of her or her Department's engagement with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this matter since the scrapping of the Green Paper; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25427/24]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects to examine the possibility of allowing pro rata pensions for those that currently have insufficient contributions to qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25393/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

428. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if, with regard to a non-habitual Irish citizen who has returned to Ireland for health reasons in order to avail of their family’s support, considering the habitual residence requirement for most payments and supports where the individual is seriously ill, unable to work, and does not have savings, she will outline what payments, grants, supports and loans are available for application for non-habitual citizens in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24589/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Denise Mitchell

429. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the appeal of a person (details supplied). [24603/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Denise Mitchell

430. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the average response time to the Oireachtas representatives’ email address regarding social welfare appeals. [24604/24]