Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Code

James O'Connor

72. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection her strategy to review the payment rate of the fuel allowance in view of increased costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14828/22]

Departmental Contracts

Seán Sherlock

73. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the contracts with all third-party operators that engage on behalf of her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the schemes that they operate on behalf of the Department in tabular form. [14860/22]

Ukraine War

Emer Higgins

74. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the services being provided by her Department to individuals and families arriving in Ireland that are fleeing the war in Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14661/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Boyd Barrett

75. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will rectify the situation in which those on pandemic unemployment payments over the course of the pandemic do not now have the necessary PRSI contributions to cover regular dental and optician visits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14563/22]

Ukraine War

John Lahart

76. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the supports her Department is providing for persons arriving from Ukraine including supports for those arriving under the EU Temporary Protection Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14820/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Matt Carthy

77. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the aspects of farm assist that may be reformed arising from the report into the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14861/22]

Employment Rights

Louise O'Reilly

78. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to uncover, address and reduce bogus self-employment from a social insurance perspective, especially in State-funded agencies or in areas in which public monies are being spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7298/22]

Employment Schemes

Paul Kehoe

79. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of the increase in the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14573/22]

State Pensions

Brendan Smith

80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the report of the Commission on Pensions; the expected timescale for Government decisions on its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14869/22]

Employment Schemes

Paul Murphy

81. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of roles that have been filled in the Work Placement Experience Programme; the cost of the scheme to the Exchequer since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7060/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Alan Dillon

82. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to including assistance for broadband connection as part of the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14847/22]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, as outlined in the Committee’s response to the Report of the Commission on Pensions, February 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14849/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

84. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid by her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022 under the heading of medical equipment; and the breakdown by county of such payments. [14858/22]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

85. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection her long-term plans to ensure that school meals are available in as many schools across the State as possible. [14146/22]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

86. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the plan to tender out existing local employment services by region and the date to be implemented in each case; the cost to date of organising these tendering competitions in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14868/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

568. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure accessibility in applying for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, in particular for applicants having difficulties with computer literacy, language, broadband and ICT. [15049/22]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Collins

569. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the time period for which the fuel allowance is granted; and if the allowance will be extended by a minimum of one month given the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland. [15080/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Mark Ward

570. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons to apply for the fuel allowance if the only household members who are not in receipt of one of the qualifying social assistance payments are instead in minimum wage employment. [13833/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denise Mitchell

571. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the claim for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied) will be reconsidered. [13862/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Healy-Rae

572. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13863/22]