Parliamentary questions

Public Services Card

Duncan Smith

107. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any restrictions on a service (details supplied) that would result in public service card users only being allowed to book seats in a limited manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23128/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

108. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection who will be responsible for the review into payments for migrants both from Ukraine and elsewhere; the Departments or State bodies that will be represented at the meetings; the format it will take; the number of meetings that will be held; if the conclusions will be published; if it will consider international comparators as well as adequacy of payments; and if it will engage with any external bodies. [23035/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Seán Haughey

109. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the backlog of cases at the social welfare appeals office where appellants are being told that this office is currently working through submissions received from mid-February 2024; if she will take appropriate measures including staff changes to alleviate this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23088/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Patricia Ryan

110. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied) was refused; the reason this has taken nine months for the person to be notified of the refusal. [23155/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Robert Troy

111. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the entitlement to illness benefit for those who are self employed. [23163/24]

Departmental Contracts

Paul Donnelly

112. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of each time her Department enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the purpose and value of each contract, in tabular form. [23250/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard O'Donoghue

113. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the household benefit package can be made available to all persons once they reach State pension age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23258/24]

State Pensions

Richard Bruton

114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans changes to the pension provision for people who because of the nature of their work have earlier retirement dates, in order that they do not have large fall in living standards when they step down from those roles. [23259/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

368. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22340/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for exceptional needs payment can be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22343/24]

School Meals Programme

Paul Donnelly

370. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of schools participating in the hot school meals programme in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7, and any schools in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 that have requested to be on the list but are not included in this year’s programme. [22383/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

371. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the diet supplement was discontinued; if she will detail the supports that currently exist to help people who have been prescribed a particular diet which frequently costs more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22388/24]

School Meals Programme

Rose Conway-Walsh

372. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the challenges faced by many community pre-schools (details supplied) due to the fact that the school meals programme funding does not cover the costs associated with providing food and drink for children; the steps she is taking to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22393/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

373. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carer’s allowance submitted on 16 October (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22394/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

374. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22398/24]

Departmental Circulars

Eoin Ó Broin

375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection when the circular providing guidance to social welfare offices on the new rules regarding disregarding maintenance payments for existing JSA/transitional JSA claimants will be issued. [22402/24]

School Meals Programme

Richard Bruton

376. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would consider establishing a review of the possibility of including more fresh fruit and vegetables in the school meals programme; and to develop measures to minimise waste from uneaten food or containers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22405/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Niamh Smyth

377. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a decision on their domiciliary care allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22414/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

378. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a contributory state pension and if their contribution record can be provided. [22431/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

379. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living for 2024 as detailed by an organisation (details supplied) in tabular form. [22436/24]