Parliamentary questions

General Register Office

Richard Bruton

434. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the research room for the general records is now only open one day a week, down from five, which is considerably hampering research; and if she will consider arrangements to make it more accessible. [19415/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

435. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18733/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul McAuliffe

436. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out a review of a disability allowance for a person (details supplied). [18762/24]

Carer's Leave

James Lawless

437. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the current criteria regarding carers leave/benefits (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18784/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

438. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the available State supports for people with disabilities seeking work or already working; if she plans to improve supports; if there are proposals to change these supports in any way in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18800/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

439. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection with reference to the Departmental contract with An Post, if her Department has put in a penalty clause on any welfare overpayment, given it was always paid back by postmasters who are now being informed of a €500 penalty per overpayment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18824/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

440. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of copper communication lines within her Department that are currently in active operation and for which her Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18844/24]

School Meals Programme

Mairéad Farrell

441. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a DEIS school (details supplied) will receive funding for hot school meals; if so, when this will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18879/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

442. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if people receiving a disability payment and who transfer to the State pension will still be eligible for any additional one-off cost-of-living payments which are made to a person with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18890/24]

State Pensions

Catherine Murphy

443. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for State pension (contributory) that were refused by her Department in each month of 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [18899/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Lowry

444. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the current status of the application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of an individual (details supplied) who was previously unsuccessful; to confirm if the diagnosis of 'Classic PKU - Non-Responsive to Kuvan' (Phenylketonuria) fulfils the qualifying medical criteria for payment of domiciliary care allowance, given that the child does not respond to Kuvan treatment and requires a very specific diet and continuous monitoring on a daily basis for a lifetime; the reason some parents of children diagnosed with this condition qualify for domiciliary care allowance, while others with the same diagnosis do not; to specifically clarify the reason that this applicant was unsuccessful in their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18927/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Seán Canney

445. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly whereby people who are wheelchair users and who are receiving a civil service pension and who are not in receipt of a disability allowance cannot access free travel while under 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18965/24]

Widow's Pension

Peter Fitzpatrick

446. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if the State plans to open eligibility to widow's pension to those who were not legally married but in a long-term committed relationship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18978/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a contributory pension investigation (details supplied). [18979/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

448. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a contributory pension investigation (details supplied). [18980/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disability allowance applications which were submitted in the period 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of applications which were successful on first processing; the number which were eventually successful following a review; the number eventually successful following an appeal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19000/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

450. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carer's allowance applications submitted in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of applications which were successful on first processing; the number which were eventually successful following a review; the number which were eventually successful following an appeal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19015/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

451. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of invalidity pension applications which were submitted in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of applications which were successful on first processing; the number which were eventually successful following a review; the number which were eventually successful following an appeal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19019/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Niamh Smyth

452. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection what protocols are in place for people who refuse the offer of work while in receipt of jobseeker’s payments; if employers are being liaised with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19027/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John Lahart

453. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering any measures that would assist in the reduction of the cost of bin charges for older persons (details supplied). [19043/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; if her Department will contact the person in relation to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19074/24]

School Meals Programme

Ivana Bacik

455. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 400 of 23 April 2024, if the national standards for school meals stipulates that produce which is delivered under the school meals programme must or should be sourced in Ireland; and the proportion of foods provided under the programme with a country of origin which is not Ireland. [19084/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John McGuinness

456. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full payment of child benefit will be approved for a person (details supplied) and their partner, as both are in the process of establishing their home again in Ireland, having spent several years abroad; and if she will expedite a positive decision. [19086/24]

EU Directives

John Paul Phelan

457. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19173/24]

Widow's Pension

Thomas Pringle

458. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the actions her Department has taken in relation to the entitlement of an unmarried co-habitant to a widows, widowers or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension following on from the recent Supreme Court judgment of 22 January 2024 including the legislative changes required; the timeline to respond to this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19179/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Holly Cairns

459. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the jobseeker’s benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19226/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

460. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed jobseeker’s benefit pay related scheme; when in particular it is expected to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19247/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Sherlock

461. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments made, per county, for each month of 2024, for additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments, by category, in tabular form. [19271/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Sherlock

462. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out to all consultancy firms for any services rendered; and the cost per contract in 2023 as a whole and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19273/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Sherlock

463. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in each month; the total and individual value of each payment; and the total expenditure, by category and month, from January 2021 to April 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [19274/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

464. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of heating supplement payments that were paid under the supplementary welfare allowance for each month from January 2021 to April 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the number of persons who were in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number who were not in receipt of fuel allowance; the value of each monthly heating payment under the category; and if the payment was made directly to the person or to the energy company. [19275/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mick Barry

465. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if those who are on disability allowance and therefore in receipt of a qualifying payment for the free travel scheme who have a child and are therefore temporarily moved to maternity allowance if they should then lose access to the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19304/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Jackie Cahill

466. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if an individual applies for the additional needs payment, if this can be used for hospital transportation where the individual has no other means of transport available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19317/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Duncan Smith

467. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for fuel allowance was refused for a person in receipt of disability allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19332/24]

School Meals Programme

Aindrias Moynihan

468. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of school children now in receipt of hot meals, by county, in tabular form. [19340/24]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Murphy

469. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to her Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19368/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Ivana Bacik

470. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on delays experienced by returning emigrants in obtaining a PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19383/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Marc MacSharry

471. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a response to their enquiry regarding the methodology for the calculation of means in the case of their application for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19386/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Peadar Tóibín

472. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of applications for the long-term carer contributions scheme; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications since the commencement of the scheme; and the current waiting time for applications to be assessed, in tabular form. [19428/24]

Widow's Pension

Noel Grealish

473. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection when people who have lived with long-term partners that have passed away will be entitled to apply for widow’s pension benefits (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19440/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Neasa Hourigan

474. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the conditions for the PRSI contributions for the benefit payment for 65-year-olds; the reason a person would not be eligible for the benefit payment at 65 years old, even if they are eligible and have made enough PRSI payments to qualify for the State pension a year later; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19518/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Seán Sherlock

2. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made under the humanitarian aid scheme for uninsured householders in 2023, particularly on flooding, segmented by county; and the number of successful and unsuccessful applications, in tabular form, with the total amount issued. [18232/24]

Food Poverty

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to seek more sustained, long-term solutions to support families experiencing food poverty during school holidays, given the Children’s Rights Alliance food provision scheme received applications totalling over €350,000 - six times its capacity, in the run up to the Christmas holidays in 2023. [18664/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Robert Troy

7. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider abolishing the punitive means test for the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18203/24]

Departmental Reports

James O'Connor

10. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Social Protection annual report for 2023 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18434/24]

Equal Opportunities Employment

James O'Connor

13. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of organisations in receipt of the workplace equipment adaptation grant in 2023 in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18435/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Connolly

18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, further to the recent scrapping of the green paper on disability reform, her plans to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18376/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

19. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff, including total WTE positions and grade breakdowns, working in the Department's scope section; if the section is adequately staffed to undertake the work required of it in relation to examining bogus self-employment in large organisations such as RTÉ; how long she expects the RTÉ scope investigation to take to conclude; if the scope section plans to examine cases of workers at RTÉ prior to the period currently under examination by the scope section; if the scope section is currently examining or has plans to examine other State or semi-State agencies; if so, which ones; the annual budget for the scope section for each of the past five years; how many prosecutions her Department has initiated as a result of bogus self-employment cases in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18380/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

20. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered any options to improve the speed with which applications for disability allowance or similar means-tested payments are processed thus eliminating hardship for people who may be vulnerable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18337/24]

Pension Provisions

Robert Troy

21. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection her assessment of the impact of the Supreme Court's recent decision to award a pension to a widower who was not married but had children with his former partner; if this will have an impact on other retrospective and future cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18202/24]

Pension Provisions

Catherine Connolly

22. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection what value-for-money analysis has been carried out in relation to the different rates of participation in the proposed automatic enrolment pension scheme; the different rates of opt-outs; the different rates of suspension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18377/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

23. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on her examination of the issues facing kinship carers who receive nominal contributions from birth parents and who may then be prevented from receiving guardianship allowance. [18470/24]

State Pensions

Paul McAuliffe

24. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide a State pension for those currently in receipt of the increase for qualified adult under their partner’s pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18366/24]

Pension Provisions

Niamh Smyth

25. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection 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. [18134/24]

Labour Activation Measures

Brian Stanley

26. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount that was allocated in 2019 to 2023 to companies engaged by her Department in providing labour activation programmes; the number of clients they assisted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17614/24]

State Pensions

Aindrias Moynihan

27. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to allow for caring periods under 20 years to be included for long-term caring contributions for the purposes of the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18355/24]

Employment Rights

Brendan Griffin

28. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection what threshold needs to be cleared for an appeal to be granted by her Department’s appeals office in respect of challenges to decisions by her Department's scope section against employers in relation to findings on bogus self-employment; if applications for appeal are scrutinised, what percentage of appeal applications by employers in respect of scope decisions on bogus self-employment were granted in 2023; the average time such an appeal takes to be heard and decided upon; the number (and percentage) of appeal hearings in 2023 initiated by employers in respect of scope decisions on bogus self-employment, where the appellant subsequently did not present for the hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18381/24]

Poverty Data

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that one in five (19.7%) people unable to work due to disability live in consistent poverty, that this is almost four times higher than the national average (5.3%); what measures will she take to lift people with disabilities out of poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9513/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Violet-Anne Wynne

30. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in respect of the means test for the carer's allowance; how she plans on ensuring that more carers can avail of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18269/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Thomas Gould

31. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform payments to family carers. [18408/24]

Parental Leave

Paul Murphy

32. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allocate funding to extend paid parental benefit to cover at least the first year of a child’s life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18330/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

33. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she is aware of the substantial discrepancies that exist between initial applications for domiciliary care and the level of success of appeals with regard to same; and what she intends to do to address this. [18473/24]

Departmental Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

34. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection when we can expect to know the findings of the interdepartmental working group between her Department and the Department of Health concerning a reform of the disability payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18079/24]

Employment Support Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

35. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the tender for EmployAbility which was due to be published in April 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18471/24]

Disability Services

Gary Gannon

36. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection how the green paper on disability reform will impact students in higher education receiving disability payments. [9087/24]

Employment Support Services

Matt Carthy

37. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the position regarding the mandatory retirement age for participants on the job initiative scheme to ensure that those who wish to can remain on the scheme past the State pension age. [17717/24]

Social Insurance

Paul Murphy

38. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned at the impact proposed cuts to employers’ PRSI will have on the Social Insurance Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18331/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Pauline Tully

39. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider altering the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 to apply the reduced rate of social welfare payments to Ukrainian people who arrive after a particular date instead of the current approach of connecting the reduced payment to new designated centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18412/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Gould

40. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection whether ME is eligible for disability allowance. [18407/24]

Pension Provisions

Bernard Durkan

41. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants who have been refused insurance-based private pensions on the basis of insufficiency of contributions over their working lives or part thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18338/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Peadar Tóibín

42. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times an individual in receipt of carer’s allowance had their allowance stopped, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; and to provide a sample of reasons that carer’s allowance may be withdrawn from carers. [17668/24]

School Meals Programme

Violet-Anne Wynne

43. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the hot school meals programme to a school (details supplied) on a permanent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18268/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

44. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a living wage for family carers through the social protection system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18329/24]

Departmental Priorities

Paul Murphy

45. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a universal disability payment of at least €350 a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18328/24]

Disability Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

46. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an expected launch date of the reformed reasonable accommodation fund, following the recommendations from the review of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18406/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

47. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered designing new initiatives to tackle under-claiming of benefits, which is widespread across her own Department and other agencies of Government. [18077/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Mark Ward

49. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the appeals process for domiciliary care allowance payments that are refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18431/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what steps she intends to take regarding the extent of the backlog in processing disability allowance claims. [18474/24]

International Protection

Matt Carthy

51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on her engagements with Cabinet colleagues regarding the ending of the Temporary Protection Directive next year. [17716/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Aindrias Moynihan

52. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to give consideration to extending the carer’s benefit to include the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18354/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

53. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will abolish means testing of carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18327/24]

Business Supports

Pearse Doherty

219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider targeted supports to businesses experiencing increased costs through changes, including rebates, under employers PRSI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15233/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

220. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer’s allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) who is giving full-time care to their father; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18538/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

David Stanton

221. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently availing of carer’s benefit; the estimated cost of the benefit in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18589/24]

School Meals Programme

Matt Shanahan

222. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update as to when a school (details supplied) will be included in the new programme of national school meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18644/24]

Departmental Contracts

Éamon Ó Cuív

223. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money being paid by her Department to private bus companies under contracts for the free travel scheme; the reason these companies are not precluded from charging a booking fee on scheduled services and particularly on services where the buses are often forced to refuse passengers due to being at capacity, thus forcing people who need to ensure they get on the bus to pay the booking fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18646/24]

Departmental Data

Pearse Doherty

224. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 463 of 12 December 2023, the estimated revenue that will be raised in each of the years 2024 to 2030 by the proposed increases in all classes of PRSI, disaggregated by PRSI class, employer, employee and self-employed, in a scenario (details supplied), in tabular form. [18667/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18683/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18686/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case will be urgently reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18687/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Bernard Durkan

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a PPS number might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18699/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family payment or other allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18700/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available for a first-time job applicant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18702/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the carer's allowance has been improved in recent times to meet requirements of more persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18707/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the return of the funeral bereavement grant may be envisaged other than by way of an exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18708/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision continues to be made for those retiring at 65 years of age; the extent of any recent progress in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18709/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently in hand in respect of means-tested social welfare payments and non-means-tested payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18710/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to examine the situation whereby women who left full-time employment to care for a relative or family member and returned to the workforce with insufficient time to enable them to make the necessary contributions can meet the necessary contributions to qualify for a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18711/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for a decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18712/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for determination of appeals has been shortened; the average length of time for processing appeals at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18713/24]