Parliamentary questions

School Meals Programme

Catherine Murphy

68. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the provisions she has put in place to reduce food waste in the context of the school hot meals initiative; if she engaged with specialists in the area of nutritional value ahead of rolling out the initiative; and her views on whether the initiative is targeted appropriately. [22002/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the up-to-date status of a carers allowance application review (details supplied), given that further documentation was provided some time ago; when a decision will be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22026/24]

Widow's Pension

Willie O'Dea

70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the current stage of legislation that will allow for the enactment of the recent Supreme Court decision to allow a cohabitant to claim a widow's pension in certain circumstances; when she expects it to be in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22131/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) who has been deemed eligible for disability allowance will be transferred to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21200/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

397. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if a person (details supplied) over 65 and on over-65 jobseeker’s benefit, not having to actively seek employment and at home on a full-time basis, would be entitled to carer’s support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21225/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

398. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an appeal of carer’s allowance application is taking so long. [21237/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

399. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension, which is under appeal, will be approved for a person (details supplied). [21274/24]

Departmental Data

Leo Varadkar

400. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parents leave benefit; the initial cost estimate provided to the Minister and to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the year the benefit was legislated for; his views on the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21279/24]

Equality Issues

Leo Varadkar

401. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether people medically determined to be intersex should be required to register as male or female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21284/24]

Legislative Measures

Aindrias Moynihan

402. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection when legislation will be updated to reflect changes to qualifying measures for widow's, widower's and surviving partner's contributory pension on the Supreme Court ruling in relation to the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to widow's, widower's and surviving partner's contributory pension; how many applications have been received that are currently on hold due to the necessary legislation changes that need to be made; the timeline for application for a person (details supplied) to progress for decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21332/24]

Disability Services

Louise O'Reilly

403. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place under his/her Department to assist a person with a disability to get back to into work, including supports for entrepreneurs; and the organisations that might assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21350/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Cormac Devlin

404. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21358/24]

Departmental Data

Violet-Anne Wynne

405. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disability allowance applications that were received by her Department in 2023; the number that were from applicants in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21369/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

406. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection how many disability allowance applications were disallowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21370/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

407. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection how many carer’s allowance applications were received by her Department in 2023; how many applicants were in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21371/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

408. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection how many carer’s allowance applications were disallowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21372/24]

Departmental Data

Violet-Anne Wynne

409. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection how many carer’s benefit cases will be administered in 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21373/24]

Departmental Data

Violet-Anne Wynne

410. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection how many carer’s benefit cases will be administered in 2023, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21374/24]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

411. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff by grade working in the local debt recovery unit of her Department as of 7 May 2024. [21413/24]

Departmental Data

Pádraig O'Sullivan

412. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 976 of 17 January 2024, if it has an independent company with a service level agreement with the funder, the Citizens Information Board; if the Citizens Information Service has control to set and review their employees’ salary scales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21473/24]