Parliamentary questions

Legislative Measures

Alan Farrell

148. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the work to progress legislation with regard to pension auto-enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32911/23]

Social Welfare Code

Catherine Connolly

149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide for an ongoing cost of disability payment in Budget 2024, as opposed to a once-off payment, as a way to begin to address the inequality identified in the Cost of Disability in Ireland Report; for details of any analysis carried out by her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32826/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Patrick Costello

150. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the differentiated rates of jobseeker’s allowance for under 25s and consider bringing these in line with the standard rate of €220 a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32731/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Murphy

151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase social welfare payments in the next Budget to ensure that everyone in the State has at least a minimum essential standard of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33171/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Joan Collins

152. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has completed a thorough investigation of bogus self-employment contacts in RTÉ; and if she is satisfied that no staff at RTÉ are still on a bogus self-employment contract. [32970/23]

Departmental Reports

Seán Sherlock

153. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection to publish any research undertaken or commissioned by her Department on a cost of disability payment, including costings to the Exchequer. [32067/23]

Legislative Measures

Alan Dillon

154. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the legislation to provide for the flexible pension age and a pension for carer’s will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33092/23]

School Meals Programme

Paul McAuliffe

155. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to expand the free hot meals for schools programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32984/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

156. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection what studies have been done by her Department of the international experience of individual social welfare payments; whether she intends introducing further individualised social welfare payments here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32073/23]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

157. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has undertaken a review of means test in the social welfare code; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33145/23]

Legislative Measures

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

158. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a State pension solution for long-term family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33194/23]

Social Welfare Code

Violet-Anne Wynne

159. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the review into means testing for the carers allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32567/23]

Social Welfare Code

Matt Carthy

160. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposals to amend the means limits for carers allowance applicants. [33003/23]

Legislative Measures

Claire Kerrane

161. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the proposed legislation to bring forward changes to the child maintenance system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32093/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Seán Sherlock

162. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the Christmas Bonus who do not receive a Spring cost-of-living payment, in tabular form, by county; and if that will be rectified before the Autumn cost-of-living payment. [32065/23]

School Meals Programme

Alan Dillon

163. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the progress on the expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33093/23]

State Pensions

Joan Collins

164. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Government is planning to implement the commitment to benchmark pensions in ‘A Roadmap for Pension’s Reform 2018-2023’ or pension benchmarking commitments 22, 23 and 24 in the ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025’. [32978/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

165. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether her Department is investigating the possibility of linking the rate of maternity benefit to a woman’s pay or PRSI contributions; if so, the current status of these plans; when they are likely to be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32824/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Thomas Gould

166. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the process under which her Department notifies people of their entitlement to a specific payment to avoid disruptions in payment. [33090/23]

Departmental Contracts

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

167. 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. [33195/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Lowry

265. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can confirm the duration it takes to receive a decision from the Appeals Office regarding applications for carer's allowance and disability allowance that are refused and subsequently appealed; if she is aware of the hardship and stress experienced by individuals during the lengthy waiting period for an appeal decision (details supplied); the additional resources she will provide to the Appeals Office to reduce the waiting times for an appeal decision; if she will review the current issues with supplementary welfare allowance refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33211/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update in respect of a carer's allowance payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33246/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update in respect of an appeal for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33247/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for an exceptional needs payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33254/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal against a decision to refuse the invalidity pension for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33255/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); whether any further information is outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33262/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

271. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the working family payment for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33263/23]

Departmental Websites

Catherine Murphy

272. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify whether at any point over the past ten years the SSL certificates for her Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33280/23]

Enterprise Support Services

Darren O'Rourke

273. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if any additional supports will be provided to employees of rehab enterprises, many of whom have disabilities if they lose their employment; what these additional supports will be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32402/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which oral hearings in respect of appeals against disallowance for various payments are up to date; the number of oral hearing appeals that have taken place to date in 2023; how this compares with the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which self-employed or other contributions in respect of State pension applications to her Department have been refused on the grounds of an insufficiency of contributions in each of the past five years to date; if any consideration has been given to the awarding of pensions in such cases on a pro-rata basis, in line with their actual level of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33372/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33373/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it continues to be possible to address particularly sensitive issues in respect of family income and the cost-of-living impact; if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of her Department's resources to address such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33374/23]

Family Support Services

Bernard Durkan

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs’ payments are available in cases where family income is insufficient to meet requirements including funeral expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33375/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for the State pension (contributory) received in each of the past five years to date; the number granted, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33376/23]

Care Services

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the carer's allowance has been improved to meet requirements of more persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33378/23]

Family Support Services

Bernard Durkan

281. 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. [33379/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which she and her office continue to ensure the making of a basic payment to applicants of social welfare payments while the primary application is being processed in order to alleviate hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33380/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which waiting times for payments in respect of means-tested applications compare with contribution-related payments; the extent of progress in reducing waiting times for means-tested payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33381/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current total number of recipients of child benefit payments; the extent to which this has fluctuated over the past three years, and is likely to so do in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33382/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

285. 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. [33383/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate, notwithstanding replies to previous Parliamentary Questions on behalf of a person (details supplied), whether the circumstances might be urgently considered with a view to granting the pension in question given the evidence already submitted and being submitted, and that they continue to be a medical card holder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33396/23]

Tax Code

Bernard Durkan

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the benefit of S class contributions which a person (details supplied) was deemed to make, arising from income received from an approved retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33108/23]

Disadvantaged Status

Paul Kehoe

125. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the allocation for school lunches for secondary schools included in DEIS in 2022 differs from the allocation for existing DEIS secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32862/23]

Pension Provisions

Patrick Costello

126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will guarantee that the auto-enrolled pension scheme will not invest in fossil fuels or the arms industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32930/23]

Pension Provisions

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if a minimum percentage of the funds of the auto-enrolled pension scheme will be invested in Irish renewable energy developments in order to work toward our climate action obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32931/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

128. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if someone who has been receiving jobseeker’s allowance for a period of 18 months applies for disability allowance, does their jobseeker’s payment cease immediately, or does it continue until a decision regarding the disability allowance application is reached; if the payment is ceased is there a requirement for the individual to apply for supplementary welfare allowance in the interim; and in the event that the first application for disability allowance is unsuccessful what payment does the person revert to. [32932/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

129. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person is awarded disability allowance and transitions from jobseeker’s allowance does this change their eligibility for the Christmas bonus associated with long-term social welfare payments. [32933/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

130. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person receiving disability allowance is permitted to participate in a part-time springboard course or other ETB training options. [32934/23]

Family Law Cases

John Lahart

131. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any progress in establishing a family maintenance collection agency to follow up on those who do not keep their commitments to pay maintenance as legally required. [32942/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal sent in April 2023 against the decision to refuse application for a carer's support grant and a respite grant was received and registered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32963/23]

State Pensions

Brendan Griffin

133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32992/23]

State Bodies

Fergus O'Dowd

134. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the pay and any other benefits, including any loyalty payments/bonuses or other benefit-in-kind, of each chief executive of State/semi-State body or other public body under the aegis of her Department for each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/23]

Pension Provisions

Réada Cronin

135. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine, with urgency, a situation (details supplied). [33069/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an income derived from contributions made by a PAYE employee to an approved retirement scheme is now deemed to be in self-employment when applying for jobseeker’s transition payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33107/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Duncan Smith

137. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when the backdated increase in child benefit to the qualified child will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33115/23]

Departmental Equipment

Catherine Murphy

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of instances in which her Department used unlicensed software and/or lapsed licenced software in the past ten years to date; the associated expenditure on same to remedy the situation; and the software that was used. [33163/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Lowry

139. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the qualifications of the officers and staff within her Department who are responsible for medically assessing applications for carer's allowance and disability allowance; if she will clarify whether the staff members who review the medical reports of these applications on appeal hold a more senior medical qualification from those who initially assess and reject the original application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33181/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mattie McGrath

387. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the clear guidelines for carers in receipt of carer’s allowance where the person being cared for must travel abroad for treatment not available in this State (details supplied); what the carer must do to ensure that they will not have their payment stopped or be threatened with having their payment stopped if they have to leave the State for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32097/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Holly Cairns

388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to make the fuel allowance a qualifying payment for carer’s allowance, including in circumstances where the carer is not resident with the individual they are caring for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32233/23]

Citizens Information Services

Thomas Pringle

389. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the review of the draft service level agreements for citizens information service companies will be completed, as it appears from the board minutes of the Citizens Information Board obtained under FOI that the delay in rolling out these contracts sit with her Department, and it is almost two years since the previous service level agreements expired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32257/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Frank Feighan

390. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is currently considering applications under disablement benefit from former coal miners based in Arigna, County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32293/23]

Fire Service

David Cullinane

391. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the manner in which a retained firefighter is assessed for jobseeker’s payments; the types of income which are reckonable and the types of income which are not; if there are any exemptions which apply to income earned by retained firefighters for call-out duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32335/23]

Departmental Data

Paul Donnelly

392. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff, by grade, working in the Blanchardstown Intreo centre as of 1 January 2022 and 27 June 2023, in tabular form. [32342/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Anne Rabbitte

393. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a decision on the financial review on their disability allowance completed in view that they are in financial poverty as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32374/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Anne Rabbitte

394. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a decision on an application for carer’s allowance completed; the reason the working family payment was suspended on submission of a carer’s allowance application as this has placed the family in financial poverty as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32375/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Anne Rabbitte

395. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a decision on their application for carer’s allowance completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32376/23]

State Pensions

Pádraig O'Sullivan

396. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) does not qualify for a State pension (contributory or non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32385/23]

Pension Provisions

Gerald Nash

397. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to introduce a pensions cost-transparency initiative, as referenced in the Pensions (Amendment) (Transparency in Charges) Bill 2021 Second Stage Dáil Éireann debate on 22 September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32434/23]

Pension Provisions

Gerald Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out an “examination and assessment of the issues pertaining to the provision of information to pension scheme members in relation to costs and charges incurred by pension schemes and, if deemed to be required, to identify and develop the appropriate policy responses and associated methodologies”, as referenced in her Second Stage speech on 22 September 2022 on the Pensions (Amendment) (Transparency in Charges) Bill 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32435/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for household benefits in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32503/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Ring

400. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will fund the external statutory audit costs for community employment scheme considering that the external statutory audit is now a requirement of community employment guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32582/23]

Pension Provisions

Mark Ward

401. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline what will happen to the pension entitlements of an individual born in 1944, who does not qualify for the full contributory pension, in the event of their spouse passing away; if they will be entitled to the widow’s pension; if so, the rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32584/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul McAuliffe

402. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the process used to select individuals for a review of carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32643/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review for carer's allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) from County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32649/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Anne Rabbitte

404. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was not switched automatically from disability allowance to a State pension (non-contributory) on reaching the maximum allowable age limit for the allowance; if she is aware that the local office and the social welfare inspector are still conducting inquiries six months after the person's sole financial assistance was suspended; the reason for the delay in its decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32654/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Catherine Murphy

405. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the household benefits package increased to €45 per month based on 2022 figures. [32669/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Ring

406. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the spring cost of living bonus has not yet issued to a person (details supplied) despite being promised payment within two weeks in a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32818/23]

Social Welfare Payments

David Stanton

407. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments currently being made under the rent supplement scheme; the total cost per week; the total amount paid out under this scheme in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32832/23]

Gender Recognition

Catherine Connolly

313. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to provide legal recognition for non-binary people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31747/23]

Homeless Persons Supports

Cian O'Callaghan

314. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to increase employment participation among people who are homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31913/23]

Departmental Consultations

Seán Sherlock

315. 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 for the year-to-date 2023, in tabular form [31696/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

316. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31707/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Haughey

317. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection the class of PRSI paid by pre-1995 civil servants at clerical officer and executive officer level; if she will make appropriate changes to allow these taxpayers claim the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance, and to make them eligible for other schemes which require a qualifying social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31710/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the grounds upon which a person (details supplied) is receiving a reduced rate of the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31748/23]

Gender Recognition

Bríd Smith

319. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the 2018 review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 made several recommendations around the development of non-binary legal recognition; if she is further aware that in her report on the review, dated 26 November 2019, then-Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (details supplied) stated that her Department had carried out an initial scoping exercise on the implications of non-binary recognition, that an interdepartmental group had been established to progress this issue, and that the group was due to complete its work by the end of 2020; if she will provide an update on the work of her Department towards non-binary legal recognition, or on the work of this interdepartmental group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31753/23]

Pension Provisions

Colm Burke

320. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people who are currently on invalidity pension, broken down by gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31756/23]

Pension Provisions

Colm Burke

321. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of those who applied for invalidity pension in 2022; the total number of applicants who were refused prior to an appeal in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31757/23]

Pension Provisions

Colm Burke

322. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people who appealed a decision not to award them an invalidity pension in 2022; the total number who were subsequently successful in their appeal in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31758/23]

Data Protection

Paul Murphy

323. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if a jobseeker is obligated to share personal data with a third-party private company (details supplied); the exact scope of the data they are legally required to disclose; the mechanisms of data processing; whether the data could be transferred outside Ireland/the EU; and what safety measures are in place, especially in the context of The Bara judgement, which pertains to data sharing between public and private sectors. [31768/23]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Griffin

324. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31780/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

325. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange to issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in relation to their domiciliary care allowance appeal. [31792/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

326. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department purchased or produced any memorabilia such as pens, stationery, pins, badges, mugs or other types of souvenirs to mark or celebrate Pride 2023; if so, the costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31817/23]

Departmental Policies

Cathal Crowe

327. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31869/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for an exceptional need's payment towards funeral expenses, currently refused, might be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31964/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the traditional response whereby a recipient of a lower rate of pension in another EU member state, qualifies the applicant who now lives here for an Irish non-contributory pension to bring the applicant up to the overall level of Irish non-contributory pension rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31966/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

330. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the grounds upon which a person (details supplied) was found not to be habitually resident despite their reliance on their daughter for care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31967/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when urgent consideration might be applied in respect of an application for an appropriate disability payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31968/23]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

332. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 828 and 829 of 13 June 2023, what benefits, if any, accrued to Department employees who were former community welfare officers who paid a 5% levy on their incomes from October 2011 to December 2015; if no pension benefit has accrued in respect of these payments, if her Department will return these payments to the employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31988/23]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

333. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of employees of her Department who were Class B PRSI contributors between October 2011 and December 2015; the total number of employees who were Class B PRSI contributors who paid a 5% levy on their incomes from October 2011 to December 2015; if she will provide details of the context of the payment of this levy; if any of the total number of overall employees who paid the levy were not former community welfare officers who transferred to her Department from the HSE in October 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31989/23]