Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Appeals

Pádraig O'Sullivan

226. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) which has been ongoing for months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28910/23]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

227. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employees with a disability who applied for the wage subsidy scheme in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of those who were not successful in their application over the same period; the number of those who were successful in their application over the same period; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28940/23]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

228. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people with disabilities who availed of the wage subsidy scheme in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; her Department's expenditure on the wage subsidy scheme over the same period; the average number of hours worked by participants in the wage subsidy scheme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28941/23]

State Pensions

Kathleen Funchion

229. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the pension rate of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28959/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualification criteria for a person on a jobseeker's payment to go on an educational course and retain their payment; if it is intended to review these criteria to encourage more people on social welfare payments to go on educational courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28996/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current and/or expected position in relation to jobseeker's benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29054/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance or alternative might be considered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29055/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pension based on joint contributions, or combination of contributions and means test in respect of the old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) can be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29058/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

111. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28628/23]

General Register Office

Emer Higgins

112. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the General Register Office at Werburgh Street, Dublin 8, is only open to the public for one day a week; if she is aware of plans to extend the opening hours to assist the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28664/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Martin Kenny

113. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the free travel scheme from five to ten years after returning to work for those previously in receipt of payments (details supplied). [28673/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

114. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) for carer’s benefit, now under review, will be expedited and approved; and if the information provided of the care being given will be considered. [28736/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

115. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of additional increases of €10, €12, €15, €20 and €25 per week to payments of disability allowance, domiciliary care allowance and carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28772/23]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

116. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of the data protection impact assessment conducted by a company (details supplied) in respect of the Public Services Card, PSC; if the assessment was forwarded to the office of the Data Protection Commissioner and or provided to it by way of request; and if not, the rationale for not sharing the findings with the DPC. [28860/23]

Employment Schemes

Holly Cairns

790. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on removing means testing of a spouse's income for applicants to the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27207/23]

Employment Schemes

Holly Cairns

791. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on enabling eligible and willing individuals to remain on the rural social scheme until 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27208/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

792. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify if there is a limit on the amount of savings a person can have if they are to be successful in obtaining an additional needs payment; if she will clarify what this limit is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27254/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

793. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate in the case of a person (details supplied) who has lived in this country for several years, who is an amputee and has no visible means of support, has only been supported by friends for several years, is being denied a basic payment and disability allowance if urgent steps can be taken to ensure that his urgent needs are being met on humanitarian and compassionate grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27257/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

794. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27294/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

795. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a back payment for a person (details supplied). [27337/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Carol Nolan

796. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of jobseekers' benefit or jobseekers' allowance who have been in receipt of either allowance continuously since 2019; the breakdown of these recipients by age; the number under each age category who are also in receipt of a disability payment from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27373/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

797. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have benefitted from the carer support grant for 2022 and to date in 2023. [27393/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

798. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals receiving the supplementary welfare allowance in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [27394/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

799. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out in supplementary welfare allowance in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [27395/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

800. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a State pension (contributory) claim increase for a qualified adult by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27415/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

801. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €220 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27439/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

802. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €129.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27440/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

803. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €129.70 and €220 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27441/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

804. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27447/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

805. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if all relevant information in respect of an application for a working family payment in the case of a person (details supplied) has now been received; if any other information is outstanding; when payment is expected to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27473/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Robert Troy

806. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the entitlement for a qualified adult dependent on a partner’s State pension (details supplied). [27486/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

807. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the situation regarding the possibility of further consideration of a case (details supplied) for partial capacity benefit which was appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27491/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

808. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not been paid the social welfare spring bonus. [27492/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Brendan Griffin

809. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if clarification will be provided on a matter regarding a CE supervisor scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27559/23]

Community Welfare Services

Niamh Smyth

810. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the weekly service of community welfare officers visiting towns has not been resumed in Cavan since Covid (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27602/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

811. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications; the number of refusals on first application; the number of appeals; the number of requests for review; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals and reviews respectively, for each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27617/23]

Departmental Communications

Holly Cairns

812. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of social media videos posted on each of her Departmental social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit, that included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; and the percentage of same that feature translations into Irish or another language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27663/23]

Departmental Policies

Holly Cairns

813. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department, and public bodies and agencies under her remit, have an anti-racism policy which can be accessed by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27681/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

814. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people have benefited from the carer support grant for the years 2016 to 2022 in each year and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [27749/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

815. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for child benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27801/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Thomas Pringle

816. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their appeal for a domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27803/23]

Employment Support Services

Colm Burke

817. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the number of people who are on the live register in each town in County Cork; the number of people on the live register for more than 24 months in each town in County Cork; the number of people who have been referred to the local area employment service in each town in County Cork since September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27815/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

818. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department will process an application for a free travel companion pass (details supplied); if there is currently a backlog in processing free travel applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27843/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mairéad Farrell

819. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are supports available for mortgage-holders who have lost income due to long-term illness or disability to help them stay in their own home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27856/23]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

820. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate in the case of a person (details supplied) the income that he is deemed to received from his ARF which deemed him ineligible for JSB payment as a bridging payment before qualifying for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27861/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Louise O'Reilly

821. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current rate of pay for the job initiative scheme; if there are plans to increase this; and the measures she will take to help JI employees in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. [27892/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

822. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will look at creating a childhood and adolescent and young-adult cancer-care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27910/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

823. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will look at removing the means testing for cancer patients when they apply for an exceptional needs payment/SWA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27912/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

824. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing disability allowance by €12.50 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Rose Conway-Walsh

825. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spend on consulting services and on ‘business-as-usual’ outsourcing, as differentiated under the Code of ‘Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016’ for each non-commercial public body under the aegis of her Department for the year 2022. [27970/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

826. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27984/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Cian O'Callaghan

827. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the carer’s allowance payment to include an additional option for the allowance to be paid based on the needs of the person requiring the care and not based on the means of the carers and their spouse, where the applicant falls outside the limit of the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27992/23]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

828. 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. [28060/23]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

829. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will identify which legislation underpins the payment of a 5% levy by Class B PRSI contributors who became employees of her Department following their transfer from the HSE in 2011; if she will point to the relevant sections and/or subsections in the relevant legislation providing for the making of this payment in part of October 2011, November 2011, December 2011 and the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; the benefits these specific employees derived from the payment of this levy; the length of time they paid it for; if she will review whether the collection of this levy after the early part of October 2011 was in fact not provided for in law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28061/23]

Social Welfare Application Forms

Pearse Doherty

830. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the freepost instruction was removed from social welfare child benefit review forms (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28077/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

831. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28088/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

832. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons the May cost-of-living payment was not paid to qualified adults on a contributory pension in their own right; if she will reconsider this, given many qualified adults operate in a financially independent way from their respective spouses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28090/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

833. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when illness benefit for the period 17 April 2023 to 7 May 2023 will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28147/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

834. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene and review the invalidity pension application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28169/23]

Departmental Data

Catherine Murphy

835. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff seconded to her Department from a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date; the title and/or role they filled; and the duration of same. [28185/23]

Departmental Data

Catherine Murphy

836. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of instances in which her Department availed of services and or consultancy and or advices from a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date; the costs of same; the number of contracts between the company and her Department; and the duration and costs of same. [28204/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

837. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to the review of the current means test requirement for the additional needs/exceptional needs' payment for children, adolescent and young adults (CAYA) cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28241/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

838. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to expanding the criteria for the household benefits package to include all cancer patients upon diagnosis until treatment is finished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28243/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

839. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a new statutory payment for employees and self-employed people with chronic illnesses to attend medical appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28246/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

840. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 23 May 2023, the reason those on non-contributory pensions were omitted from the Spring bonus cost-of-living supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28366/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Peadar Tóibín

841. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when a reply will issue from her Department to an email received on 31 May from a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28372/23]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

842. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of medical assessors assigned to examining applications for domiciliary care allowance and the number of medical assessors assigned to examine DCA appeals, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if separate medical assessors are assigned to both the application and appeals process. [28391/23]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

843. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of deciding officers in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and the number of appeals officers assigned to assessing both applications and appeals, respectively for domiciliary care allowance. [28392/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

John McGuinness

844. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the claim of a person (details supplied) to determine if they are in receipt of the correct benefit at the maximum rate and if they are entitled to other benefits; and she will provide a record of their contributions. [28409/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

John McGuinness

845. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a State pension (contributory) based on their contributions and recent application; and if their record of contributions will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28472/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

846. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the of eligibility for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28473/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Creed

847. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the situation regarding eligibility for the €100 additional payment for children's allowance, and in particular, eligibility with regard to students in Leaving Certificate classes who have not been approved for the recent June bonus payment. [28490/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

848. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on a treatment benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28560/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Holly Cairns

849. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to expand the eligible non-profit bodies which can access CE scheme workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28597/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Holly Cairns

850. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to extend eligibility for child benefit for a child aged 18 years or older who is still in post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28598/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jackie Cahill

851. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the children’s allowance has not been extended to the parents of 18-year-olds who are still in full-time second level education, given that as a result of Government policy in relation to school-starting age, more and more young people are still in second level education after their 18th birthday than was historically the case; her views on whether these supports should be extended in cases such as this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28600/23]

Data Protection

Peadar Tóibín

852. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the security protections in place for remote workers within civil and public service organisations to safeguard against personal information of members of the public in audio, text and electronic form being inadvertently exposed to unauthorised third parties within the remote setting; if she can provide a copy of the remote working best practice guidelines for civil and public service workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28641/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for carer's allowance for a member of their family, while continuing to work 18.5 hours per week, whose close family member died recently and whose survivor is in need of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26979/23]

Social Insurance

Pearse Doherty

228. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the revenue raised by introducing a higher rate of employers’ PRSI, at 12.05%, 13.05% and 13.55% respectively, in the portion of employee earnings greater than €100,000, in first- and full-year terms. [27012/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

229. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the payments being made to an individual (details supplied), in particular the means being taken versus an increase. [26765/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Pádraig O'Sullivan

230. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a Section 317 review request by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26785/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

231. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance now under appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved as the applicant has confirmed the level of care they are actually giving, the need for them to assist the person with their personal hygiene and all other aspects of the person's daily life. [26791/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Sorca Clarke

232. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason two persons (details supplied) are not receiving the full amount of jobseeker's allowance, given they are currently homeless, unable to source accommodation via the HAP scheme due to the chronic shortage of properties and are being supported with emergency bed and breakfast vouchers by the local authority. [26792/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Kehoe

233. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the one-parent family payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26794/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Marian Harkin

234. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) for disability allowance will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26802/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Michael Ring

235. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons under 25 years of age can receive the back-to-education allowance at the rate of €220 per week but those getting the back-to-work enterprise allowance are only given €129.70; if there are any plans to amend this disparity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26827/23]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined to ensure they are on the correct rate; if they are entitled to optical benefit; and if their employment record has been considered. [26853/23]

Departmental Bodies

Rose Conway-Walsh

237. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a full list of public bodies under the aegis of her Department; and Oireachtas contact details for each. [26919/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Healy-Rae

238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has plans to assist people who paid class D contributions in the public sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26951/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal against a decision to refuse the invalidity pension will be allowed in the case of a person (details supplied), having regard to the fact they have had no income for 20 weeks and are now in a very serious family situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26980/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26981/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing can be arranged in respect of appeal against a decision to refuse disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26982/23]

School Meals Programme

Holly Cairns

91. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will further expand the hot school meals programme to secondary schools. [26522/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Violet-Anne Wynne

92. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of extending the fuel allowance to all recipients of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26703/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment can issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26508/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

94. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26509/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Holly Cairns

95. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reduce waiting times for parents seeking additional needs payments where children are at risk of going without essentials. [26527/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Holly Cairns

96. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the qualified child payment in line with inflation. [26528/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Denis Naughten

97. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of her engagement with the Minister for Health on designating long Covid as an occupational illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26646/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

439. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students at primary and post-primary who were provided with free school meals in 2022, 2021 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26193/23]