Parliamentary questions

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

757. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place for small schools that are unable to source a supplier for the hot school meals programme due to suppliers deeming it as an uneconomical move for their business; her plans to ensure that each school approved for the hot school meals programme receives these meals in due course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12554/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Pauline Tully

758. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has concerns regarding the equitability of the fact that disabled people over the age of 65 years were not entitled to the cost-of-living disability lump sum payments contained within either Budget 2023 or Budget 2024. [12611/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

759. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12637/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

760. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; if they can pay contributions to augment their contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12676/24]

Social Welfare Code

Pearse Doherty

761. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to comments made by him on Budget Day (details supplied), what support are available to households that do not qualify for the mortgage interest tax credit on the grounds of insufficient income or income tax liability; if a scheme has been developed in concert with the Department of Employment and Social Protection in line with the aforementioned comments and; if not, the status of this commitment. [12691/24]

Gender Recognition

Carol Nolan

762. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any social welfare payment administered by her Department would be lost by a claimant in the event of them changing their gender, from male to female or from female to male, under the provisions of the Gender Recognition Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12696/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Louise O'Reilly

763. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 7 December 2023, the number of appeals that were decided on by the original decision-making official in the year preceding the July 2023 changes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12706/24]

Departmental Funding

Robert Troy

764. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish a list of the NGOs funded by her Department; and the level the funding each NGO received in the past three years, in tabular form. [12727/24]

Departmental Meetings

Carol Nolan

765. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that she or officials from her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department have had with an organisation (details supplied) including its representatives from 1 January 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12747/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Mattie McGrath

766. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update from her Department in response to the recent decision of the Supreme Court to rule in favour of a person (details supplied) in relation to their exclusion from the widower's contributory pension scheme; the current position of her Department in relation to this matter; when this ruling will be reflected in legislation and schemes within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12811/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

767. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was not paid the double week in January when they were in receipt of a carers allowance; if the matter will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12815/24]

Social Welfare Code

Catherine Murphy

768. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the treatment of persons who are in receipt of supplementary pension payment in the context of customer service and general treatment by her Department (details supplied). [12839/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Frankie Feighan

769. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing parents with children the right to claim domiciliary care allowance while living outside the State for the purpose of availing of specialist care for their children in that particular country, that is not currently available in Ireland; and if she will consider a mechanism where a special application could be made whereby the designated care and treatment programme for the child in the other state was sanctioned by an approved Government agency in Ireland before the parents could then apply for the domiciliary care allowance while living and caring for them abroad. [12861/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Cian O'Callaghan

770. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the level of means testing her Department is caring out on a family carer (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12889/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

771. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the income thresholds for the fuel allowance in the case of under 70s in light of recent increases for those aged over 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12957/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

772. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider those aged under 70 years with modest occupational pensions which they worked for, who are unable to access the fuel allowance; if she will examine this cohort in the context of the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12958/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

773. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to continue increasing the weekly income threshold for the over 70s when accessing the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12959/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Healy-Rae

774. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12960/24]

Departmental Communications

Paul Donnelly

775. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by her Department in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and if she will include the fees expanded, by the name of personality and the name of the campaign they were engaged on, in tabular form. [12979/24]

Departmental Properties

Robert Troy

776. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure disability access is installed at the Intreo office, Athlone. [13006/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Creed

777. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding an invalidity pension payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [13009/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

778. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse her decision to only pay child benefit for students over 18 years from May 2024 who are still in school but not currently in receipt of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13018/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

779. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the State pension (non-contributory) in the case of a person (detail supplied) has been refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13039/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Farrell

780. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pay claim for citizens information staff was received by her Department from the Citizens Information Board in its budget proposals for 2024; if she will support the pay claim for current staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13066/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Dara Calleary

781. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if changes are going to be made to jobseekers allowance and X and O system to allow people working as care assistants/home help assistants to claim assistance (details supplied). [13081/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

782. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if children's allowance payments could be made retrospective to the date on which a student turns 18 years (details supplied). [13084/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Neasa Hourigan

783. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, as part of her plans to extend the payment of child benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education, she will allow those with children turning 18 before 1 May 2024 to retrospectively avail of child benefit for the months between their 18th birthday and 1 May 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13085/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Creed

784. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) whose sole means is their State pension (contributory) is entitled to an increase in same due to the reduced level of payment. [13104/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

785. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress of the review for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13109/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

James Lawless

786. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13113/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

787. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a working family payment will issue/be reinstated to a person (details supplied), with particular reference to their special family requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13150/24]

Departmental Data

Patricia Ryan

788. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time it is taking her Department to process and complete applications for each payment (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13160/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard Bruton

789. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection where the payment of a qualified adult allowance is under review, if half of the savings of a couple are automatically attributed to the qualified adult, regardless of whose name is on the bank account; and whether in the same way if the savings are in an account in the name of the qualified adult, that person will still only be assessed with half of the savings. [13176/24]

Public Private Partnerships

Rose Conway-Walsh

790. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on all planned PPP projects and ongoing PPP contracts; the status of each project; the anticipated or known capital cost; the anticipated or known cost to the Exchequer over the lifetime of the contracts; the annual total payment of PPP unitary charges and the percentage share of the total capital budget for her Department and all public bodies under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13203/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Michael Creed

791. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which a pension payment may continue posthumously to next of kin; the family members entitled to such continued payments and the duration of these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13222/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

792. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an invalidity pension award in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be backdated to the date they were found medically suitable for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13237/24]

Public Services Card

Violet-Anne Wynne

793. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal status of the Public Services Card to be used as a form of identification of an individual; her plans in this respect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13327/24]

Rental Sector

Violet-Anne Wynne

270. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any supports beyond HAP to assist struggling families pay their rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11436/24]

State Pensions

Peadar Tóibín

271. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if former members of the Catholic clergy are entitled to a contributory pension if their bishops did not sign them up on the scheme. [11232/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Mark Ward

272. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection when applying domiciliary care allowance for a child if a diagnosis is required (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11278/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Mark Ward

273. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the qualifying criteria for an applicant for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11290/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community ophthalmic services scheme standard eye examination contractors’ fee is now to be equal to the eye test fee payable to contractors under her Department’s optical benefit scheme; will the optical benefit scheme fee itself now be raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11301/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

275. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are published national guidelines or SWA policy guidelines in relation to the operation of the supplementary welfare system and, in particular, in relation to additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments; if so, how can they be accessed by public representatives and the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11378/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

276. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum percentage payment payable to a person living on jobseekers' allowance who has no savings under the exceptional needs payment supplementary welfare allowance; the reason for the maximum percentage if the applicant cannot borrow money or pay the difference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11379/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

277. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person will receive their pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11455/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the entitlement, if any, to rent a room in any way inhibited the entitlement to widow’s pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11479/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether application for an exceptional needs payment can be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11485/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether reconsideration can be given to the application for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11489/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can continue in less than full-time or part-time employment along with reduced social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11493/24]

Public Transport

Claire Kerrane

119. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review eligibility for the free travel scheme for people who have a severe illness but who are not in receipt of the relevant qualifying payment; if consideration has been given to allowing discretion in certain cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10905/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Smith

120. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection are insurance contributions carried over to persons who are foster parents and not in employment outside the home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10916/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Smith

121. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons who are foster parents are eligible for contributions to be included under the homemaker’s scheme for pension purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10917/24]

Pension Provisions

Bernard Durkan

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a statement of widow’s pension paid in 2022 to a person (details supplied) can issue to the client as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10927/24]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

123. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the number of redundancies, or so called ‘exit-packages’, that have been paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in her Department, or in any agency or body under the aegis of h Department, from 2018 to date; the value of each and the total value, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10993/24]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

124. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by her Department, and bodies under her aegis, and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €200,000 and above in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will provide the amount of same, body, name and year. [11022/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of his appeal against the decision to reduce a person's payment (details supplied) with particular reference to their high outgoings on medical costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11027/24]

Pension Provisions

Seán Crowe

126. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if any pensioners lost out between the time of pension increases in January 2024 and the raising of the fuel allowance means threshold some eight weeks later; and if all pensioners were compensated for the loss incurred to them if there was a discrepancy during that time. [11037/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

127. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance (details supplied) will be assessed on current means only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11054/24]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Griffin

128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11103/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Kelly

129. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all staff/management exit packages for staff/management in their Departments that they sanctioned since 2016 (details supplied).
[11167/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

130. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a domiciliary care allowance application (details supplied), and when a decision be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11191/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Marian Harkin

435. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection how plans are advancing in introducing a pay related benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9967/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Sherlock

436. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a rent supplement claim in respect of a person in County Cork (details supplied); and if any documentation is outstanding which may be pertinent to the application in advance of a decision being made. [9968/24]

Legislative Measures

Emer Higgins

437. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill to ensure benefits akin to adoptive and maternity leave are provided for the care of newborn infants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9980/24]

Social Welfare Code

Paul Murphy

438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection why 'S' class contributions do not quality for carer’s payment; if there are any exceptions to this rule; if there is consideration around changing this; and if not, why not. [10056/24]

Social Welfare Code

Seán Canney

439. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person paying PRSI contributions between the ages of 66 and 70 can use those contributions to reach the threshold of 520 contributions to access a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10164/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what the average wait time for an additional needs payment application is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10206/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

441. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to issue, given this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10227/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when maintenance payments to carers will be disregarded as means for social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10237/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Duncan Smith

443. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that the €500 grant towards the cost of a hairpiece, wig or hair replacement for people who suffer hair loss due to illness is not restricted, therefore preventing people who suffer from alopecia to avail of this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10246/24]

Departmental Advertising

Pauline Tully

444. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on advertising and promotions within her Department in 2023 and for January 2024, in tabular form. [10273/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Duncan Smith

445. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate when an appeal by a person (details supplied) to the Chief Appeals Officer against a refusal to award him the invalidity person will be heard, and if same can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10277/24]

Redundancy Payments

Christopher O'Sullivan

446. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected time scale for employees to receive information on their redundancy entitlements (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10324/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

447. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in County Cork (details supplied) has been refused illness benefit. [10396/24]

Departmental Properties

Matt Carthy

448. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the ground rents payable by her Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10422/24]

Legislative Measures

Ivana Bacik

449. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on recent legislation which passed in Westminster to create an optional bereavement certificate for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks’ gestation; and her plans to introduce such a similar initiative here. [10428/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Violet-Anne Wynne

450. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the number of applications received for exceptional needs payments from County Clare in the past 12 months; how many were granted; how many were rejected, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10440/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Patrick Costello

451. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for the fuel allowance; the number of refusals for the fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10513/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

452. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection why a payment has been reduced for a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10517/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

453. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has had their disability allowance withdrawn. [10525/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Peter Fitzpatrick

454. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to extend the eligibility of the living-alone allowance to Irish citizens who have moved home from the UK, are in receipt of a UK pension but are not in receipt of any Irish social welfare payments. [10534/24]

Departmental Data

Mairéad Farrell

455. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 27 February 2024, the meaning of travel itinerary; what information must be included in this as evidence of travel; if a signed letter from the DA recipient outlining the dates they will be abroad is acceptable; and the legal basis for requesting and holding the travel data of DA recipients. [10612/24]

Social Welfare Code

Ivana Bacik

456. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection how income (details supplied) is assessed when an individual is elected to a local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10631/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Emer Higgins

457. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider launching an awareness campaign for women needing to check their updated PPSN numbers from the old ‘W’ format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10695/24]

School Meals Programme

James O'Connor

458. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for schools (details supplied) to seek a higher allowance than that of the €1.70 currently available, should they opt for cold lunch options, through the hot school meals scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10700/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Smith

459. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the tax treatment of statutory sick leave payments made by employers in order that they are not subject to the deductions such as USC that the State avoids it when it pays illness benefit to employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10706/24]

Cost of Living Issues

Brendan Griffin

460. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a cost of living payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10796/24]

Social Welfare Offices

Bernard Durkan

461. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the relevant personnel from the local office in Kildare can make contact with a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10803/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Joan Collins

230. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on an application for fuel allowance can be reviewed (details supplied). [9743/24]

Pension Provisions

Duncan Smith

231. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is not receiving the full increase granted in respect of her pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9752/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

232. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied). [9762/24]

EU Funding

Holly Cairns

233. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to her Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9813/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peter Burke

234. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to extend illness benefit to the self-employed (details supplied). [9828/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

235. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that some payment sections are still including child maintenance as means in assessments; if she will issue direction on this to all sections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9829/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Ged Nash

236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the legislation to allow for workers in receipt of widows/widowers pension to be in a position to qualify for illness benefit when they are unfit for work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9851/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can obtain an appropriate allowance while supplementing any income from part-time work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9898/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for domiciliary care allowance in respect of their son; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9899/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) can qualify for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9901/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Paul McAuliffe

77. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer annually to provide free travel for people with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9403/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Paul McAuliffe

78. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer annually to abolish the means test for fish assist and farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9405/24]