Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Social Welfare Payments

Paul McAuliffe

452. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a working family payment application by a person (details supplied). [29296/21]

Data Protection

Peadar Tóibín

453. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the nature of the data breaches experienced by her Department since 2018. [29315/21]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

454. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount provided by her Department to Tipperary County Council in 2020 in respect of rent supplement. [29353/21]

Island Communities

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

455. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost, number of recipients and number of applicants of the island allowance in each of the years 2010 to 2020, by offshore island. [29354/21]

Island Communities

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

456. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected increase in total annual cost of the island allowance resulting from the increase to €20 announced in Budget 2021; and if she will provide a copy of any documented analysis conducted by her Department before making the decision to increase the allowance. [29355/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

457. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have availed of employability services in the State in 2020 and to date in 2021, by county in tabular form. [29532/21]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

458. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to support persons with disabilities with employment and employability services; the way additional needs of persons with disabilities will be incorporated into the forthcoming tender for employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29533/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

459. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) for a carer’s allowance in view of the fact that it has been marked urgent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29576/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Jackie Cahill

460. Deputy Jackie Cahill 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. [29584/21]

Departmental Budgets

Mark Ward

461. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the funds returned unspent to the Exchequer from her Department’s budget in each of the years 2017 to 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29595/21]

Departmental Reports

Mark Ward

462. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the current status of the Cost of Disability report; the timeline for the publication of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29596/21]

Protected Disclosures

Peadar Tóibín

463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of protected disclosures made to her Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [29641/21]

Departmental Reports

Violet-Anne Wynne

464. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the publication of a report (details supplied) given that there is a mounting concern that the delay in publishing the report will negatively impact its consideration and inclusion in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29717/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

465. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit in 2021; and the number of recipients by county and month in tabular form. [29720/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

466. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit in 2021; and the number of recipients per employment sector or industry by month in tabular form. [29721/21]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Moynihan

467. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for a person to claim a jobseeker’s payment in which they are laid off for one day at a time over a period of months with very little notice in circumstances in which the person is working shift work on a 3 day 12 hour shift pattern and 1 day off represents a third of their working week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29852/21]

Departmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to granting a free travel pass to persons that have lost their driver license due to a diagnosis with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28858/21]

Gender Equality

Gary Gannon

218. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the recommendation of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality to address the impact of the marriage bar by automatically qualifying women affected by the marriage bar for a State pension; if she is considering such a move; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29041/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Sherlock

219. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 5 May 2021, if matters raised by the person (details supplied) will be examined. [28828/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Sherlock

220. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will have regard to correspondence and advise urgently (details supplied). [28830/21]

Social Insurance

Michael Creed

221. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent of protections available to the self-employed arising from their PRSI contributions in the event of illness and injury at work and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28834/21]

Widow's Pension

Brendan Griffin

222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a Widow's, (Contributory) Pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28895/21]

Departmental Staff

Willie O'Dea

223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29016/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Martin Browne

171. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a case in which an employee who is in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and has not been told when they will be returning to work back by their employer despite the business having reopened; her views on whether it is appropriate for an employee who has been left in limbo by their employer is now facing a cut to their pandemic unemployment payment despite being ready and willing to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28397/21]

Driver Licences

Willie O'Dea

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider persons with epilepsy who lose their driver licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures should be automatically given access to a free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28406/21]

State Pensions

Brendan Griffin

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a State pension (contributory) backdating appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28482/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Róisín Shortall

174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare application by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28489/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Louise O'Reilly

175. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of person (details supplied); when they will receive a transition payment including arrears owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28496/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

176. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will exclude arts grants and funding for artists from means testing for the blind pension and disability allowance to bring certainty to artists with disabilities and enable them to avail of funding without fearing loss of basic supports; and her views on whether the current means testing system causes unnecessary anxiety, stress and discouragement for artists with disabilities from reaching their full potential. [28518/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

177. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will end the practice of including the income of partners or spouses in the means testing of recipients or applicants for the blind pension and disability allowance and to address the impact of the current practice on diminishing the independence of persons with disabilities. [28519/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

178. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28520/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

179. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of Arts Council grants or funding putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28521/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

180. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the blind pension that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28522/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

181. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the disability allowance that were rejected in 2020 as a result of the income of a partner or spouse putting the applicant above the means test eligibility threshold. [28523/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

182. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual administrative cost incurred to conduct means testing of blind pension and disability allowance applicants each year from 2010 to 2021. [28524/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

183. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual spending on both the blind pension and the disability allowance each year from 2010 to 2021, in tabular form. [28525/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the blind pension in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28526/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

185. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the disability allowance in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of applications rejected due to means testing for the same time period in tabular form. [28527/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pearse Doherty

186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a lone parent application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28604/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Bernard Durkan

187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to upgrade the IT system in her Department and bodies under her aegis with a view to maximising the protection against hackers. [28693/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Bernard Durkan

188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional security measures will be taken to impede and prevent the intrusion of hackers in her Department’s IT system and to ensure an early warning system is in place which will trigger an ultimate defence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28711/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Gary Gannon

189. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Social Welfare Appeals Office expects to recommence oral hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28782/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

John McGuinness

370. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if respite grants for the past two years are due to a person (details supplied). [27481/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

371. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing free travel cards for persons with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27505/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Bernard Durkan

372. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when PPS numbers will issue to persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27506/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

373. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on raising maternity benefit to €350 weekly over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27514/21]

School Meals Programme

Holly Cairns

374. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the free hot school meals programme to all DEIS schools and all other schools that request to participate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27515/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Mary Butler

375. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the official State recognition of partners that have been long-term cohabiters but are not yet married; the position regarding financial assistance and tax credits available to a person in such a situation upon the death of partner prior to marriage; her plans to examine the issue further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27529/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jim O'Callaghan

376. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of visually impaired persons in receipt of the blind pension; and if consideration will be given to removing or amending the means test associated with the pension. [27569/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jim O'Callaghan

377. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way a visually impaired person can exist and contribute in the State as an artist; and the way a visually impaired person can develop, grow and live as a professional artist here. [27570/21]