Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Public Services Card

Duncan Smith

107. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any restrictions on a service (details supplied) that would result in public service card users only being allowed to book seats in a limited manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23128/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

108. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection who will be responsible for the review into payments for migrants both from Ukraine and elsewhere; the Departments or State bodies that will be represented at the meetings; the format it will take; the number of meetings that will be held; if the conclusions will be published; if it will consider international comparators as well as adequacy of payments; and if it will engage with any external bodies. [23035/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Seán Haughey

109. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the backlog of cases at the social welfare appeals office where appellants are being told that this office is currently working through submissions received from mid-February 2024; if she will take appropriate measures including staff changes to alleviate this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23088/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Patricia Ryan

110. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied) was refused; the reason this has taken nine months for the person to be notified of the refusal. [23155/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Robert Troy

111. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the entitlement to illness benefit for those who are self employed. [23163/24]

Departmental Contracts

Paul Donnelly

112. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of each time her Department enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the purpose and value of each contract, in tabular form. [23250/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard O'Donoghue

113. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the household benefit package can be made available to all persons once they reach State pension age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23258/24]

State Pensions

Richard Bruton

114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans changes to the pension provision for people who because of the nature of their work have earlier retirement dates, in order that they do not have large fall in living standards when they step down from those roles. [23259/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

368. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22340/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for exceptional needs payment can be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22343/24]

School Meals Programme

Paul Donnelly

370. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of schools participating in the hot school meals programme in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7, and any schools in Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 that have requested to be on the list but are not included in this year’s programme. [22383/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

371. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the diet supplement was discontinued; if she will detail the supports that currently exist to help people who have been prescribed a particular diet which frequently costs more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22388/24]

School Meals Programme

Rose Conway-Walsh

372. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the challenges faced by many community pre-schools (details supplied) due to the fact that the school meals programme funding does not cover the costs associated with providing food and drink for children; the steps she is taking to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22393/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

373. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carer’s allowance submitted on 16 October (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22394/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

374. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22398/24]

Departmental Circulars

Eoin Ó Broin

375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection when the circular providing guidance to social welfare offices on the new rules regarding disregarding maintenance payments for existing JSA/transitional JSA claimants will be issued. [22402/24]

School Meals Programme

Richard Bruton

376. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would consider establishing a review of the possibility of including more fresh fruit and vegetables in the school meals programme; and to develop measures to minimise waste from uneaten food or containers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22405/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Niamh Smyth

377. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a decision on their domiciliary care allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22414/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

378. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a contributory state pension and if their contribution record can be provided. [22431/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

379. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living for 2024 as detailed by an organisation (details supplied) in tabular form. [22436/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

380. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living for 2025 as detailed by an organisation (details supplied) in tabular form. [22437/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Niamh Smyth

381. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22439/24]

Departmental Websites

Seán Sherlock

382. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a matter (details supplied). [22492/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Paul Kehoe

383. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people (details supplied) whose PPS number was active, by county that is, in receipt of benefits or paying taxes between 1 February and 1 April 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22496/24]

International Protection

Seán Haughey

384. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the payments made to an applicant seeking international protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22512/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Niamh Smyth

385. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that are being taken to assist self-employed persons in obtaining sick leave based on their contribution record in the event of their cancer diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22513/24]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

386. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she remains committed to meet the formal benchmark target of 34% of average earnings for State pension contributory payments as per the Government's ‘Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023'; if she has a timeframe to meet this target; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22518/24]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

387. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection to advise what percentage of average earnings the State pension (contributory) rate is currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22519/24]

Departmental Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the funding allocation made available under the free travel scheme to all private transport operators. [22570/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Cathal Crowe

389. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a travel allowance for international protection applicants to attend medical appointments remote from their accommodation centre has been cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22572/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Francis Noel Duffy

390. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yearly cost of increasing the rate of jobseeker's allowance for all young people aged under 25 in line with the maximum person rate for those aged over 25; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22573/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

391. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy 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 €232 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

392. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy 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 €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

393. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy 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 €232 and €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Niall Collins

394. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22588/24]

School Meals Programme

Brendan Griffin

395. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an issue with a school (details supplied) in County Kerry has still not been resolved. [22718/24]

State Pensions

Michael Creed

396. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if an applicant (details supplied) will be approved for the maximum State pension (contributory). [22760/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

397. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of recipients for each social welfare scheme. [22796/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

398. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average, median, maximum and minimum number of recipients for each social welfare scheme in 2023. [22797/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

399. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, with regard to the jobseeker’s benefit pay related scheme, noting the revised estimates, what the full-year cost of the proposed scheme will be. [22798/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

400. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [22799/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22800/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

402. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [22801/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

403. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment. [22802/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

404. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the JobPath scheme for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [22803/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [22804/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

406. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant by €1. [22805/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

407. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending carer’s benefit to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22806/24]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

408. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person in receipt of disability allowance, who receives a bequest, can have a trust established, which would be administered on their behalf to provide for long-term secure accommodation, instead of being immediately assessed under a means test; and if she will outline the conditions if any which would have to be met. [22808/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Creed

409. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if all documentation (details supplied) was reviewed in the context of an application for carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22820/24]