Questions

1827. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of ongoing issues with the PSC online renewal system in accepting photographs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42366/25]

1828. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for consideration on providing free travel for all means tested social welfare recipients, to promote the use of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42367/25]

1829. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for a review of how social welfare repayment statements are issued out to individuals; currently if more than one overpayment then the repayment is only reflected on one account, which causes confusion for the individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42368/25]

1830. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason teachers are exempt from jobseeker's pay-related benefit and are unable to claim this payment when they are out of contract during the summer term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42400/25]

1831. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if the hours that can be worked while on carer's allowance could be increased to 19.5; if exceptions can be made to allow people on carer's allowance to work on a CE scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42407/25]

1832. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by his Department and State bodies under its aegis on travel and subsistence in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42472/25]

1833. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for a non-contributory pension by a person (details supplied) was unsuccessful; the options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42501/25]

1834. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection to state whether his Department or any agency operating under its aegis has, in the past five years, used reserved contracts or included social clauses in public procurement tenders; and if so, to detail the types of contracts or clauses used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/25]

1835. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if the value of a person’s house is disregarded as part of an application for a disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42810/25]

1836. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the situation, where a person has €300,000 for a four-month period from the proceeds of their home and these proceeds being used to buy a new home, in terms of the capital disregard for a disability allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42811/25]

1837. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) whose application for invalidity pension has been repeatedly refused despite medical evidence from their GP advising against their return to work due to ongoing mental health issues; if he will ensure his Department gives due consideration to the medical opinion provided; and if he will make …

1838. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department is aware of pension vesting practices for defined-benefit pensions pre-2000 which allow companies to deny employees with fewer than five years’ service their accrued pension rights; whether his Department has any plans to retrospectively protect the effected employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/25]

1839. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the hot school meals programme will be expanded to the schools announced in April 2025, given that these schools still have not received the necessary paperwork to begin the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43077/25]

1840. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the paperwork necessary to begin the hot school meals programme will be distributed to schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43078/25]

1841. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason schools were not notified during the school year that the necessary paperwork for the hot school meals programme was not ready (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43079/25]

1842. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will announce the delay of the hot school meals programme expansion or if principals will have to communicate this to parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43080/25]

1843. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the capital funding programmes or grants for which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility for which sporting organisations are eligible to apply; the details of any funding programme or grant that is currently open or the date when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened fo…

1844. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of capital funding programmes or grants for which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility for which community organisations are eligible to apply; the details of any funding programme or grant that is currently open or the date of when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened th…

1845. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of school children who will be in receipt of hot meals from the start of the next school year, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43201/25]

1846. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to introduce a cost of disability payment as recommended by the 2021 Government commissioned Indecon Report and in view of the commitment in the Programme For Government to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment to be increased incrementally over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on t…

1847. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the process by which his Department contacts the British work and pensions department seeking contribution information about people who have made applications to his Department based on their British contributions; the current average waiting times for this information to be received; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

1848. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the nature and extent of engagement his Department has had with other Government agencies and Departments in relation to the problems faced by workers who live in the North and work for southern-based companies, and who wish to work from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43514/25]

1849. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the work and access scheme; the numbers using it; his plans to increase this number and improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43515/25]

1850. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the wage subsidy scheme; the numbers using it; his plans to increase this number and improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43516/25]

1851. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans for his Department and Intreo staff to engage with employers and those with disabilities to facilitate a larger cohort of those with disabilities into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43517/25]