Questions

1152. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific nutritional standards mandated by his Department under the School Meals Programme; the way in which compliance with those standards are monitored at supplier level; the auditing or oversight mechanisms currently in place; if there is a formal mechanism for parents and schools to raise concerns about the food provided to their children;…

1153. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 2 December 2025, if he will provide an update on the working group formed by his Department in relation to means derived from deprivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18549/26]

1154. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the impact the Basic Income for Artists has on disability payments; and if he will make a statement on the way in which it can have the effect of making disabled artists ineligible for their disability payment and disabled people's consequent access to participation in the arts. [18570/26]

1155. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the impact the Basic Income for Artists has on disability payments; and if he will make a statement on the way in which it can have the effect of making disabled artists ineligible for their disability payment and disabled people's consequent access to participation in the arts. [18571/26]

1156. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff from his Department seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the Department or agency, in tabular form. [18600/26]

1157. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff from his Department seconded to a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18618/26]

1158. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff from his Department seconded from a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18636/26]

1159. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a payment received under a State institutional redress scheme, including the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, is disregarded for the purposes of a means test when assessing eligibility for an exceptional needs payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18653/26]

1160. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications for carer's allowance that were refused in 2025, in tabular form. [18685/26]

1161. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which a person becomes an approved supplier/fitter of wigs under the wig grant scheme. [18704/26]

1162. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the rollout of the hot school meal programme in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18776/26]

1163. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the situation whereby employees whose employer (details supplied) has entered a mandatory 30-day collective redundancy consultation period have been informed that they can not apply for the jobseekers pay related benefit (JPRB) during this period and will instead only qualify for an exceptional needs payment capped at €254 per week;…

1164. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct procedure for employees of a company (details supplied) who obtain new employment during the statutory 30-day collective redundancy consultation period; the steps such employees are required to take in order to comply with his Departmental rules during this period; the reason departmental representatives were unable to provide accurate inf…

1165. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the statutory process that applies where a company enters a creditors’ voluntary liquidation and triggers a thirty-day collective redundancy consultation period, during which employees are not dismissed, are not required to attend work, and receive no wages; the way in which his Department treats the employment status of workers during this period; an…

1166. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the circumstances affecting employees of a company (details supplied), which ceased trading on 20 February 2026 and placed all staff on temporary unpaid lay-off pending a creditors’ voluntary liquidation expected to be completed approximately fourteen days after cessation, during which a statutory consultation period is running until…

1167. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he accepts that an anomaly arises whereby employees who are not working and receiving no wages during a statutory consultation period cannot access jobseeker’s benefit until the formal redundancy takes effect, even though their employment has effectively ended in practice; the policy in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18…

1168. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason employees affected by the cessation of a company (details supplied) have received contradictory advice from Intreo offices, with some being instructed to apply for jobseeker’s payments and others told to cancel their claims; the action his Department will take to ensure consistent guidance for workers in similar circumstances; and if he wil…

1169. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which PRSI contributions, continuity of insurance, and contribution records are treated for employees placed on temporary unpaid lay-off during a statutory consultation period prior to redundancy; whether gaps arise that could affect entitlements to future benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18801/26]

1170. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which employment status is recorded during a statutory consultation period where employees are still legally employed but are not working and are not being paid; the reason some employees of a company (details supplied) report that MyGov.ie lists them as ceased even though the company has not formally dismissed them; whether any administrat…

1171. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department plans to take to ensure that employees placed on temporary unpaid lay-off during a statutory redundancy consultation period are not left without any income support; if he will address the gap in the system in future cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18803/26]

1172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a school (details supplied) will be included in the Primary Schools Meals scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18853/26]

1173. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the funding of a training course for a person (details supplied) by her Department and Turas Nua. [18857/26]

1174. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a disability allowance appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18869/26]

1175. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patricks Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18899/26]

1176. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of family carers who have benefitted under the long term carers contribution scheme ensuring a full State pension for them, in each of the years since it was introduced, in tabular form. [19007/26]