Questions

495. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who became Irish citizens in each of the past five years who subsequently received social welfare payments and were subsequently imprisoned; what payments they were receiving immediately prior to imprisonment; whether those payments ceased, were suspended or continued for dependants; and the total value of payments made to their de…

496. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of international protection applicants who, while in receipt of a social welfare payment or dependent-related payment, entered prison in each of the past five years; what happened to each payment during imprisonment; the number transferred to a spouse, partner or other dependent; and the total annual cost involved. [71925/26]

497. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated real-terms change in the value of core weekly social welfare rates in 2027, following the €10 increase announced in Budget 2027, given HICP inflation of 3.2 per cent in 2026 and forecast inflation of 3.0 per cent in 2027 as set out in the Budget 2027 expenditure report. [71858/26]

498. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will clarify the eligibility criteria for the cost of disability payment announced in Budget 2027; if persons with a permanent disability who are in full-time employment and not in receipt of a social welfare payment will qualify. [72068/26]

499. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to providing for a cost of disability payment; and if this is under consideration within his Department. [72154/26]

500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for a decision to be made on a carer's allowance (details supplied) review. [71992/26]

501. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to give consideration to points raised in correspondence (details supplied) and allow for a full rate of carer's allowance in such situations. [72005/26]

502. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the eligibility criteria for the household benefits package and fuel allowance in the case of an Irish citizen (details supplied), who is in receipt of a disablement pension but resides in Northern Ireland; if residence outside the State automatically disqualifies a person from the household benefits package; and if the same residency…

503. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal following refusal of an application for Bereaved Partners Pension submitted by a person (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72120/26]

504. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has been carried out of the impact of inherited capital on the long term financial security of people with lifelong disabilities who lose disability allowance and secondary benefits; if his Department has engaged with the Department of Finance on aligning the tax and means testing treatment of such inheritances; and if he will make a stateme…

505. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disability allowance claims reduced or closed in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026 due to capital arising from an inheritance; the number of those recipients who subsequently lost entitlement to the free travel pass as a result; if his Department collects this data; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on th…

506. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which an inheritance received by a recipient of disability allowance is assessed under the means test; the amount of capital that may be held before any reduction in payment applies; the amount at which the payment ceases entirely; if consideration has been given to disregarding, in whole or in part, an inheritance received from a parent by a…

507. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether existing State financial supports for people with a disability are sufficient in the context of Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that guarantees the right to an adequate standard of living and social protection without discrimination; and if this is being considered in relation di…

508. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount being spent on free bus travel for Ukrainian people; and the number of Ukrainians who have free public transport. [72149/26]

509. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the current waiting times on social welfare applications. [72415/26]

510. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration noting a statement in Dáil Éireann on 23 September 2026 that 50 study visas were granted to students from Gaza in 2026, while figures provided by his Department indicate that 50 long-stay study visas were granted in 2026 to Palestinian nationals generally, including applicants from the West Bank and elsewhere, if he will clarify matter…

511. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify the number of study visas issued and other matters in relation to students from Gaza in 2026 (details supplied). [71361/26]

512. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the engagement that has taken place with South Dublin County Council concerning the housing, homelessness, community service and other local impacts associated with residents moving from the Citywest Hotel and convention centre following the granting of international protection status; and whether there is a formal written protocol…

513. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific arrangements that are in place to support persons who have received international protection status to move from the Citywest Hotel and convention centre into mainstream accommodation; the number of such exits from Citywest in 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number currently awaiting move-on accommodation. [71472/26]

514. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration with reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2025, which records that 5,123 persons who had received international protection status remained in international protection accommodation services, IPAS, accommodation at the end of March 2026, to provide the current number of per…

515. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a schedule of EU Presidency events being hosted by his Department, broken down by the name of the event, location, date and State agencies or other Departments involved in the organising of the event; and cost or budgeted cost of same, including costs borne by State agencies under its aegis, in tabular form. [71408/26]

516. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration noting that the Comptroller and Auditor General records an estimated accommodation capacity of approximately 2,300 persons at Citywest hotel and convention centre, whether his Department has undertaken or participated in an assessment of the impact of this population on services and infrastructure in Citywest, Saggart, Rathcoole an…

517. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether all fire safety deficiencies, which were identified in his Department commissioned 2025 ORS fire safety assessment and associated inspections of the Citywest Hotel and convention centre, have now been fully rectified; the date on which his Department was satisfied that all matters identified as requiring urgent or immediate…

518. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the review ongoing within his Department in relation to the refusal of visas to Palestinian students, particularly those who had been offered scholarships in Ireland and were due to start their studies in September 2026. [71510/26]

519. Deputy Daniel Ennis asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current processing time for applications to the National Garda Vetting Bureau; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71506/26]