Questions

738. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the public can opt in to the auto enrolment retirement savings system, My Future Fund which is operational since 1 January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8335/26]

318. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people, by county, who availed of their entitlement under the treatment benefit scheme in respect of the €500 grant towards a hearing aid in each year 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7157/26]

319. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people, by county, who availed of their entitlement under the treatment benefit scheme in respect of optical support, broken down by free eye tests, free glasses and grants towards contact lenses for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7158/26]

320. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people, by county, who availed of their entitlement under the treatment benefit scheme in respect of the €500 grant for wigs for each of the years 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7159/26]

321. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people, by county, who availed of their entitlement under the treatment benefit scheme in respect of dental work for each of the years 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7160/26]

322. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he can provide the latest breakdown, by county, of the number of employers who have signed up to auto enrolment; the total number of employees that have been enrolled, by county; the overall value of contributions collected to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7161/26]

323. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the My Future Fund app will be launched in order that people can track their contributions and savings pot online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7162/26]

696. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider changing the maximum hours a person can work (currently 18.5 hours per week) when qualifying for carer's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/26]

25. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals in Cork per Intreo area currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1241/26]

42. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for disability related payments for applicants in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1242/26]

319. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned that the youth unemployment rate of 13.4% is almost treble the national unemployment rate of 4.9%; if he will consider introducing new programmes or amending existing programmes to assist young people into work; if he is satisfied with uptake of the work placement experience scheme in light of these figures; if he will confirm th…

626. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has received any complaints from schools or parents in relation to the hot school meals programme; the approximate number of complaints received; if he will provide a general summary of the concerns and issues raised; if specific concerns have been raised in relation to the nutritional value of meals; and if he will make a stateme…

627. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the names of all suppliers currently involved in the delivery of hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71742/25]

628. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the types of businesses providing hot school meals and the flexibility that is allowed under the procurement guidelines; if local restaurants and supermarkets are providing hot school meals as well as larger national providers; if the preference is for locally sourced meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71733/25]

629. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if Meals on Wheels are being utilised to deliver hot school meals in rural communities that are not being catered for by larger providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71734/25]

630. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has received the report in relation to the nutritional standards for school meals; if this report has examined the menus being offered by suppliers; if it has identified significant variances in terms of meal quality between suppliers; when he intends to publish the report and its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

631. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if all primary schools nationwide are now in receipt of hot school meals; the overall number of schools now receiving a hot school meal; the number of primary schools who are not yet receiving a hot school meal and the reasons for this; the total number of suppliers providing hot school meals nationwide; the total number of pupils benefiting from h…

632. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to address food waste under the hot school meals programme; his views on whether this is a widespread issue with the programme; the specific changes that have been introduced to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71737/25]

633. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if recyclable packaging is being used in the provision of all hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71738/25]

634. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on a long-term unemployment payment who received a Christmas bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71739/25]

635. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have applied for and availed of pay related benefit, by county to date; the average payment rate under the scheme to dater; the average duration of claims to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71740/25]

636. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in relation to the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 – 2030, which commits to establish a strategic focus network on the cost of disability; if this group has been established; the Departments and agencies involved; the number of meetings held to date; if people with disabilities and advocate gr…

637. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the monetary deduction an employee on the average industrial wage will see in their pay packet in January for their contribution to auto enrolment; if the value of the minimum wage increase for low paid workers will offset the contribution for auto enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71744/25]

638. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if there will be a user friendly online system where employees can view their auto enrolment pot growing; if this will take account of investment performance or just the employer, employee and State contribution; his views on whether this will be an important tool so that employees can see and clearly understand the benefits of their contributions;…

639. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have had the penalty rate of €90 imposed on their jobseeker’s payment for failure to engage with activation services since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71746/25]