Questions

449. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance review for a mother in respect of her daughter (details supplied) has been lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11259/26]

427. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance review for a mother in respect of their daughter (details supplied) has been lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5124/26]

35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the social protection payment increases that came into effect from 1 January 2026; the level of increased spending overall; the amount of people to benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/26]

84. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether he engages with the Minister for Health when increases to social protection payments are occurring, particularly with regard to medical card thresholds and payments to older people in order that welcome increases in social protection payments would not have the unintended consequence of disqualifying a person for a medical card as a res…

1542. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to automatically granting invalidity pension to those with a diagnosis of cancer for the duration of their treatment and the time they are unable to work as a result of their cancer, provided they meet the PRSI credits requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74709/25]

318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that a domiciliary care allowance review has been lodged for a person (details supplied); if he will confirm a decision will be given at the earliest possible opportunity due to the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72800/25]

605. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether payments from catastrophic injury claims from the HSE would be included on the means test for carer’s allowance; if so, how this is calculated as per the means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65971/25]

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to introducing a pay-related maternity benefit, based on the woman’s current earnings so that they do not experience a sudden drop in income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62177/25]

141. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration will be given to increasing the income threshold for eligibility to fuel allowance in line with increases received by pensioners in Budget 2026, as the increase could render some pensioners ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62178/25]

693. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on his Departments plans to extend the eligibility for the rural social scheme to include people who are not involved in farming or fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55945/25]

1149. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the auto-enrolment pension will be classified as an occupational pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57778/25]

1199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will revise the fee paid to dentists holding contracts under the dental treatment benefit scheme; the status of these plans; the timeframe for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58675/25]

1204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a non-contributory pension for a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; if serious consideration will be given to awarding this pension due to their means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59046/25]

636. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a person’s (details supplied) carers allowance review in view of the fact it has been pending for some time; if he will give serious consideration to awarding the person the carers allowance given they provide a significant level of full time care to the person in question and the means test threshold has increased significa…

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on removing the means test for carer's allowance; whether a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/25]

147. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider removing the means test for fuel allowance for those over 70 and in receipt of qualifying payments and meeting all other necessary criteria; the cost that would be involved in implementing such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50507/25]

1395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the rules on carer’s allowance in order that a person who is in receipt of a State pension would also be eligible to qualify for the full rate of carer’s allowance, as many older people are providing full-time care for a loved one in need, this care is crucial to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [465…

1402. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the bereaved partners grant only applies to those whose partner’s death occurred on or after 21 July 2025; to confirm that consideration would be given to extending this grant to those whose partners died before this date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46673/25]

1753. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding partial capacity benefit; that serious consideration would be given to allowing this appeal; when a decision on this application is likely to issue, given that it has been lodged for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40962/25]

1823. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when it will be possible for qualified cohabitants to apply for a bereaved partner’s pension, given that the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 has now been signed into law by the President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42318/25]

1889. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to putting in place a support to subsidise the cost of bereavement counselling for those who have lost a close family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44062/25]

607. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department's plans to introduce a new Action Plan promoting social inclusion in rural areas, in view that "The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025" is coming to an end later this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39025/25]

107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025. [38451/25]

275. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application for the daughter of a person (details supplied) for who it is documented and has medical difficulties; if serious consideration will be given to granting this allowance due to these difficulties and the level of care required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35061/25]

587. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a person’s (details supplied) invalidity pension appeal; when a decision will be reached given that it has been lodged for nearly a year and that serious consideration would be given to granting this allowance due to the applicant’s circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34148/25]