Parliamentary questions

347. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection his plan to reform the fuel allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53192/25]

348. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider increasing the number of hours an applicant can work, and retain payment on carers allowance, from 18.5, to help those who are providing full-time care on lower incomes and lower hourly pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53195/25]

349. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will abolish the means test assessment requirement for carers allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53196/25]

350. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection for a summary of all recent changes to means tests for the disability allowance, including any changes to income disregards and maximum working hours. [53220/25]

351. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has commenced any assessment or scoping exercise into the legal recognition of non-binary gender under the Gender Recognition Act 2015; if so, the terms of reference of this assessment; and the expected date for its completion. [53232/25]

352. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide the number of officials assigned to work on the assessment of recognising non-binary gender in law; and the estimated cost to his Department to date. [53233/25]

353. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has commissioned any external consultants, research studies, or advisory groups in respect of legal recognition of non-binary gender; and if so, to list the contracts and the costs incurred. [53234/25]

354. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has engaged with the Department of Foreign Affair &Trade, the Department of Justice of Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability & Equality regarding the international recognition of Irish passports or other identity documents containing a non-binary gender marker. [53235/25]

355. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which his Department proposes to amend existing databases, forms, and records to accommodate a non-binary gender marker; and if he has undertaken any analysis of the costs and technical requirements of this. [53236/25]

356. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the implications of introducing a non-binary gender category for statistical reporting in areas such as health, education, employment, and census data; and if so, to outline the preparatory work undertaken. [53237/25]

357. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has sought or received legal advice from the Attorney General on the compatibility of recognising a non-binary gender in Irish law with existing legislation on family law, succession, taxation, and equality; and if so, to provide details of this advice. [53238/25]

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the consultations he has undertaken with stakeholders on the recognition of non-binary gender; if she will publish the list of groups consulted; and if she will commit to a public consultation process before bringing forward any legislative change. [53239/25]

359. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of legal recognition of non-binary gender on gender quota legislation, including political representation and corporate boards; and if he will publish this assessment. [53240/25]

360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has prepared any estimate of the long-term financial and administrative cost to the State of recognising non-binary gender in law; and if so, to provide the figures. [53241/25]

361. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the number of people in receipt of the living alone allowance per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53261/25]

362. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the living alone allowance, per year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53262/25]

363. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding living alone allowance to all individuals over the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53263/25]

364. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently review a fuel allowance payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53274/25]

365. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the additional cost of living experienced by people with disabilities. [53290/25]

366. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person will be reviewed (details supplied); if the decision on this application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53292/25]

367. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case will be reviewed of a person (details supplied) who has appealed a decision on carer’s allowance; if consideration can be given to expediting this appeal, given the person’s urgent financial circumstances and caring responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53305/25]

368. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53377/25]

369. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of years it will take before he will be in a position to abolish the means test for carer's allowance. [53384/25]

370. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount disregarded from means assessment under the job seekers allowance scheme and the non-contributory pension scheme from income derived from seaweed harvesting; when this disregard was last adjusted; the change in the consumer price index since; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53536/25]

371. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person whose self-employed income derives wholly from seaweed harvesting is eligible to receive farm assist; if such persons are made aware of this entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53541/25]