Parliamentary questions

650. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51721/25]

651. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for applications for each payment under his Department's remit; if there are any plans to reduce these processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51722/25]

652. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he or his Department are developing a payment for those self-employed who cannot work over a short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51744/25]

653. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he or his Department are considering changing the gross means test of a non-contributory State pension to a means test based on an applicant's net income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51747/25]

654. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection his proposals to ensure that applicants for working age social welfare payments are not unduly refused upon their initial applications, arising from the significant number of those who are currently successful upon appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51759/25]

655. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2026 if child benefit is increased by €12 per month. [51841/25]

656. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will expedite a decision in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51866/25]

657. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the levels of maternity benefit and maternity leave, paternity benefit and leave, parental benefit and parental leave which will apply during 2026; and if there are any anticipated changes in any of these due to take place during 2026. [51897/25]

658. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports or secondary benefits allowed to persons on a carer's allowance; and to persons on a carer's benefit. [51904/25]

659. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer's benefit; the typical duration of their claim; and if she has considered greater flexibility under the scheme to cover intermittent caring periods. [51905/25]

660. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the carer's support grant; the number of persons who already have carer's payments or domiciliary care allowance; and the numbers who qualify independently of these schemes. [51906/25]

661. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the take up to date of the concession of free travel to those medically unfit to drive; and the number of children who will benefit from free travel. [51914/25]

662. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children on child benefit payments; and the way that number has been affected by the extension of payments to those in full-time education up to their 19th birthday. [51915/25]

663. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on his Department increasing the allowance for pensioners over the age of 80. [51926/25]

664. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide clarification on the payment under the hot meals suppliers programme to specific schools (details supplied) in counties Leitrim and Roscommon. [51933/25]

665. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is reviewing the housing assistance payment and rent supplement rules to ensure victims of domestic violence are not penalised or displaced in tenancy disputes where barring or exclusion orders are in place. [52037/25]

666. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to ensure that workers subject to auto-enrolment for pensions will be entitled to make decisions about where their pension fund is invested; if there are ethical investment protocols; if workers will get to set the parameters of the way in which the investment is applied; and if he will make a statement on the m…

667. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure there is not an additional cost on charities from the pension auto-enrolment policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52155/25]

668. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to safeguarding funding from central Government for charitable organisations and registered charities in relation to costs associated with the pension auto-enrolment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52156/25]

82. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the measurement 'consistent poverty' obscures the full number of people both at risk of poverty and in material deprivation; if he is aware that 'consistent poverty' fails to account for housing costs; if he will consider using both 'material deprivation' and 'at risk of poverty after housing costs' as alternat…

83. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the number of requests for an oral hearing over the past four years; the number of oral hearings that have been held virtually, in-person and over the phone, in the past four years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50021/25]

84. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools under contract to a supplier (details supplied) under the hot school meals programme; the number of these schools that exclusively cater to additional educational needs; the number that are DEIS schools; the number that are DEIS+ schools; his plan to provide parents of children affected by the cessation of th…

85. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a cost of disability payment to help address the significant additional costs of having a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50570/25]

86. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of former An Post employees whose initial applications for pensions were refused in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51086/25]

87. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for phasing out the means test entirely for the carer’s allowance during the lifetime of this Government, as per the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51028/25]