Parliamentary questions

735. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking to ensure schools affected by companies pulling out of contracts due to procurement criteria in the hot school meal scheme are resolved; and or if he will introduce a temporary measure to ensure these children are catered for. [48053/25]

736. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to a household facing high electricity bills due to essential medical equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/25]

737. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which food waste is monitored in the hot school meals scheme; the latest data in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48091/25]

738. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if teachers who take a career break to work abroad, and whose contracts will not resume until September, are entitled to avail of jobseekers supports on their return to Ireland while looking for a job prior to the reopening of schools in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48122/25]

739. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection where an individual with special dietary requirements will get financial assistance with ongoing weekly expenses associated with gluten-free foods (details supplied); the section of the HSE that has responsibility for this; and if an email address and contact number will be provided for same; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

740. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions he plans to take in order to address concerns that social welfare payments are not moving in tandem with the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48170/25]

741. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE qualified legal advisors working in his Department in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [48211/25]

742. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any Departmental review of the existing rate of payment under the living alone allowance to reflect the increased cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48307/25]

743. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to ensure that schools affected by food companies pulling out of the hot school meals scheme due to updated procurement criteria, are provided with hot meals; the interim measures in place; and when he expects this issue will be resolved, allowing all schools to avail of the free hot school meal scheme. …

744. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Youthreach services are excluded from qualifying for the school meals grant. [48316/25]

745. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he accepts the ESRI’s finding that one in five Irish children are living in poverty once housing costs are accounted for; and if so, the specific measures he intends to take to address this situation. [48345/25]

746. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the proposal from ESRI researchers for a second-tier, targeted child benefit, to better protect children in low-income households. [48346/25]

747. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the means by which he intends to meet the Government’s child poverty reduction targets, given the ESRI’s conclusion that there has been “no real progress” in this area since the financial crisis. [48347/25]

748. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the living alone increase; if the rate of payment has been reviewed to reflect the rising costs of utilities, housing, and healthcare; and whether his Department will commit to an indexed approach to maintain real value for older recipients. [48362/25]

749. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has undertaken analysis on the way in which the projected doubling of the older population over the next 25 years will impact demand for social protection supports; and if so, whether long-term funding models have been identified. [48363/25]

750. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is collaborating with the HSE and voluntary organisations such as an organisation (details supplied) in developing integrated policies that address both the financial and social needs of older adults, particularly those at risk of isolation. [48364/25]

751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered targeted supports for carers of older people, in recognition that early intervention and consistent community presence will reduce the burden on both the health and social protection systems. [48366/25]

752. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection given the shift toward permanent, targeted measures in Budget 2026, the provisions that will be specifically allocated to tackle child poverty and housing instability in Cork city, including Blarney, Mallow and Glanmire. [48377/25]

753. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific reforms being proposed or considered to introduce a second-tier child benefit, as recommended in the ESRI report of 9 September 2025 on child poverty. [48416/25]

754. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which current child poverty reduction targets are being aligned with housing-adjusted poverty measures; and the steps being taken to address the persistence of child poverty rates at recession-era levels when housing costs are taken into account. [48417/25]

755. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional supports, such as an enhanced qualified child allowance, targeted housing subsidies, or expanded childcare supports, are planned for households in or near poverty particularly affected by housing costs; and the timeline and funding plan for such measures. [48418/25]

756. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the indicators and timelines being used to measure progress against the reduction of housing-cost-adjusted child poverty rates; and when her Department will next report such progress to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [48420/25]

757. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will have their supplementary dietary allowance reinstated. [48533/25]

758. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of registered ISL interpreters currently available in each county. [48537/25]

759. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the barriers faced by ISL interpreters in the delivery of services, including issues in relation to recruitment, training, career, progression and retention; the steps being taken to address these challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/25]