Parliamentary questions

785. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider equalising jobseeker’s payments for persons under 25 with those over 25, in light of recent polling showing that three in five young adults are considering emigration due to the cost-of-living crisis. [48781/25]

786. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason social welfare appeal decisions are taking up to 18 months in some cases; the number of applicants currently awaiting a decision; and the interim supports available to those left without income while awaiting an appeal outcome. [48785/25]

787. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for social welfare appeals in 2023 and 2024, in weeks, by scheme; and the way in which these compare with his Department’s stated service standards. [48787/25]

788. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to strengthen the independence and transparency of the social welfare appeals office; if the recommendations made by an organisation (details supplied) regarding structural reform have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48788/25]

789. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if improvements are planned to reduce delays in transferring files and in decision-making; the status of plans to digitise the appeals process; and if priority processing will be introduced for urgent or hardship cases. [48789/25]

790. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions in place to ensure that appellants have access to legal or advocacy support during social welfare appeals; if he will consider introducing free legal aid for complex appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48790/25]

791. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48845/25]

792. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the fuel allowance for single people, as many are finding it increasingly difficult to heat their homes, with rising costs and so on, especially senior citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48846/25]

793. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that rent supplement is only available to those who work under 30-hours-per-week; and if he plans to expand the criteria to 40-hours-per-week, taking into account that many people who are in need of rent supplement work a full 40-hour week. [49018/25]

794. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the diet supplement for celiacs, to assist them with the additional costs associated with a gluten free diet; his plans to re-introduce this scheme for new applicants; the alternative measures to assist celiacs with the financial burden of their diet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

795. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if measures will be introduced to expand employment opportunities for deaf and disabled individuals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/25]

796. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding and supports will be allocated to organisations such as a charity (details supplied), which is the largest employer of deaf people in Ireland, employing 40 staff, 29 of whom are deaf or disabled, and which currently has a waiting list of applicants seeking meaningful employment; and if he will make a statement on the …

797. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Programme for Government commitment to “continue to significantly increase the income disregards for carer’s allowance in each budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government”; the work carried out to date to progress this commitment; his plans with respect to the upcoming Bud…

798. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the justification for only allowing persons to qualify for half-rate carer’s allowance in instances where they are in receipt of a contributory State pension (details supplied); his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49180/25]

1321. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding employment services and specialist training supports for adults who are on the autism spectrum; if he can provide an update on the efforts being undertaken by his Department to support adults who are on the autism spectrum in securing employment opportunities, in the context of recent statistics (details su…

1322. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Social Protection if it can be ensured that those in receipt of disability allowance and attached benefits (details supplied) are not penalised if accepted onto the proposed Budget 2026 full rollout of the basic income for the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47260/25]

1323. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the review of the rural social scheme, specifically in relation to the recommendation of a pilot scheme for rural dwellers and the recommendation of increasing the participants per herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44504/25]

1324. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a full review is being carried out on the carer’s allowance payment by this Department; the current status of this review; whether consideration will be given as part of this review to allowing for a full-rate carer’s allowance payment to be paid to persons on a widow’s pension, and other eligible payments; and if he will …

1325. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number or persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months; the number of those who have engaged on a training course or community employment scheme; the number who have not engaged on a training course or community employment scheme; and his views on job activation measures being undertaken for those…

1326. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of claims made and paid out under the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Éowyn; the average payment; the amounts paid for example less than €500, €1000, €1,500, €2,000 and so on, in tabular form; the total amount paid to date; and the number of claims refused wholly or partially; and if he will make a state…

1327. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider waiving the means test on foster care families (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44606/25]

1328. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details of the criteria used to divulge birth certificates to the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44636/25]

1329. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on concerns a person (details supplied) has in relation to the civil registration act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44637/25]

1330. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider revising the TÚS programme guidelines for people in receipt of disability allowance, to allow them to remain on the scheme for up to 24 months, or more, if they wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/25]

1331. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if a process will be considered where seasonal workers can apply for jobseeker’s benefit in advance of being laid off for the summer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44732/25]