Parliamentary questions

650. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of removing the means-test for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for all children and young people in State care, including those in foster care. [39262/25]

651. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the carer’s allowance weekly travel disregard by €1. [39263/25]

652. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the income disregards for the Jobseeker’s transitional payment by €1. [39264/25]

653. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of removing the 18.5-hour ceiling rule for the carer’s allowance for those who wish to undertake training or education and whose child is in school for more than 18.5-hours. [39265/25]

654. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of removing the weekly earnings limit for the carer’s benefit. [39266/25]

655. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the income thresholds for State pension (non-contributory) in light of the significant increase in the cost of living in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39326/25]

656. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the adequacy of the existing budget to support the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities; if an increase in this budget can be considered in the context of forthcoming Budget negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39384/25]

657. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding an application for adult dependent allowance submitted to his Department on 23 April 2025 for a person (details supplied). [39440/25]

658. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied) refused retirement benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39472/25]

659. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a domiciliary care allowance appeal will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39479/25]

660. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals or timelines in relation to the removal of the means test for the disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39498/25]

661. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pension entitlements of two persons (details supplied) will be examined to ensure that both are in receipt of their full benefit; and if their contribution history will be provided. [39570/25]

662. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of carers allowance payments for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [39576/25]

663. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department can address queries in respect of the contributions, benefits and entitlements of persons (details supplied). [39578/25]

664. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if, where a person who is in receipt of the disability allowance and who owns their own home and intends to sell their home and will be purchasing a new home from the proceeds, the sales proceeds in the interim period will be considered as means and thereby result in the disability allowance being stopped; if there is any period all…

665. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all national strategies, action plans or documents that may be described as such, which are currently in operation and under the remit of his Department. [39615/25]

666. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE community welfare officers based in Donegal in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39657/25]

258. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would be supportive of budgetary measures to support carers through a basic income scheme for carers, similar to the current basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38631/25]

259. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to scrap the means test for foster children being included in the back-to-school clothing and footwear scheme. [38335/25]

260. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if intending parents in surrogacy arrangements are entitled to maternity and paternity benefit or leave; and if they may be entitled to other forms of family leave, such as parental leave and parent's leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38341/25]

261. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a working family payment application can be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan as the family is under severe financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38427/25]

262. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance for a County Donegal constituent (details supplied) will be processed based on their current means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38455/25]

263. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently examine the carers benefit application for a person (details supplied) as this person has no income and is struggling to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38525/25]

264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the details for the past three years and the current year funding allocated or paid out for Departmental employees for legal study programmes including EU law in the past three years, detailing the course title, the course provider, the course fees, grade of employee supported, whether course was in person or online and name of the s…

265. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if the State provides any direct support or assistance in meeting the requirement for continuous supervision under the carer's allowance scheme, particularly in cases where the full burden of care cannot be met by one individual alone; and when he plans to abolish means testing for carer's allowance, as previously committed to in ele…