Parliamentary questions

266. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in his Department; the AI technologies the Department uses, the purpose and function of said technology in the context of the work of the Department, and the associated costs of the licensing or use of AI by the Department in the past 12 months, in tabular form. [38625…

102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) for domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37953/25]

103. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline his plans to increase further the income disregards for the carer’s allowance and ultimately abolish the means test for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38014/25]

104. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the current eligibility rules whereby domiciliary care allowance (DCA) automatically ceases when a child turns 16, regardless of the child's continuing care needs; if he will consider extending DCA until a young person's transition to disability allowance has been fully approved and implemented; and if he will ma…

105. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the family of an Irish citizen who passes away in the UK is entitled to the death grant for the funeral. [38227/25]

106. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who was in receipt of a blind pension prior their 66th birthday is no longer able to receive this pension or if they are no longer considered blind upon turning 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/25]

107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025. [38451/25]

555. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming and general cosmetic expenses, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37002/25]

556. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers, specifying if such expenditure was on a contract or retainer fee basis, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37021/25]

557. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his expenditure on advertising, detailing the objective, duration, media platforms, advertising agency or agencies and cost of each advertising campaign, in each of the years 2015 to 2025. [37039/25]

558. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37056/25]

559. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37074/25]

560. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any plan to increase the rate of €289 maternity benefit, considering the rising cost of living, parenthood, and childcare, especially for families with multiple children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37202/25]

561. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the status of a review for carer’s allowance for a person (details provided); and when it is expected that a decision will be reached on the application. [37217/25]

562. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of purchase orders processed by his Department in 2023 that were not included in the published reports of purchase orders over €20,000; the number of purchase orders excluded due to their value falling below the €20,000 threshold, and the total combined value of those purchase orders; and the number of purchase orders exc…

563. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families in Kilkenny and Carlow currently availing of the free school meals scheme; the annual cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37279/25]

564. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37300/25]

565. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has instructed the successful bidders for NAERSA’s investment management services, in the context of contract negotiations, not to invest in companies and funds supporting companies included in the Database of Business Enterprises Pursuant to UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 31/36 and 53/25; if any additional advice…

566. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is expected a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal (details supplied). [37359/25]

567. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is expected a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal (details supplied). [37361/25]

568. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received under the humanitarian assistance scheme for stages 1, 2 and 3 following Storm Éowyn; the total number of applications received by his Department; the number of applications processed to date; the number of applications approved and rejected, by county; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

569. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 601 of 24 June 2025, if he will provide a timeline for the completion of the report on benchmarking and indexing working-age social protection payments; the timeline needed to consider the matter, in light of the substantial time that has passed since the undertaking was given to carry out this p…

570. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing all core weekly social welfare payments by €1, in tabular form. [37454/25]

571. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the child support payment for those over 12 and those under 12, by €1, in tabular form. [37455/25]

572. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing child benefit by €1. [37456/25]