Parliamentary questions

570. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no formal communication has been issued from the Department acknowledging the impracticality of introducing new initiatives, such as school meals in September, without proper support or timelines; if she will clarify her expectations for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33843/25]

571. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason carers allowance or benefit cannot be awarded to a family member living in a different county to help towards the cost of private care being paid for an individual who needs 24-hour care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33883/25]

572. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons fuel allowance has not been awarded to a person (details supplied). [33901/25]

573. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number in receipt of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance in 2024, disaggregated by rate of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33918/25]

574. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the total administrative costs of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33919/25]

575. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department spent on advertising on a social media platform (details supplied) in the years 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [33980/25]

576. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims open for jobseekers benefit on 31 March 2025 before the jobseekers pay-related benefit scheme began; and if any consideration was given to retrospectively applying the new benefit to the cohort in receipt of the original payment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33983/25]

577. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that is available for the provision of reasonable accommodations for individuals in the public sector workplace; if his Department has issued a list of pre-approved reasonable accommodations available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33984/25]

578. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s policy on the disability equality training available for staff in the Civil Service; if this training includes information on reasonable accommodations and neurodiversity; if those in managerial roles are required to attend additional training on this subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33986/25…

579. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the stipulation requiring disability allowance recipients to notify his Department before leaving the State; the specific function this stipulation serves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34019/25]

580. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the location within the legislation where the stipulation requiring disability allowance recipients to notify his Department before leaving the State, is detailed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34020/25]

581. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times recipients of disability allowance are selected for reassessment by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34021/25]

582. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to determine the frequency of disability allowance reassessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34022/25]

583. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether all disability allowance applicants are selected for reassessment on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34023/25]

584. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the factors that influence the decision to reassess certain disability allowance applicants more frequently than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/25]

585. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a referral sent to the scope section by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34083/25]

586. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34099/25]

587. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a person’s (details supplied) invalidity pension appeal; when a decision will be reached given that it has been lodged for nearly a year and that serious consideration would be given to granting this allowance due to the applicant’s circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34148/25]

588. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason jobseeker’s benefit appeals are taking so long and to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34238/25]

589. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans for an awareness campaign for the household benefit package targeted towards persons aged over 70. [34263/25]

590. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals in receipt of the State contributory pension, paid on a monthly basis only, in Quarter 4 of 2024 and Quarter 1 of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34307/25]

591. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address long waiting times for appeals being dealt with by way of a summary decision or oral hearing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34311/25]

592. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 909 of 10 June 2025, if it is his intention to further extend a free travel companion pass to those holders of free travel pass who are single and widowed persons, who are aged under 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34321/25]

593. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of an elderly couple (details supplied) where the husband is in receipt of a contributory old age pension and an increase for a qualified adult in respect of his wife; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34337/25]

594. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working family payments that are currently in payment in the State; the number of working family payments received by the State over each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34343/25]