Parliamentary questions

101. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32996/25]

102. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for applications for each payment under his Department’s remit; if he plans to introduce new targets and provide additional resources to expedite the turnaround times in processing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32708/25]

103. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of making fuel allowance universal for everyone over 70; that consideration will be given to implementing this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33132/25]

104. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the period of a social welfare payment following the death of a dependent from 6 to 12 weeks; the estimated cost of such an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33139/25]

105. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for social welfare appeals for each social welfare scheme; the number of successful appeals granted, over the past four years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33123/25]

106. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of funeral assistance grants paid out over the past five years; the number refused, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33119/25]

107. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he recognises the anomaly in the social welfare system which means that people in receipt of widow’s pension, and who are working, are penalised if they become ill and can no longer work, because they cannot claim illness benefit for example; if he intends to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

108. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount allocated to the school meal holiday programme; the number of schools taking part, by county, in tabular form; the funding allocated in each county; if he will update the House on whether the scheme will be further rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33121/25]

109. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the expansion of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32899/25]

110. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details on any specific cross-departmental mechanisms in place to ensure that the lived experience of people with disabilities, as highlighted during the Social Inclusion Forum and related consultations, is reflected in the design and implementation of the next roadmap for social inclusion; and if he will make a…

111. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who will receive an increase in their carer’s allowance payment when the changes to the means test takes effect in July 2025, by county; if he will outline the overall percentage of carer’s allowance recipients who will now qualify for the maximum weekly payment on foot of the changes in July 2025; and if he w…

112. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33110/25]

113. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress which has been made to examine ways to lift more children in Ireland out of child poverty and the expected timeline for setting a new child poverty target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33128/25]

114. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of job seekers allowance recipients by length of time they have been in receival of the payment, under 1 year, between 1 and 2 years, between 2 and 3 years, between 3 and 4 years and between 4 and 5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32948/25]

115. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection how he is ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with a disability to live full and independent lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32997/25]

116. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to support more disabled people into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32900/25]

117. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carers in Kilkenny and Carlow that received the carer’s support grant in 2025; how the number of recipients this year compares to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32898/25]

118. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the commitment to examine what modification can be made to support women who fall outside of existing schemes to qualify for a State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33199/25]

119. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he expects the Programme for Government pledge to remove the means test requirement for qualification for a carers allowance payment to be introduced in Budget 2026, or to be phased out incrementally over several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32785/25]

120. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to review the carer’s allowance as it applies to pensioners who unfairly only qualify for half carers due to that fact that they are already in receipt of another social welfare payment. [31583/25]

121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for the up to date position on the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025; the number of applications nationally received to date that are currently queued until this legislation is passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33219/25]

122. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on his Department's review of all its social assistance schemes; if he will consider adapting the means-testing with a view to permanently supporting people with intellectual disabilities and autism in employment without fear of losing essential supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33198/25]

123. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of illness benefit recipients by length of time they have been in receival of the payment, under 1 year, between 1 and 2 years, between 2 and 3 years, between 3 and 4 years and between 4 and 5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32949/25]

124. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); his plans to address the gap between the better off and those on the lowest welfare and work incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33109/25]

125. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of a widow’s pension who are under age 66; if he will provide an estimated cost of allowing persons in receipt of widow’s pensions to access illness benefit in the event that they get sick at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33039/25]