Parliamentary questions

208. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the rate of guardian payment to be on par with the foster allowance. [31202/25]

209. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of hiring a case worker to help social welfare applicants. [31203/25]

210. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing support for social welfare applicants struggling with literacy or accessibility. [31205/25]

211. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of doubling the provision of paternity leave benefit to four weeks. [31206/25]

212. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of extending parent’s leave benefit up to eight weeks. [31207/25]

213. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of providing up to 20 days of reproductive leave, as outlined in the reproductive health-related leave bill. [31208/25]

214. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of retired officials re-engaged by his Department on a consultancy basis in the past four years and to date in 2025; the reason for engaging them; the costs incurred in respect of their engagement; and if his Department requires consultants to declare conflicts of interest in advance of utilising their services. [31279/…

215. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31287/25]

872. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE departmental staff by grade that are currently dealing with carer's allowance applications. [28913/25]

873. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost if the qualified child allowance for children aged under 12 increased to €55 per week and for children aged over 12 increased to €72 per week. [28914/25]

874. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeline for the enactment of the legislation implementing the Supreme Court decision in the O'Meara case; if this legislation will be enacted with retrospective effect to January 2024; and if not, if it will apply only from the date of enactment. [28918/25]

875. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to reopen the diet supplement for new applicants who for medical reasons require gluten-free, low-lactose, milk-free, high-protein, high-calorie, or altered consistency diets; and the number of individuals estimated to require such diets and would satisfy the conditions for the scheme but are not in receipt as a r…

876. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to the introduce an employer PRSI rebate for small firms or any other plans that might support small and micro-enterprises in rural counties such as Waterford. [28983/25]

877. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if any upcoming supports, such as a PRSI rebate, may include businesses that are not paying commercial rates, such as businesses that are renting their workspaces as opposed to those that own their premises. [28984/25]

878. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of divorces granted in each year from 2015 to date; to provide a breakdown of the number which are opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28997/25]

879. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection for costings in relation to implementing a PRSI scheme for extended sick leave. [29037/25]

880. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection when the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority will conclude an information-sharing agreement with Revenue under section 108 of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29058/25]

881. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if automatic enrolment will be made available to all eligible employers and employees immediately on 1 January 2026; if not, the specific timing of the phase roll-out of automatic enrolment, either by employer or employee characteristics or any other such criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29059/25]

882. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who will receive the carers support grant in June 2025; if he will provide a county breakdown of the number of people who will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29073/25]

883. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing an additional payment for expectant mothers who are not eligible for maternity payment through their private employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29127/25]

884. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department notifies holders of a free travel pass a minimum of one month prior to expiry of their free travel pass, requesting persons to renew their travel pass if they want to continue to use their free travel pass. [29185/25]

885. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for invalidity pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29206/25]

886. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer's allowance payment for a person (details supplied) is to cease following the means review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29217/25]

887. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will expedite the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29239/25]

888. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on plans to abolish the carer’s allowance means test; and when this change is expected to be implemented. [29245/25]