Parliamentary questions

939. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review and increase the earnings disregards for disability allowance, 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. [30164/25]

940. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the eligibility criteria for the EmployAbility Service to include individuals attending Section 39-funded organisations who are seeking employment but may not currently qualify; if he will consider the allocation of a dedicated local employment support officer in areas such as Mulhuddart to assist indivi…

941. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the precarious nature of work in the film and television industry and find ways in which his Department can respond quickly and effectively to support freelance and creative workers who experience genuinely unexpected employment (details supplied) in order that a crew base can be retained and protected in…

942. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of a recurring cost-of-disability payment of €2,600 a year, or €50 a week. [30193/25]

943. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing core rates of social protection by at minimum €20 to restore the purchasing power of the payment to 2020 levels. [30194/25]

944. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection when the farm assist appeal of a person (details supplied) will be finalised as the appeal was submitted over six months ago and it is not yet assigned to an appeals officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30202/25]

945. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a record of insurance contributions made by a person (details supplied); if these contributions qualify them for carer's benefit; and the benefits available to this client as a stay-at-home parent since 2018 and carer for their two children (15 and 12 years old) that are in receipt of domiciliary care allowance…

946. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on matters raised in relation to widowed parents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30244/25]

947. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of primary and post primary DEIS schools that were denied funding for breakfast club for the school year 2024-2025, in tabular form. [30245/25]

948. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 28 May 2025, for an explanation of the numbers contained in the table; how the number of claims awarded and rejected each year exceeds the number of claims registered; whether there was a change in resources in 2021 that caused a rise in the average time to award; the reason it incre…

949. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of primary and post primary DEIS schools not being provided with a breakfast club; and the estimated cost of providing these schools with funding for a breakfast club. [30353/25]

950. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the reintroduction of the ‘diet supplement’ payment for new applicants which was a payment to help with the cost of a special diet prescribed by one’s doctor or hospital consultant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30416/25]

951. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any social welfare benefits available to self-employed parents (farmers); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30436/25]

952. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a fuel allowance application will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if the details of their outgoings and financial difficulties provided as part of their appeal will be considered. [30449/25]

953. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update in relation to the introduction of auto enrolment; the engagement with different stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30471/25]

954. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the details of his Department's review of means testing across all social assistance schemes, with particular reference to the disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30567/25]

955. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents eligible for parent's leave in the past twelve months; and how many weeks of leave, if any, those parents took, by county, in tabular form. [30599/25]

956. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plan to review parent's leave to make it more flexible and viable for parents, including partial weeks or single days of parent's leave; transferring unused leave to the partner parent; and the option to redistribute payment across a reduced number of days/weeks. [30600/25]

957. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to support and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities; the progress made under the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; the new initiatives planned to improve access to the workforce for those with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30…

958. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied) for their daughter who it is documented has having medical difficulties, that serious consideration would be given to granting this domiciliary care allowance due to these difficulties and the level of care required; and if he will make a …

959. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending paternity benefit by two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30687/25]

960. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30688/25]

961. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending eligibility for the fuel allowance scheme to those in receipt of the working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30689/25]

962. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes payments, in tabular form (details supplied). [30690/25]

963. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of equalising the jobseekers rates for under 25s to the current rate of €244 per week for jobseekers over 25; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30691/25]