Parliamentary questions

632. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their application for the carers’ allowance; if their payment will be backdated to the date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45803/26]

633. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for applications for disability allowance, carer’s allowance and invalidity pension in County Cork for each month in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of applications currently awaiting decision; the steps being taken to reduce waiting times and improve decision turnaround; and if he will make a st…

634. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Cork per Intreo area currently in receipt of the living alone increase; the measures being taken to increase awareness of the payment among eligible persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45865/26]

235. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make provision for inclusion of a deceased person's PPSN, where possible, in a death certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44644/26]

236. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the increase in income disregards carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44675/26]

237. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1545 of 13 January 2026, the approximate financial cost to the State of removing the means test for carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44676/26]

238. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of allowing for a savings disregard in relation to the means test for carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44677/26]

239. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the removal of the mean’s test for carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44678/26]

240. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the adequacy of financial supports available specifically for families with adult children with high support needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44679/26]

241. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he expects increases to the household benefits package, particularly in relation to household utilities in view of increased bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44693/26]

242. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the issue of withholding the recently awarded contributory pension arrears on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44718/26]

243. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44732/26]

244. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment scheme participant (details supplied) is entitled to the fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44802/26]

149. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures that are currently in place to support and incentivise employers to recruit and retain persons with disabilities; whether any new initiatives are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44601/26]

150. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the carer’s support grant and carer’s allowance currently awaiting decision; the average processing time for each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44223/26]

151. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline work undertaken by his Department in regard to examining the age at which domiciliary care allowance ends; whether his Department would consider increasing the age from 16 to 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44231/26]

152. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal and administrative basis for the requirement that recipients of carer’s allowance notify his Department of short absences from the State; if his Department has assessed the necessity and effectiveness of this requirement in the administration of the scheme; whether any review of the requirement is planned; and if he w…

153. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the requirement for recipients of carer’s allowance to notify his Department of short absences from the State applies to travel within the island of Ireland, including cross-Border journeys; whether the requirement has been applied in such circumstances; whether any review of the requirement is under consideration; and if he…

154. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection whether her Department has conducted any analysis of the potential implications of artificial intelligence-related job displacement for income supports, activation programmes and labour market participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44279/26]

155. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine and assist with a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44283/26]

156. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the working family payment in each of the past five years; the average payment awarded; and whether his Department has assessed barriers to uptake among eligible households. [44352/26]

157. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if NAERSA will accept a voluntary opt-in to autoenrollment backdated to 1 January 2026 for a person (details supplied) when said employee had signalled a willingness to opt-in in advance of 1 January 2026 but it was a number of months into 2026 before their employer signed them up to MyFutureFund. [44384/26]

158. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in advance of Budget 2027, he will review the means assessment for the increased rate of pension to ensure that savings held on deposit are not treated as income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44527/26]

159. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the data-sharing and data-processing provisions contained in the general scheme of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality under the GDPR and constitutional privacy protections; whether a detailed assessment or justification has been undertak…

160. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the proposed legislation in the general scheme of Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026 provides sufficient transparency to social welfare recipients regarding how their personal data may be collected, shared, cross-checked, profiled or otherwise processed across State bodies; what measures are proposed …