Parliamentary questions

262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to publish internal documents specifying particular protocols used by deciding officers to award applications for social welfare income payment beyond just the publicly available operational guidelines; in particular if he could publish the ‘homeless protocol’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25065/25]

120. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the application process for educational sector workers; the length of time the current process is in place; if he plans to expedite this process for future applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24520/25]

121. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department sources IT equipment from companies named on the official boycott, divestment and sanctions list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24589/25]

122. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding new legislation being implemented following the Supreme Court decision in the O'Meara case, whether the definition of a cohabiting couple will be changed from that defined in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, or if the definition can be re-examined to be more inclusive…

123. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to make it compulsory for company's delivering the hot meals scheme in County Kerry to deliver to all schools in that area and not discriminate due to distance and remoteness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24679/25]

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that exceptional needs payments could be used towards the purchase of a new disability friendly vehicle since the abolition of the motorised transport grant; the supports available for disabled citizens who require a new vehicle;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24693/25]

125. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has assessed the at-risk-of-poverty rate for people with disabilities when the additional cost of disability is taken into account; if he will consider adjusting poverty measurement tools or setting revised targets in light of these findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24807/25]

126. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reforming the State’s equivalence scales or poverty metrics to incorporate a disability-related weighting to reflect the higher cost of living associated with disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24808/25]

127. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the introduction of a cost of disability allowance or supplement to address the additional living expenses faced by people with disabilities; and if he will outline any plans to increase existing disability payments to meet minimum essential living standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2480…

128. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the higher poverty gap experienced by households affected by disability, the measures his Department is taking to address this disparity; if he will commit to setting targets to reduce poverty depth among disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/25]

129. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an assessment of the extent to which current supports such as the household benefits package, fuel allowance, and free travel scheme alleviate the additional living costs incurred by people with disabilities; and if he will outline any plans to expand or enhance these supports; and if he will make a statement on…

130. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will review the adequacy of disability payment rates based on severity of disability; if he will consider the introduction of a tiered or graduated payment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24812/25]

131. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal for an invalidity pension (details supplied); if an oral hearing will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24819/25]

132. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he is aware of cases where people with passes under the free travel scheme are being charged booking fees for some public transport services (details supplied); what actions his Department is undertaking to address these hidden booking costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24860/25]

783. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the appeal of a person (details supplied). [23678/25]

784. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently intervene and correct a genuine mistake in a birth certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23982/25]

785. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons no increases for child or adult dependants are paid with jobseeker's pay-related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/25]

786. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/25]

787. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23213/25]

788. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to amend the fuel allowance eligibility criteria for recipients over 66 years in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/25]

789. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which HAS1 payment rates are decided; the amount allocated per household member, per day of being without power and water in cases where receipts were not available; the average HAS1 payment made per week between the week ending on 7 May 2025 to week ending 2 May 2025, in tabular form. [23223/25]

790. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection to state who was awarded the contract to provide the auto-enrolment pension system; the amount the contract was for; when the contract starts; and if the auto-enrolment system is postponed, the payments, if any, that will be made to the service provider during the postponed timeframe. [23273/25]

791. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures taken in his Departmental offices and operations in reducing energy usage and to assist in Ireland meeting our climate targets for 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23327/25]

792. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance submitted in August 2024 will be approved as a matter of urgency (details supplied). [23371/25]

793. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance will be approved, as a matter of urgency, for a person (details supplied). [23431/25]