Parliamentary questions

161. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the assessment that has been undertaken of international experiences where automated decision-making systems, welfare analytics or fraud detection technologies resulted in wrongful suspensions, incorrect overpayments, or discriminatory outcomes; whether consideration has been given to the potential for algorithmic bias or indirect d…

162. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the current oversight framework provides the Data Protection Commission with sufficient statutory powers and resources to effectively monitor compliance with large-scale interdepartmental welfare data-sharing arrangements; the way in which the Government intends to balance the legitimate objective of tackling…

163. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the latest data from the Central Statistics Office on trends in income inequality and poverty over the past decade; if the Gini coefficient has fallen from 32 to 27 between 2014 and 2024; whether the income quintile share ratio has declined over the same period; the changes in the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the consistent poverty r…

164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to ensure that employees and employers fully understand their obligations and entitlements under the new auto-enrolment pension scheme in advance of the opt-out window coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44598/26]

1169. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the assets the Social Insurance Fund's investment account holds and the maturity of these assets for December 2024; if the Social Insurance Fund's financial statements for 2025 can include this information for December 2025 in its notes to the accounts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43097/26]

1170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to review correspondence (details supplied); if a review of disability allowance rates is scheduled for June 2026; the additional supports available to a person in the circumstances described; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41548/26]

1171. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to amend the conditions of a domiciliary care allowance payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41624/26]

1172. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection in receipt of the State contributory pension in each year from 2022 to 2025; the annual cost of this in each year including any other payments such as qualified adult dependants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41758/26]

1173. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the SW1A application on behalf of a person (details supplied) [41784/26]

1174. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment scheme participant that was previously on jobseeker's benefit is eligible for the fuel allowance payment, as long-term jobseekers benefit recipients are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41787/26]

1175. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in which a community employment scheme participant qualifies for the fuel allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41788/26]

1176. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will intervene to ensure that a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) is processed without the requirement for a legal separation document to be provided given no such document currently exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41932/26]

1177. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the child benefit payment to €166 per month its previous peak level; and if he will provide a breakdown of the cost per additional €10 increase in the payment. [42060/26]

1178. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent by his Department on public procurement in 2025; to provide a breakdown, where available, by goods, services, works procurement expenditure, by expenditure procured directly by his Department and expenditure procured through central purchasing arrangements or frameworks [42176/26]

1179. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department is fully compliant with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Model Publication Scheme Guidance, issued under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, specifically the requirements under section D and section E (details supplied); to publish quarterly the contracts awarded above €25,000 (exc…

1180. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a deciding officer will be assigned to a SCOPE investigation applied for by an person (details supplied); when will a decision be made in relation to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42213/26]

1181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to review an overpayment claim regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42239/26]

1182. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of bicycle shelters installed across the State by his Department on behalf of Government Departments, local authorities, and State agencies in each of the past five years; the total expenditure incurred in each year; the average cost per unit; and if he will provide a breakdown by Department, local authority and agency.…

1183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeli…

1184. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff, by job title and grad working in each INTREO office within Kildare, in tabular form. [42344/26]

1185. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting times for disability allowance, carer’s allowance and domiciliary care allowance applications across the State. [42357/26]

1186. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in the Longford–Westmeath area currently accessing the additional needs payment scheme. [42358/26]

1187. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact of rising rents and energy costs on pensioners and low-income families in Longford and Westmeath. [42359/26]

1188. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals originating from Longford and Westmeath currently awaiting determination; and the average waiting time involved. [42360/26]

1189. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who received publicly funded driving lesson, learner driver or driving test supports through employment activation or social inclusion programmes in each of the past five years; and the number of such recipients recorded as Irish citizens, EU nationals, non-EEA nationals, or persons with international protectio…