Parliamentary questions

661. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends on introducing a temporary measure which would align surrogacy leave to adoptive leave and benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16653/25]

662. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person whose employment is based around the school or academic year is excluded from the job seeker’s pay related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/25]

663. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to adding inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, to the list of conditions eligible for disability allowance, given that it is a lifelong illness with no known cure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/25]

664. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing the means test for disability allowance, to prevent financial dependence and vulnerability among people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16663/25]

665. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a schedule of all capital projects being delivered or which have been completed by his Department and organisations under the aegis of his Department since 1 January 2020; the total project cost of projects in excess of €500,000, or of any other capital projects below this that have come to his Department's atte…

666. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he intends to amend the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to ensure a complaints and conduct measure is introduced under section 9 of the 2017 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16706/25]

667. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if the register for Irish Sign Language interpreters has the power to investigate complaints made to it, and implement measures, up to and including, suspension from the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/25]

668. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of women denied the non-contributory State pension due to their husband's contributory pension through his employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/25]

669. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the State to allow all women to qualify for the non contributory State Pension, regardless of their husband's pensions or earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16827/25]

670. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE forensic accountants directly employed by his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [16877/25]

671. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16881/25]

672. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 27 February 2025, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of applications refused under the humanitarian assistance scheme, by county, in the aftermath of storm Éowyn to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16989/25]

673. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will conduct an updated poverty impact assessment of age-related rates of jobseeker's for young people aged 18-24 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/25]

674. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to abolish the means test for carer’s allowance; if so, if it will be done in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17037/25]

675. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list with the job titles and salaries of all Ministerial staff, and Department private secretaries. [17062/25]

676. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the half-rate of carer's allowance; the corresponding social welfare payment they are in receipt of further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17111/25]

677. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) which has been under appeal since December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17296/25]

678. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on a humanitarian assistance application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17339/25]

679. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration will be given to providing a ‘cost of allergy’ payment to those suffering from severe allergies. [17367/25]

680. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the practice of childminders having to sign-on during holiday periods; if he will consider bringing them in line with the arrangements for teachers and SNAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17381/25]

681. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department spent in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form on advertisement on a website (details supplied). [17392/25]

682. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if a parent is entitled to a carer's respite grant if their child has turned 16 years-of-age and has moved from the domiciliary care allowance to the disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17407/25]

683. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is proposed to increase the means threshold for carer's allowance; the amount it will increase by; and the date on which the changes will come into effect. [17408/25]

684. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17415/25]

685. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer’s allowance review requested by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in making a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17427/25]