Parliamentary questions

508. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for humanitarian assistance scheme stages one, two and three have changed since the scheme was introduced following storm Éowyn; if so, the specific changes; when each change was made; the timeline of all adjustments to the scheme’s eligibility criteria; and the reasoning behind each change. [13525/25]

509. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13552/25]

510. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13582/25]

511. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to include healthcare workers suffering with long-Covid within the occupational injuries benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13591/25]

512. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person (details supplied) is entitled to back-dated arrears to 2017 after being awarded a contributory State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13631/25]

513. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all social welfare payments which are currently payable to the surviving cohabiting partner of a deceased claimant after their death, in circumstances where the couple are not married; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13695/25]

514. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers due to be made redundant in County Waterford (details supplied) will be able to avail of the pay-related jobseekers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13725/25]

515. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13788/25]

516. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he engaged with a person (details supplied) during his visit to Atlanta for St. Patrick's Day events. [13872/25]

517. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans being considered to extend the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment to individuals who are in receipt of the State pension, given that disability-related expenses do not cease at 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13873/25]

518. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance that are on appeal to the social welfare appeals office; and the number that are under consideration for two, three, four months and so on, in tabular form. [13928/25]

519. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is classified in their receipt of disability allowance as an adult dependent. [13934/25]

520. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a HAS application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/25]

521. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications per county for stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Éowyn that were submitted before the application deadline of 19 February 2025; and the number of these applications that were refused, in tabular form. [13961/25]

522. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received from each county, or social welfare district, for the humanitarian assistance scheme stage 1 in each week since 24 January 2025; the number in each county, or social welfare district, that have been refused payment; the number in each county, or social welfare district, for which payment has issued…

523. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14034/25]

524. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the decision to close HAS1 applications was made, and when this decision was notified to those accepting and processing applications; where and when this decision was notified to the public; where people can now send these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14043/25]

525. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 …

526. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is financial assistance available from his Department to an individual in receipt of a payment (details supplied) toward costs for an adapted vehicle in the case there is no other funding source available to the individual; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/25]

527. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to increase child benefit, even in a targeted way for those on lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14122/25]

528. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans to increase maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14123/25]

529. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out by the State through community welfare officers to facilitate car repairs or maintenance to foreign-registered vehicles owned by beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants; how long this scheme has been in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14146/25]

530. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if a scheme is in place through the community welfare office to pay for the maintenance and repairs of privately owned-vehicle belonging to beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14147/25]

531. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment to individuals who are in receipt of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14154/25]

532. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer’s allowance application will be expedited in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14155/25]