Parliamentary questions

993. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made by his Department’s appeals office in relation to a request for an oral hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10719/25]

994. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in receipt of carer's allowance, a qualifying payment for fuel allowance, had their fuel allowance application refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10749/25]

995. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is mortgage interest relief available in 2024 for people that did not have sufficient tax liability to assess the full benefit of the tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10753/25]

996. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection what steps are being taken to ensure that individuals living in nursing homes, such as individuals (details supplied), are not excluded from accessing community services and supports; and whether current policy effectively addresses the needs of people who require assistance but are residing in institutional settings. [10795/25]

997. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a schedule of fines issued to his Department in respect of breaching general data protection regulations, by year, from 1 January 2020 to date in 2025; and if he will provide a breakdown by amount, year and breach criteria cited. [10808/25]

998. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently address and rectify a carer’s allowance overpayment for a person (details supplied). [10818/25]

999. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to illness benefit or the disability allowance following a debilitating health complication suffered while on career break from An Post. [10835/25]

1000. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on when the next round of applications under the school meals programme will be accepted, as the only information to hand suggests that schools will be accepted on a phased basis starting on 1 April 2025, however it is important that information is supplied to schools in advance of that date in order that applicati…

1001. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make provision for widows/widowers to avail of free travel at 60 years of age regardless of whether their deceased spouse had free travel or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/25]

1002. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11000/25]

1003. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the widow's pension will be extended to unmarried couples on the death of one partner; the number of years living together required; when payments will issue; the persons that will be covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11047/25]

1004. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11070/25]

1005. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if all persons that are recruited to work in his Department and all the related agencies of his Department are fully vetted before they are employed by his Department and or said agencies. [11091/25]

1006. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the disability allowance appeal decision in relation to person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11108/25]

1007. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11110/25]

1008. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to reinstate a grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/25]

1009. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a case affecting carers, allowance entitlements for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11185/25]

1010. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans on including varifocals in the optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/25]

1011. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the compensation available to businesses which had to close for a period due to storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11223/25]

1012. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the total budget allocation to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities in each of the years since 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11243/25]

1013. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans to introduce a school meals scheme at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11274/25]

1014. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection what is covered under the humanitarian assistance scheme 2; if damage to farm buildings and sheds can be compensated for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11331/25]

1015. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for working family payment (details supplied) that was submitted in November 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11355/25]

1016. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection when he plans to make the changes to the carer’s allowance means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11429/25]

1017. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision to refuse disability support to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11458/25]