Parliamentary questions

474. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of single persons with no dependents that received more than €24,000 in social welfare payments administered by his Department during 2024 and to provide a breakdown of those recipients by the total amount received. [9596/25]

475. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of people who are availing of the new free travel scheme for those deemed medically unfit to drive; if his Department plan to conduct an awareness campaign to publicise the changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/25]

476. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9659/25]

477. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reply to correspondence regarding means testing of the carer’s allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9689/25]

478. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will list the schools within Dublin 5, 13 and 17 currently benefitting from the free school hot meals scheme. [9739/25]

479. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the retirement policies for various professions, specifically regarding the recent extension of retirement ages for guards, prison officers, firefighters, and in the case of a person (details supplied); and if there are plans to address the retirement age policies for other professions or provide any guidance on…

82. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms of the widow's or widower's pension, particularly in respect of non-married or cohabiting couples, and the judgment of the Supreme Court on 22 January 2024; the expected timeline in terms of the legislative changes that are required in respect of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/25]

83. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection when he intends to bring forward the Bill to support cohabiting couples by providing pensions for bereaved partners; the number of applications received for such a payment since the O’Meara case; if supplementary payments will issue to those qualified applicants in advance of the legislation passing; and if he will make a statement on t…

84. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to abolish the means test for the carer’s allowance; if this will be phased out; if he can provide a detailed timeline for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9019/25]

85. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to include healthcare workers suffering with long Covid symptoms within the occupational injuries benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8935/25]

86. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of how and when he intends to implement the Programme for Government commitment to abolish the income limit for the carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8927/25]

87. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new baby grants that have been made to parents in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8460/25]

88. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of appeal officers working in the appeals office; the number for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8583/25]

89. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide better support to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8382/25]

90. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with a disability to live full and independent lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8462/25]

91. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children who have benefited from the baby boost triple child benefit payment to date; the number his Department estimates will benefit from it in 2025; the estimated additional cost in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8526/25]

92. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to parents in both counties Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7937/25]

93. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how Healthy Ireland nutrition standards and specific dietary requirements are enforced in the school meals programme. [8362/25]

94. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the programme for Government's commitment to significantly increase the income disregards for carer’s allowance in each budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8319/25]

95. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for phasing out the means test for the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8262/25]

96. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the humanitarian assistance available to those impacted by Storm Éowyn in Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8383/25]

97. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to parents in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/25]

98. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person currently receiving carer’s allowance and a child increase for two children will now be dropped down to half-rate carer’s allowance and their child increase taken away once they become in receipt of maternity benefit; if his Department can justify a reported net loss of €230 a week and €8,050 over the 35-week period …

99. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans he has in place to expand the eligibility criteria for the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8316/25]

100. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to parents in Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8266/25]