Questions

105. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection in the context of Budget 2027, he will consider further reform of Carer’s Allowance, including increasing the weekly rate and further easing or removing the means test in recognition of the significant contribution made by family carers; and the estimated cost of each of these measures. [67387/26]

106. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the targeted income supports in relation to those with disabilities he is considering as part of Budget 2027 negotiations. [67299/26]

108. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the timeline for the abolition of the carer’s means test. [66849/26]

110. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection following the increases in the income disregards for the carer’s allowance means test, the next steps his Department intends to take towards the Programme for Government commitment to phase out the means test; the further changes to the income disregards or qualifying criteria that are being considered; and the timeframe for their introduction. [67262/2…

115. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the added measures his Department hope to introduce in Budget 2027 to help families with the cost of living. [67635/26]

247. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give a commitment in the upcoming budget to eliminate and publish a definitive timeline to abolish the carer's allowance means test. …

761. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the Department is considering measures in Budget 2027 to address the impact of rising living costs on vulnerable households, including increases to core social welfare rates, enhanced supports for children, people with disabilities and one-parent families, improvements to the fuel allowance scheme, and other measures advocated b…

769. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to amend the means-assessment system as it applied to savers in Budget 2027, in line with the recommendations contained in the 2024 report of the Social Welfare Oireachtas Sub-Committee, and further in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to give effect to those recommendations. [65026/26]

541. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration will be given in Budget 2027 to further supports for families of people with disabilities who are heavily reliant on private transport due to the lack of accessible public transport services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49422/26]

481. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of increasing the income disregards for the carers allowance means test for single and married carers in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47001/26]

26. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he expects the cost of disability payment to be introduced in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46030/26]

56. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress his Department is making to introduce a cost of disability payment. [46035/26]

95. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact of the means test for carer’s allowance on family carers; whether the findings of any such assessment will inform consideration of further changes to the means test as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46275/26]

96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans in the next budget to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46153/26]