Parliamentary questions

151. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of increasing the domiciliary care allowance to 18 years of age from the current age limit of 16; the number that would be eligible based on current recipients; what consideration has been given to such a policy change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8580/25]

152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will progress as quickly as possible the proposal to abolish the means test in respect of an entitlement to carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8464/25]

153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration could be given to the provision of free transport to those in emergency accommodation. [8363/25]

154. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have now been made to parents in Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8252/25]

155. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection when the new child poverty target will be set; the future process to establish that new figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8524/25]

156. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will investigate the reasons for a funding change in the food grant given to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8619/25]

157. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the hot meals programme menus cater for all food allergies and if the ingredients and cooking methods reach the standards for healthy eating as per the standards outlined by the WHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8608/25]

293. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to reform the application form for domiciliary care allowance; if he is aware of the concerns of support groups, questioning the detail required and complex nature of the form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8578/25]

294. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will abolish means testing for carer’s allowance, as per the Programme for Government, at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6861/25]

295. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal by a person (details supplied) for disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8648/25]

296. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8658/25]

297. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost for each of the past ten years for the weekly social welfare payment given to international protection applicants; and the total cost of the additional needs payment claimed by international protection applicants for each of the past ten years. [8659/25]

298. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of non-nationals that have claimed jobseeker's allowance for each of the past ten years; the total cost to the State of jobseeker's claims by non-nationals for each of the past ten years; and the proportion of all jobseeker's allowance claimed by non-nationals for each of the past ten years. [8660/25]

299. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a pro-rata contributory State pension submitted by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/25]

300. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) that is currently in receipt of illness benefit should apply for a disability allowance or an invalidity pension when her current benefit expires in September 2025, in view of the fact that her condition is terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8663/25]

301. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection how the Government plans to support employers in explaining the auto-enrolment scheme to their employees, or if there is a plan to communicate and educate employees directly about the scheme; if a worker must earn €20,000 to date before being enrolled, or whether one week’s earnings of €384.62 will be sufficient to trigger inclus…

302. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied) that was submitted in August 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8737/25]

303. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/25]

304. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exception can be made in regard to an individual who does not meet the 39 contributions in the 12 months prior to maternity leave, due to their having their child before their maternity leave begins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8748/25]

305. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an urgent decision will be made on a disability allowance appeal for a person (details supplied). [8758/25]

306. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years that are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €153.70 and €244 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8771/25]

307. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years that are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €244 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8772/25]

308. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years that are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €153.70 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8773/25]

309. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of abolishing the reduced rate of jobseeker’s allowance for persons under 25 years in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8774/25]

310. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to support and expedite a carers benefit appeal in respect of a person from County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/25]