Parliamentary questions

594. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take the opportunity offered by the need to amend legislation pertaining to widows, widowers or surviving civil partner’s contributory pensions to extend the ability to qualify for the pension to those who were unmarried couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7584/25]

595. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to revise the existing application guidelines for the domiciliary care allowance, especially in relation to children who are right below the threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/25]

596. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to parents of autistic children where they do not qualify for the domiciliary care allowance. [7590/25]

597. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the qualifying criteria for disability allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7640/25]

598. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 16 February 2025, if he will confirm that the Department collates certain information in respect of applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7677/25]

599. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when the extreme weather event assistance scheme will be established; who will qualify for support under this scheme; if assistance will be granted to businesses, clubs, farmers and others affected by storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7715/25]

600. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a low-income household, where some members are in low-income employment and not in receipt of social protection, can access fuel allowance; if all members of a household need to be in receipt of social protection payments before fuel allowance will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7721/25]

601. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection for a digital copy of the Ministerial briefing document provided by his Department on taking office, along with copies of Ministerial briefs provided to Ministers of State of his Department; to outline the duties he intends to delegate by statutory instrument to his Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7…

602. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to phase out the means test for carer's allowance within this Government; the proposed timeline for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7838/25]

603. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of training support grants paid by his Department, by county in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7857/25]

604. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons per county in receipt of jobseeker's payments in January 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7858/25]

605. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who were referred to JobPath, by county in 2024; the total amount paid to Seetec and Turas Nua for services in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7859/25]

606. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the payment rates under the new jobseeker's pay related benefit scheme; if top-up payments will be made for any dependents an applicant has; if people are able to apply for the current jobseeker's benefit scheme from 31 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7897/25]

607. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to examine what modifications or changes may be made to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes to qualify for a State pension. [7908/25]

608. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the remaining schools will be able to avail of the free school meals programme; the timeline for its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/25]

609. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is seeking receipts from those who submit HAS1 forms in respect of discarded frozen food in the aftermath of storm Éowyn; if he accepts that this is not possible in many instances whereby food was purchased several weeks beforehand and therefore receipts have not been retained; and if he will make a statement on the…

610. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason pensioners under 70 years-of-age who paid a class D stamp are not eligible for the household benefits package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/25]

611. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the criteria for the working family payment to assess the impact of including carer’s allowance as reckonable income, and particularly in cases where one parent is engaged in seasonal employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8051/25]

612. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the criteria for the working family payment to assess the impact of including carer’s allowance as reckonable income, and particularly in cases where one parent is engaged in seasonal employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8051/25]

613. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if Irish residents in receipt of a British pension are eligible for bonus payments issued by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8079/25]

266. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 15 May 2024, to provide details of the tender documentation provided; to provide the options given of considerations for reduction in waste of packaging; and to provide all schools’ budget allocation and expenditure on school meals in tabular form. [6870/25]

267. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the details of the process for quality checks of the Healthy Ireland Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. [6871/25]

268. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of carer’s allowance (details supplied) who works the allowed 18.5 hours per week in the day time, will be allowed to also engage in part-time online study course at night time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6818/25]

269. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of the invalidity pension and approved for partial capacity benefit has their payment reduced immediately; if not, if it only reduced when the person commences employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6824/25]

270. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the free travel scheme to allow persons who have a disability and are in employment to be eligible for the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6825/25]