Parliamentary questions

271. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time that accommodation in a hotel or bed and breakfast will be covered under the humanitarian assistance scheme for people whose homes were destroyed by storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6828/25]

272. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an individual who is currently receiving carer’s allowance and a child increase for two children will now be dropped down to the half-rate carer’s allowance and their child increase taken away once they go on the maternity benefit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6844/25]

273. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for a person (details supplied). [6873/25]

274. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/25]

275. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to allocate credits towards a State pension (non-contributory) for carers. [6937/25]

276. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases where the Department has found suspected fraudulent activity, for each year over the past five years; the total value of overpayments for each of those years identified; the value of recoveries made for each of those years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7108/25]

277. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a detailed timeline for the enactment of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2024, in light of the Supreme Court ruling in a case (details supplied); and to outline the steps being taken to ensure that bereaved cohabiting partners will receive the necessary financial support without further dela…

127. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a framework for compensating individuals for losses, such as spoiled food, due to electricity outages during Storm Éowyn. [6462/25]

128. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the amended social welfare Bill due to come into effect from 31 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6459/25]

129. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the costing for hot school meals, per child, per school; and to identify the providers of the service, in tabular form. [6475/25]

130. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools refused the hot meals scheme; and the reasons given in each incidence, in tabular form. [6478/25]

131. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for social welfare appeals by scheme between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6485/25]

132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students in receipt of the school meals scheme in counties Offaly and Laois for each of the years 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6507/25]

133. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of any overspends exceeding €500,000 on projects undertaken or commissioned by his Department or by any State or semi-State body under the aegis of his Department in each of the past five years; if so, the number and extent of any such overspends, in tabular form; to outline the plans to ascertain levels of such oversp…

134. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools per county in receipt of the hot meals scheme, in tabular form. [6560/25]

135. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the hot meals scheme, by county, in tabular form. [6561/25]

136. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if they will outline the once-off additional payments announced under Budget 2025; if the Department has made available any such additional payment to persons who have transferred from invalidity pension to the contributory pension on the basis of their health having not improved arising from the transfer; and if he will make a state…

137. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to introduce new legislation to further recognise and support homemakers in relation to non-contributory pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6610/25]

138. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on an application by a person (details supplied) for the working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6615/25]

139. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding the qualified adult allowance on a contributory pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6656/25]

140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the changes that will come into effect in 2025 in relation to the interaction between ex-gratia lump sum redundancy payments and entitlement to jobseeker's benefit for workers who are made redundant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6665/25]

141. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details of any planned changes to remote working arrangements applying to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6698/25]

142. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the number of international protection applicants who received a clothing allowance for each year from 2021 to date; the total costs involved for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6702/25]

143. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the number of international protection applicants who have qualified for the working family payment for each year from 2021 to date; the total costs involved for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6703/25]

144. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the wage subsidy scheme is restricted to employees that have been employed for less than 12 months; the supports available for longer-term workers who have recently become disabled in such a way that their productivity may be reduced, but wish to remain in their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter…