Parliamentary questions

69. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned about undue delays in processing invalidity pensions, as in the case of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that applicants suffering from health issues are not placed under further distress as a result of difficulties accessing their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the mat…

70. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people that have benefitted from the extension of the fuel allowance this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31092/26]

71. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the average and the longest waiting times for domiciliary care allowance appeals in Kildare north; whether such appeals are prioritised by the age of the child; whether consideration has been given to expediting appeals in cases involving children under five years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/26]

72. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on any planned changes to the SAFE registration process for acquiring a Public Services Card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31240/26]

73. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures currently being taken by his Department to address the real and increasing cost of disability for individuals and families; whether a timeline can be provided for the introduction of targeted financial supports including any plans to expand or reform the cost of disability payment; the way his Department is ensuring that …

74. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review of the pathways to work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30725/26]

75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend the current weekly means limit for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension, and to increase the current means limit of €100, which has been in place since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30070/26]

76. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans to further extend the fuel allowance season this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31093/26]

77. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the progress that has been made toward a permanent cost of disability payment; the work that has been undertaken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31304/26]

78. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to enhance application processes within the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31290/26]

79. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which means testing criteria for social welfare payments are kept under review for discrepancies for social welfare payments, particularly for qualified adult payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31079/26]

80. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department considered comparing the value of all State benefits an individual or a family could receive to an equivalent taxable salary. [31302/26]

81. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to modernising the communications allowance to account for broadband and mobile data costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31212/26]

82. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for people with disabilities to work; his plans to further improve them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31080/26]

83. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department measures the timeframe for which a person is in receipt of jobseekers allowance, or collects data on successful recipients gaining employment; and if so, the number of successful candidates that gained employment from receiving Jobseekers since the beginning of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31…

84. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the provision of the hot school meals programme by not-for-profit suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31209/26]

85. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he expects to introduce a cost of disability payment in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31306/26]

86. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of online applications for domiciliary care allowance since the application process moved online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31104/26]

87. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently recorded as being in employment while also in receipt of working family payment or jobseeker’s allowance (casual); the breakdown of these workers by sector and average weekly hours worked; the steps being taken to address involuntary part-time and low-hours employment; and whether the Government accep…

88. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the plans his Department has to reverse the trend of increasing levels of poverty amongst older people living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31237/26]

89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payments issued to date in 2026 nationally, and in Cavan and Monaghan; the number for the equivalent period in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31235/26]

90. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of children living in poverty; the breakdown of these figures by county; and the steps he will take to help the most vulnerable children. [31307/26]

91. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection on the possibility of extending the domiciliary care allowance eligibility age from 16 to 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29139/26]

92. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to change the income thresholds for those over the age of 66 in receipt of the fuel allowance, for both single individuals and couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31243/26]

93. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the variance in corporate top-ups will be taken into consideration as part of the upcoming public consultation paper on pay-related parent’s leave. [31451/26]