Parliamentary questions

94. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is his intention to further increase income disregards for the carer’s allowance in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31107/26]

95. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the current telephone support allowance to allow for greater eligibility and increase the current weekly payment of €2.50 per week to reflect the broader availability of communication systems now other than the basic telephone, and how vulnerable people rely so much on these communication systems; and…

337. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for applying PRSI arrangements to individuals who continue in employment beyond the State Pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32407/26]

338. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration is being given to introducing a targeted or tiered increase in child benefit for low-income households or families with additional needs, including children with disabilities, in order to address persistent levels of child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31683/26]

339. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31506/26]

340. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31507/26]

341. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of providing for cost-of-living supports for people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia, particularly for those very much short of retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31508/26]

342. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the financial support mechanisms in place for the over 4,000 people in Ireland that have early onset dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31509/26]

343. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection when the core child benefit rate was last increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31513/26]

344. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to increasing the core child benefit rate, which remains at €140 per month, noting that other child-related supports were enhanced in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31514/26]

345. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the support mechanisms that are in place for people that are diagnosed with early onset dementia and can no longer work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31517/26]

346. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the total number of people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that are currently in receipt of social protection financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31518/26]

347. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the total number of people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that are currently in receipt of social protection financial supports, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31519/26]

348. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of classifying early onset dementia as a disability, specifically for the purposes of social welfare supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31520/26]

349. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of classifying dementia as a disability, specifically for the purposes of social welfare supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31521/26]

350. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of classifying Alzheimer’s disease as a disability, specifically for the purposes of social welfare supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31522/26]

351. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the plans to introduce the higher qualifying income limits for carer’s allowance from July 2026; and when and the way in which applications should be submitted. [31538/26]

352. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review and increase the current €30 per week initial means disregard applied to the State pension (non-contributory), for those in receipt of part of an occupational pension, in light of rising living costs and the impact on low-income older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31555/26]

353. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will undertake a review of the means assessment applied to recipients of the State pension (non-contributory) who also receive an occupational pension, with particular consideration of assessing 50% of that income to ensure a fairer and more proportionate system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31556/26]

354. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time a person can avail of carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31567/26]

355. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if savings are taken into account in the means test for disability allowance; if so, the amount allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31568/26]

356. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to persons who are self-employed and become ill and unable to work but do not have the required stamps for illness benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31569/26]

357. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to commission research to address the evidence gap on the costs of disability incurred by people over 65 years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31648/26]

358. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spending arising from social welfare schemes administered by his Department in 2012, when unemployment was over 15%, and 2025 when unemployment was approximately 4%; to account for the dramatic increase in spending by his Department despite the huge fall in unemployment; if his Department has carried out any projections or …

359. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of public service cards which were issued or renewed to adult applicants in each year from 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31704/26]