Parliamentary questions

642. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the ongoing ‘cost-of-disability payment’ consultation includes consideration of additional payments to pensioners with disabilities who do not currently receive an additional support in recognition of their higher costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/26]

643. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payments to a category of persons who are currently in receipt of a State payment and will be transferring to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/26]

644. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application (details supplied) for carer’s leave benefit can be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17102/26]

645. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application (details supplied) for the bereaved partners contributory pension can be reviewed and awarded given that the applicant has demonstrated and provided all possible evidence that they co-habited with their partner for in excess of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17132/26]

646. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection to advise when in March/April 2026 the fuel allowance payment will be made to working family payment recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17160/26]

647. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of any information/notice or circular being issued by his Department to HSE-funded health and social care services (details supplied) pertaining to possible changes to means testing of residents in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17169/26]

648. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government is actively considering any changes to means testing of a social welfare payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/26]

1. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the rising rates of youth unemployment; the strategies he is developing to address this issue; if his attention has been drawn specifically to the causes of unemployment for the 18- to 24-year-old cohort; the extent to which he has investigated the impact of automation and AI on the youth labour m…

2. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on his engagement with disabled persons' organisations; the consultation he is undertaking on the cost-of-disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15656/26]

3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to equalise the youth jobseeker’s rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/26]

4. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the commitment to "Introduce Pay Related Parents Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied"; if maternity benefit is also being considered for pay related benefit status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/26]

5. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his engagement with the CRU, or energy providers, in relation to pay-as-you-go, or hardship metres; to detail the full extent of this engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/26]

6. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered introducing additional protections or supports for people living with rare diseases, given the unique financial and social challenges they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15529/26]

7. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the progress of the hot school meals programme funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15584/26]

8. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit in Cork and Limerick, with particular focus on Intreo areas such as Mallow, Newmarket, Macroom and Kilmallock; the most recent trends in these figures over the past 12 months; the supports and activation measures in place locally, such …

9. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to increase the living alone allowance in recognition of the significantly lower income available to qualifying single householders relative to couples. [15159/26]

10. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to combat poverty among disabled individuals and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15363/26]

11. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s plans to introduce a cost-of-disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/26]

12. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on his efforts to analyse and improve the quality of food available through the hot school meals scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14764/26]

13. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the carer’s benefit for teachers who are not on full time hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15591/26]

14. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the programme for Government commitment to introduce pay-related parents benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied. [15142/26]

15. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time in the last five years to award maternity benefit; paternity benefit; parents benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15027/26]

16. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently address the anomaly that exists for senior citizens being disqualified from entitlement to the State pension (non-contributory) due to holding shares (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/26]

17. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made on the introduction of pay-related carers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15519/26]

18. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims, by county, in 2025 for maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parents benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15029/26]