Parliamentary questions

30. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the future plans he has for the rural social scheme and the Tús programme; and whether he will ensure these schemes remain adequately funded and accessible in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/26]

31. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; the potential cost to the Exchequer of such a payment; if there is a timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69982/25]

32. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for abolishing the means test for carer's allowance applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2519/26]

33. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/26]

34. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide any analysis on the inflation of costs associated with energy, housing, and groceries for people dependent on social protection supports for the majority of their income; and the way in which that compares with increases in social protection payments over the past five years. [2755/26]

35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the social protection payment increases that came into effect from 1 January 2026; the level of increased spending overall; the amount of people to benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/26]

36. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to design and deliver a targeted social welfare payment for families experiencing consistent poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1858/26]

37. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide analysis carried out by his Department on the net financial effect on individuals and families when a disabled person turns 16 years of age, given that disabilities payments commence but the domiciliary care allowance ends. [2754/26]

38. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the fuel allowance, per month, for the past three years, specifying which of these applicants are also in receipt of the working family payment or another automatically qualifying social welfare payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/26]

39. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to address delays and barriers experienced by applicants for social protection and disability-related payments in Dublin Bay North, including waiting times for decisions and appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2678/26]

40. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding safeguards that have been put in place to protect employees from unsavoury practices that would require them to join less favourable pension schemes in place of being registered under the My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1404/26]

41. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received the newborn baby grant in County Cork in 2025, and so far in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2684/26]

42. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for disability related payments for applicants in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1242/26]

43. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2592/26]

44. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes he plans to make to the means assessment carried out by his Department in order to remove anomalies in relation to the disability allowance identified in the Programme for Government; if he will provide details of the anomalies currently being observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2744/26]

45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the future plans he and his Department have for persons living with a disability following the outcome of Budget 2026, where there is now evidence that persons with a disability are facing a cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/26]

46. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has plans or intends to establish a social welfare office in Athenry, County Galway, in light of the town’s rapidly growing population and projected future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1784/26]

47. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in County Carlow and in County Kilkenny who received the newborn baby grant in 2025, and so far in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2682/26]

48. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that customers on pre-pay energy arrangements are finding their energy cut-off abruptly for days at a time while applying to the community welfare officer for emergency supplementary payments; if he is aware of the material deprivation these customers are being subjected to; if he has any plans to implement a system…

49. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people his Department predicts will be signed onto the auto-enrolment pension scheme by the end of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/26]

50. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of workers estimated to be due refunds as a result of the late introduction of regulations associated with auto-enrolment introduced in late December 2025 and which changed how employers calculated reductions in take-home pay. [2751/26]

51. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected Exchequer cost of State contribution matching under auto-enrolment for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2790/26]

52. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the supplementary welfare allowance per month, for the past three years, specifying the original qualifying welfare payment and the reasons for each application by percentage, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2840/26]

53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; his efforts to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/26]

54. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the key measures to be taken to tackle poverty in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/26]