Parliamentary questions

542. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given any consideration to a cost-of-disability payment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73434/25]

543. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the one-payment-per-household rule for the fuel allowance scheme whereby adult children on low incomes are living in the family home due to the housing crisis and are refused support based on parental income alone, despite individually qualifying for the scheme; and the plans to allow eligibility to be assessed …

544. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that workers are protected from redundancy only once maternity leave has officially begun; if he is aware that this means that even if a pregnant woman has only a few days left before her leave starts, she can still be made redundant; if he is aware of the difficulties for someone who is two months away from giving…

545. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that domestic abuse rent supplement is available for three months without a means test; if he understands that a victim of domestic abuse in some circumstances is working and required to pay the mortgage on the property where the children live; if this payment is considered as part of the means test in the case whe…

546. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered implementing a ‘saver clause’ similar to that used when someone transitions from disability allowance to the State pension (non-contributory) for those in receipt of carer’s allowance when they transition to the State pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73441/25]

547. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance who have had their payments reviewed in 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance who have, on review, had their carer’s allowance revoked in 2024 and to date in 2025; and the number of these people who have appealed the decision, in tabular…

548. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of a carer’s support grant in 2024 and in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73447/25]

549. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the key measures taken to tackle poverty during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73561/25]

550. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the key measures taken to support carers during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73562/25]

551. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence arising from Budget 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73589/25]

552. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is planning for a scenario where youth unemployment increases in certain sectors as a result of the roll-out of artificial intelligence; if his Department has identified any high-risk sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73802/25]

553. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering the introduction of supports for new graduates unable to obtain entry-level jobs in areas most affected by the adoption of artificial intelligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73803/25]

554. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline any engagement his Department has had with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on the subject of new graduates being unable to obtain entry-level jobs in areas most affected by the adoption of artificial intelligence; his views on whether there will be a need to introduce specific retraining sc…

555. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline any engagement he has had with industry on the subject of new graduates being unable to obtain entry-level jobs in areas most affected by the adoption of artificial intelligence; if his Department has conducted any industry surveys to assess the existence of such a trend; and if he will make a statement on the …

556. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposed timeframe for abolishing the means test for carer's allowance applications. [73843/25]

313. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will consider an additional emergency winter payment for disabled people, many of whom are struggling to keep up with costs to warm their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72822/25]

314. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for implementation of the long-promised cost of disability payment. [72698/25]

315. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to introducing a gluten-free food allowance for pensioners with coeliac disease due to the extra cost associated with their dietary needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72700/25]

316. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered the impact of the high cost of gluten-free food on pensioners with coeliac disease; and whether he will explore options to support affected individuals, such as a potential allowance or subsidy to offset these costs. [72701/25]

317. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in selecting the contractor for the national auto-enrolment scheme, due consideration was given to potential legal or reputational conflicts that may arise from the contractor's extensive ties to the Israeli military, specifically in view of the principles underpinning the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of…

318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that a domiciliary care allowance review has been lodged for a person (details supplied); if he will confirm a decision will be given at the earliest possible opportunity due to the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72800/25]

319. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned that the youth unemployment rate of 13.4% is almost treble the national unemployment rate of 4.9%; if he will consider introducing new programmes or amending existing programmes to assist young people into work; if he is satisfied with uptake of the work placement experience scheme in light of these figures; i…

320. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of notifications being issued by his Department in each year from 2020,to date in 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73253/25]

623. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Social Protection the inter-Departmental consultation and communication taking place to ensure review of the school meals scheme, to include an opt-out if the school community requests same, with re-distribution of funding for other supports, deemed necessary by the school principal in consultation with the school community. [71341/25]

624. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of asset profilers in his Department as of 5 December 2025, in tabular form. [71698/25]