Parliamentary questions

7. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give consideration to changing the living alone allowance in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46357/26]

8. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the operation of MyFutureFund - the automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46027/26]

9. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the wage subsidy scheme, and any incentives to support employers taking on employees with intellectual disabilities. [46367/26]

10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional people that will benefit from increases in the carers allowance means test threshold due in July 2026; whether he has engaged with the Minister for Health and her Department to ensure that carers allowance income will not be included under the medical card means test so that those who benefit from the expanded …

11. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to examine pension provisions for foster carers; when he expects this to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46325/26]

12. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether an examination of improvements to key ancillary benefits such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance to support older and vulnerable groups has occurred as per the programme for Government; if not, when this examination will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any additional disability-related supports he is planning to introduce in the upcoming budget to help disabled people with the increasing costs of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46362/26]

14. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to give consideration to increasing the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46330/26]

15. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to increase the supports available to parents through the maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46368/26]

16. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to improve turnaround times on decisions regarding applications for supplementary welfare allowance to cover transport costs for getting to hospital appointments for patients who receive notification of an appointment at short notice and do not have sufficient time to apply and wait for approval of their travel supplem…

17. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44952/26]

18. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the contributory pension entitlement for women who, due to extended periods out of employment to care for children and family, have less than 520 contributions; if he will consider a pro rata contributory pension to recognise their caring role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46265/26]

19. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to review and/or increase supports for self-employed people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46284/26]

20. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to introducing additional age-related social welfare supports for persons aged over 80 years and over 90 years, in recognition of increased heating, healthcare and independent living costs associated with advanced age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41553/26]

21. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the adequacy of supports available to individuals who pay PRSI, whether employed or self-employed, who find themselves out of work due to circumstances such as illness, bereavement and injury and to students who are engaged in employment, given concerns that many such individuals are not eligible for supplementary…

22. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress his Department is making in relation to the phasing out of the means test for carer's allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government. [46036/26]

23. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review carried out in his Department on the system of means tests for carer supports; if he will lay the report before the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46267/26]

24. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the context of the low numbers involved in the employment support scheme, he will consider ensuring those who are currently in receipt of the scheme retain it when changing employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46041/26]

25. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the amount that was paid in respect of the provision of the free TV licence aspect of the household benefits payment in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45430/26]

26. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he expects the cost of disability payment to be introduced in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46030/26]

27. 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. [44962/26]

28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to fully abolishing the restrictive means test for carer’s allowance. [46328/26]

29. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to the difficulties faced by renters accessing the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46283/26]

30. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the review of means testing in the social protection system will be completed this quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44961/26]

31. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently recorded as long-term unemployed; the measures in place to support their return to sustainable and secure employment; the further actions to reduce long-term unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45625/26]