Parliamentary questions

163. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government has done a review with parents in relation to the quality of the meals in the school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68202/25]

164. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the way schools can withdraw from a contract for the school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68203/25]

165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance available for a person (details supplied) who was refused carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68206/25]

166. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to develop a non-means-tested support for audiology equipment such as hearing aids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68260/25]

167. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if secondary schools that entered the DEIS programme from 2022 onwards are excluded from the school meals scheme; the reason a school (details supplied) has not yet been able to access funding for hot school lunch provision; when this school will be able to access funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68310/25…

168. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 22 October 2025, if he will review again the case of a person (details supplied); the reason the publicly available guidance on Gov.ie and Citizens Information states that the homemaker’s scheme “can help you qualify for the State Pension (Contributory)”, when his official reply to the P…

169. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects under his Department’s remit in a more timely, efficient and customer-friendly manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68375/25]

170. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review and expand the level of support provided under the treatment benefit scheme for individuals requiring audiological supports, including hearing aids, or those living with congenital deafness given that lifetime costs for such supports can exceed €50,000 compared to the current €1,000 provision; and if he will make …

171. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed that, although not required by statute, his Department voluntarily publishes its annual consultancy spending online in the interest of transparency and accessibility, …

362. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider correspondence from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67959/25]

363. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for an emergency winter support for residents on disability allowance and similar schemes to offset the deficit created by the withdrawal of the 2025 cost of living measures. [67374/25]

364. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the introduction of the cost of disability payment. [67375/25]

365. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports in place for male victims of domestic violence whose domestic abuse payment cease soon. [67437/25]

366. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the type of training provided to staff within his Department in the use of, or understanding of artificial intelligence; if a programme is planned for all staff on their obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67470/25]

367. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time pandemic unemployment payment overpayment letters that were issued in Q3 and Q4 2025; the reason these were issued now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67489/25]

368. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider making rent supplement available to people living in accommodation provided by voluntary housing bodies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67551/25]

369. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the approximate cost of extending child benefit for a period of six months and one year respectively, in the event of the death of a qualifying child based on available data from 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67583/25]

370. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the 5% pension increase recently granted to former Irish Rail staff; when this increase is due to be implemented; if his Department has assessed the impact of this increase on the eligibility of affected pensioners for Social Protection supports such as the medical card, fuel allowance and other se…

371. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of people who remain in receipt of the employment support scheme for people with disabilities, a predecessor of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67623/25]

372. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff by grade and gender working in the National Community Welfare Contact Centre as of 25 November 2025, in tabular form. [67634/25]

373. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the immediate and dedicated income support which has been provided to former franchisees (details supplied) and subcontractors who are currently unable to apply for the insolvency payments scheme; and the process by which they can secure an urgent needs payment or other welfare support without compromising any future claims against …

374. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will arrange for a definitive answer to be provided to a person (details supplied) who has been in touch with his Department over the past several months seeking to determine her eligibility for a State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67665/25]

375. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if a person (details supplied) who was entitled to claim the bereaved partners pension received an interim payment while the legislation was being drafted; the way in which this interim payment was facilitated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67727/25]

376. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 18 November 2025, the advice she would give to a teacher who has moved schools in the past 12-months but, due to their child’s illness, are forced to temporarily leave work and cannot qualify for carer’s allowance. [67757/25]

377. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of projects and costs incurred in respect of her engagement of a company in 2024 and to date in 2025 (details supplied). [67766/25]