Parliamentary questions

116. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific support his Department has available, or is planning to make available, to those who are due to lose their incomes as a result of the receivership of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62250/25]

117. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making the disability allowance into a non-means tested benefit rather than an allowance. [61674/25]

118. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that will benefit from the changes in the qualifying criteria for the fuel allowance announced in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62282/25]

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that many parents are completely dissatisfied with the school meals scheme and concerned about the quality and nutritional value of the lunches provided to schools; and the measures being taken to restore confidence in the hot school meals scheme. [59669/25]

120. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the operation and effectiveness of the Department’s community employment and work activation schemes, including Tús, community employment and the rural social scheme; his Department’s assessment of their impact on participants’ progression to sustainable employment, education or training; whether there ar…

121. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing an automatic or simplified transition mechanism for children who meet the criteria for domiciliary care allowance to continue receiving support through disability allowance at the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62168/25]

122. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if under the new rules for the rural social scheme, if a person from a rural area with no distinct ties to farming or fishing, but living in the rural area, qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62021/25]

123. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to support pensioners living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62067/25]

124. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken by his Department to improve access to training and upskilling opportunities for jobseekers, particularly those who have been long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61550/25]

125. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Counties Carlow and Kilkenny that will benefit from the changes in criteria for the fuel allowance announced in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62025/25]

126. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people with disabilities currently in employment; the action he is taking to address the low rate of individuals with disabilities in the workforce; and the supports he will put in place to ensure equality for those with disabilities. [61901/25]

127. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of his Budget 2026 measures to support one-parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62068/25]

128. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports his Department has in place for over 65s in relation to heating supports coming into the winter; if his Department will ensure that a campaign is rolled out to make people aware of their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62251/25]

129. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of his Budget 2026 measures to support people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62057/25]

130. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to reflecting inflation in the means test calculation for certain State benefits, such as the non-contributory State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62212/25]

131. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there will be an accommodation in the auto enrolment my future fund to include pre-school staff that only work part of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62014/25]

132. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection to present the number of payments made in each county under the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn last year; the number of applications declined; the number of applications for which a decision is yet to be made; the total amount paid out, the average payment made per county, in tabular form; and if he will make …

133. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider a provision to allow individuals in exceptional circumstance applying for a means tested payment to be assessed without their partner's income, in particular in cases of domestic abuse where a person may be trying to save money to leave their partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62243/25]

134. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families currently in receipt of the working family payment; the number of recipients per family size; the average payment made per family, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62172/25]

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to introducing a pay-related maternity benefit, based on the woman’s current earnings so that they do not experience a sudden drop in income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62177/25]

136. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for his Department’s decision to remove the credit option for the household benefits package from December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61451/25]

137. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to assist low- and middle-income households struggling with the rising cost of living, particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61549/25]

138. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools who have refused to take up the offer of a hot school meal; the attempts his Department have made to change this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62023/25]

139. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of hours spent implementing the means-test for carer’s allowance; the cost of this work to implement the means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62182/25]

140. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports his Department are providing to the workers, subcontractors and franchisees of a company (details supplied) following the company’s receivership announcement in October 2025; the financial assistance his Department can provide to those workers of that company who are self-employed; and if he will make a statement o…