Parliamentary questions

Questions

TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work

Browse the questions

Clear

Showing questions under the heading Social Welfare Benefits.

662 questions match, newest first.

Michael Cahill Written 6 Oct 2026 · to Social
398. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer’s allowance application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70080/26]
Ruth Coppinger Written 6 Oct 2026 · to Social
404. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a back to education allowance will receive an update. [70171/26]
Duncan Smith Written 6 Oct 2026 · to Social
409. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to intervene in a situation regarding an individual's (details supplied) carer's allowance. [70375/26]
Cormac Devlin Written 30 Sep 2026 · to Social
112. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of fuel allowance aged 66 or over at the end of each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 and at the latest date available in 2026, by age band 66 to 69, 70 to 79 and 80 and over, in tabular form; the number of applications from persons aged 66 or over refused on means in each of those years; and the number of such refusals in whi…
Cormac Devlin Written 30 Sep 2026 · to Social
113. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the fuel allowance weekly income limit for persons aged 66 or over by €25, €50 and €100 for a single person, with the corresponding increase for couples; and the estimated full-year cost of introducing a tapered rate of fuel allowance for persons whose means exceed the limit by up to €100 a week. [69198/26]
Cormac Devlin Written 30 Sep 2026 · to Social
114. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of telephone support allowance; the expenditure on the allowance in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the number of recipients of the household benefits package aged 70 or over who do not receive telephone support allowance; and the estimated full-year cost of extending telephone support allo…
Cormac Devlin Written 30 Sep 2026 · to Social
115. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has reviewed the requirement that a person receive both the living alone increase and fuel allowance to qualify for telephone support allowance; whether the weekly income limit for fuel allowance for persons aged 66 or over will be increased in line with any increase in the State pension, so that pension increases do not remove …
Ryan O'Meara Written 29 Sep 2026 · to Social
516. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the introduction of pay-related parent's benefit; and when the public consultation will be issued. [68671/26]
Mark Wall Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
19. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions his Department is taking to extend access to the heating supplement. [67655/26]
Claire Kerrane Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
23. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking to ensure access for the self-employed to income support when they become ill. [66974/26]
Paul Lawless Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
26. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons combined who are actively claiming job seekers benefit, job seekers allowance and job-seekers pay related benefit; and if he will outline trends over the past five years such as whether more or less people are claiming unemployment-related social welfare this year compared to previous years; and if he will make a statement on…
Paul McAuliffe Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
28. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to make changes to and increase the Household Benefits Package in the coming months. [67521/26]
Edward Timmins Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
30. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he consideration will be given to review the minimum 16 hours weekly worked hours to qualify for carer’s benefit; and the impact the current rules have for teachers who are not on full time hours. [67659/26]
Paula Butterly Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
38. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider, as part of Budget 2027, extending eligibility for Illness Benefit to self-employed workers who are unable to work due to illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66646/26]
Mairéad Farrell Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
42. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to increasing the amount of time that an individual in receipt of disability allowance can spend outside the State from two weeks per year; and if consideration has been given to the level of surveillance and collection of personal data that is involved when a disability allowance recipient travels outside of the State…
Peter Roche Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
53. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements and supports available to families caring for a person with a disability who will require lifelong care, in circumstances where the principal family carer dies, becomes seriously ill or is otherwise no longer capable of providing that care; the advance planning mechanisms that are available to such families; whether his Department works …
Louise O'Reilly Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
60. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the supports in-place for self-employed people who must reduce their hours; the adequacy of these supports in the context of the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67568/26]
Brian Stanley Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
63. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the weekly rate of Carer's Allowance Benefit to €325 to recognise the additional cost of providing fulltime care in a cost of living crisis. [67385/26]
Grace Boland Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
65. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection whether, given the Government's stated ambition to support entrepreneurship and small business growth, he believes that the Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) scheme and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance remain fit for purpose in the modern economy; and whether a review of both schemes will be undertaken. [66710/26]
Cathal Crowe Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
68. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the level of service his Department already provides within the town of Shannon in County Clare; the way in which his Department proposes to address any deficiencies or expand their service offering in the town. [67218/26]
Paul Lawless Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
70. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons claiming job-seekers allowance who are new to Ireland and have never worked in Ireland prior to claiming the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67175/26]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
71. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households that will receive the fuel allowance in the 2026/2027 season, by county. [67287/26]
Colm Burke Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
76. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether consideration would be given to introducing a support specifically for older people to help with the cost of home heating oil. [67543/26]
Brian Stanley Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans in place to enhance and expand Social Welfare and Intreo Services in County Laois to match local population growth to ensure timely access for claimants. [67396/26]
James Geoghegan Written 24 Sep 2026 · to Social
109. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his plans to reform the domiciliary care allowance. [66685/26]