Parliamentary questions

450. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure incurred on jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [52909/26]

451. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of non-Irish nationals currently in receipt of jobseeker's payments who have been continuously in receipt of such payments for more than two years; more than four years; more than six years; more than eight years; and more than ten years, in tabular form, where data is available by nationality. [52910/26]

452. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual Exchequer cost of jobseeker's payments made to non-Irish nationals in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [52911/26]

453. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of jobseeker's payments who are Irish citizens, EU citizens excluding Irish citizens and non-EU nationals; and the associated annual cost in each category, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [52912/26]

454. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has examined the introduction of a graduated or phased reduction in jobseeker's payments based on duration of claim; if so, the details of any such examination, including costings and impact assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52913/26]

455. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any proposals have been considered by his Department within the past five years to alter rates of jobseeker's payments based on the length of time a claimant has been in receipt of the payment; and if he will provide details of any such proposals, reviews or assessments. [52914/26]

456. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of jobseeker's payments who have received a jobseeker-related payment for ten years or more in aggregate whether continuously or intermittently; and the total annual cost of supporting these recipients. [52915/26]

457. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the concerns of some members of an organisation (details supplied), who do not qualify for the State Pension (contributory); the impact this has on being excluded from social welfare schemes such as living alone allowance, over-80 allowance, Christmas bonus, dental and optical benefits, additional qualified adult allo…

458. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the exact number of recipients of carer's allowance who are currently in receipt of a reduced rate of payment rather than the maximum rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53113/26]

459. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons who paid category K PRSI in 2025; and the total sum of money collected in this category. [53231/26]

460. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the social protection entitlements available to persons paying category K PRSI. [53232/26]

461. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who has had an application and appeals for disability allowance rejected; if the cited ECJ ruling is appropriate in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53322/26]

462. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is considering any changes to the six month backdate rule that exists within applications for domiciliary care allowance, in view of the difficulties it may present when an applicant seeks a backdate for a different payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53348/26]

463. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53424/26]

464. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a couple (details supplied) do not qualify for full time carer's allowance despite being pensioners earning a combined €32,000 but another couple who earn €110,000 would qualify for full time carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53428/26]

465. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the key measures taken to tackle poverty since January 2025; his priorities for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53510/26]

466. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the key measures taken to support carers since January 2025; his priorities for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53511/26]

467. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to removing employer PRSI on customer tips and gratuities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53515/26]

468. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will give consideration to excluding the carer's allowance from the back to school clothing and footwear allowance means test, similar to the domiciliary care allowance, for parents caring for their children. [53571/26]

469. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to increase the household benefits package. [53591/26]

470. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was not provided with an explanation as to the reason legitimate expenses were not taken into account by his Department during the review of their disability allowance; if detailed reasons will now be issued to the person stating the reason these legitimate expenses were disre…

471. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending paid paternity leave from two weeks to eight weeks; whether such costings have been prepared by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53643/26]

472. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce a disregard for income derived from carer's allowance when assessing other social welfare payments including the working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53661/26]

473. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to change the current arrangements which stops domiciliary care once a child turns 16 years-of-age; if he will allow this allowance to continue if still in full-time education, until the child turns 18 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53669/26]

474. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional cost of introducing a double payment for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance for qualifying children entering transition year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53670/26]