Questions

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 supplement; and if he will …

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 welfare allowance d…

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]

32. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection if, given that over 60% of appealed decisions are overturned, the steps he is taking to address the high initial rates of refusal for the domiciliary care allowance; if his Department has undertaken any research into the costs incurred by families in rural counties for private assessments to support appeals for a payment to which they are have been proven…

33. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has reviewed the processes of eligibility assessments, appeals, and administration which disabled people must undergo to access supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46269/26]

34. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update in relation to progress on improving nutritional standard of the hot school meals programme; if he will provide for a pilot project looking into the socio-economic benefits of a model of local procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46173/26]

35. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to assess the financial adequacy of the State pension and supplementary social welfare payments for older, single persons who face escalating living costs and a chronic deficit of suitable single-unit accommodation options. [46329/26]

36. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make progress on his commitment to abolish the means-test for carers in the next Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46172/26]

37. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the current processing time for appeals of all social welfare payments in 2026. [46170/26]

38. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider combining maternity benefit, paternity benefit, adoptive benefit, and parent’s leave into a single-family scheme providing up to 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child; and whether such a scheme could operate on pay-related basis similar to the pay-related jobseekers’ benefit payment. [46169/26]

39. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will consider increasing the capital disregard for the blind pension as part of Budget 2027, having regard to the higher €50,000 disregard that applies to disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46274/26]