90. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will take to reduce the consistent poverty rate to 2% or less; to reduce income inequality; to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive Member States of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/26]
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
Which departments get asked most
Department names as the record prints them. Some changed in June 2025.
All 20 departments
| Department | Questions | Oral | Written |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | 27,764 | 145 | 27,619 |
| Education | 14,148 | 145 | 14,003 |
| Transport | 11,178 | 139 | 11,039 |
| Justice | 9,962 | 135 | 9,827 |
| Housing | 9,139 | 160 | 8,979 |
| Children | 8,691 | 142 | 8,549 |
| Social | 5,914 | 135 | 5,779 |
| Finance | 5,884 | 153 | 5,731 |
| Agriculture | 4,894 | 136 | 4,758 |
| Enterprise | 3,942 | 139 | 3,803 |
| Climate | 3,915 | 130 | 3,785 |
| Foreign | 3,868 | 190 | 3,678 |
| Public Expenditure | 3,737 | 167 | 3,570 |
| Further and Higher Education | 3,437 | 140 | 3,297 |
| Taoiseach | 2,649 | 1,479 | 1,170 |
| Defence | 2,599 | 179 | 2,420 |
| Culture | 2,492 | 147 | 2,345 |
| Rural | 2,361 | 140 | 2,221 |
| Environment | 1,029 | 26 | 1,003 |
| Tourism | 703 | 31 | 672 |
What's being asked about lately
7 Oct 2026 to 5 Nov 2026
Browse the questions
128,306 questions, newest first.
91. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the key priorities raised by carers and representative organisations at the Annual Carers’ Forum held in May 2026; the priority actions identified by his Department arising from the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46290/26]
92. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the implementation of a safe fund for survivors of domestic violence that addresses their immediate financial situation such as covering costs for clothing, accommodation, and other costs faced by those fleeing domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46168/26]
93. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which it can be ensured that work pays and that social protection supports do not disincentivise any individual to work. [46366/26]
94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carers in Cavan and Monaghan that are currently in receipt of the carer’s allowance; the equivalent figures for each county in 2020; the further increase in the numbers of recipients he expects in each when forthcoming changes to income disregards take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46239/26]
95. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact of the means test for carer’s allowance on family carers; whether the findings of any such assessment will inform consideration of further changes to the means test as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46275/26]
96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans in the next budget to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46153/26]
97. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the other social welfare payments available to recipients of the one-parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/26]
98. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to address rising rates of food poverty, particularly in relation to the continuation of lunch and breakfast programs for school-aged children through the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46281/26]
99. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to increasing the core baseline of social welfare rates such as the child support payment, to address the issues of poverty in the next Budget rather than relying on temporary measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46149/26]
100. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to support applicants, particularly older persons and those with limited digital literacy, in accessing and completing social protection applications as services become increasingly digitised; if he will outline any initiatives in place to provide in-person assistance, training, or alternative application channels to e…
101. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the fuel allowance eligibility criteria in cases where a pensioner is deemed ineligible due to a non-dependent adult child residing in the household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44574/26]
102. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the new public transport services that have been rolled out so far in 2026; the new services that will start operating in the remainder of 2026 and in the year 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45508/26]
103. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the new start date for the 199 Local Link bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46559/26]
104. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the rail traffic management system; to provide and updated timeline for delivery; the projected costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45509/26]
105. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the programme for Government commitment to commission a new independent feasibility study on continuing MetroLink to Dublin South-West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46573/26]
106. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the planned roll-out of the N8 orbital bus route under the BusConnects programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46563/26]
107. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on measures being considered by his Department, the National Transport Authority and transport operators to improve late-night transport services in north Dublin, including through the expansion of DART+ and other rail and bus services; to address ongoing concerns regarding taxi availability for workers and patrons of the night t…
108. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the reason he is delaying funding for DART+ South West; and when he intends to release the funding for this vital public transport project. [46305/26]
109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to address the deteriorating service on the 103 Bus Éireann route serving areas including Ashbourne and Ratoath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44955/26]
110. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport to outline the latest timeline of construction for the Finglas Luas extension project following the resolution to legal action earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46345/26]
111. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; the timeline for the opening of new stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46380/26]
112. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if the discontinued route 4 bus service from Waterford to Dublin-Dublin Airport and the stops along the route will be reinstated following the withdrawal of a service (details supplied). [46260/26]
113. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek additional investment in public transport in light of the fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46090/26]
114. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will rule out fare increases in budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45499/26]