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distances. We need to look at everything because at the end of the day we are all under the one sky. The living alone allowance needs to be addressed because people who live alone have the same costs in the house. When there is an elderly couple living

also have a commitment in the programme for Government to examine key benefits such as the fuel allowance, households benefits and the living alone allowance. That is an ongoing activity to make sure they are as relevant and targeted as possible. The household benefits package is specifically targeted

from €300 per week upwards. It should be noted that the reason for the drop-off is the disability support grant, the living alone allowance and the one-off payments for electricity and so on. One in five people who are disabled is already living in consistent poverty

from increasing it, as promised, the Government abolished it completely. It slashed other payments that disabled people rely on, like the living alone allowance lump sum and the electricity credit. Even taking into account small increases to the disability allowance, the Government still took well over … disabled people. It is shocking in one of the richest countries in the world, with a budget surplus and with the cost-of-living crisis ongoing, that the Government made disabled people poor. That is not just in real inflationary terms but even in nominal terms

made disabled people poorer, despite the measures he is announcing. The disability support grant was cut by €400. In respect of the living alone allowance, the lump sum of €200 was cut. That is another €200 gone. The fuel allowance was reduced for disabled people, resulting … That is in nominal terms as opposed to real terms. In real terms, namely in the context of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, it is even worse. We know that the cost of having a disability in this country back in 2021 was over

forward a very important piece of legislation - a Bill that would allow courts to impose a restraining order on someone convicted of a sexual assault, preventing them from approaching the victim when released from prison. Not alone would this increase protection for victims but also play a really … women regaining the sense of safety so violently robbed from them, and provide them with the security they need to rebuild their lives. This legislation has been called for by victims and it has been shaped by them and their traumatic experiences and insights. It is supported

Gael have overseen an Ireland where the cost of living is spiralling out of control. Motorists are paying some of the highest petrol and diesel prices in the EU. Car insurance costs are up 9% this year alone, which is double the European average, while profits … cost anything for the Government. The Minister if State is saying that Sinn Féin has not costed things. These are costs. We are allowing people to profit. Now, we learn that private toll companies operating under gold-plated public-private partnership contracts are recording millions of euro

same means test to those of its own citizens. The Czech Republic limits free accommodation to 90 days and has set modest monthly allowances. Poland has withdrawn its cash payments to private hosts. Slovakia has reduced its accommodation support by half. Ireland, one of the few states that … spent on medical cards alone, consisting of €14.15 million in 2022, €24.2 million in 2023, €28.96 million in 2024 and €25.03 million in the first nine months of 2025. At the same time, more than 16,600 Irish citizens, including 5,200 children, live in emergency accommodation

housing and ramping up housing supply is real and acute, but these are also real statistics that are having real benefits in the lives of people across our country. The Deputy said today, as I expected him to say, no matter what was in the plan - I could … developers to deliver new stand-alone wastewater treatment plants in rural Ireland. Across my constituency and the country I have heard of parts of our country where it has not been possible to build any homes because of the inability to allow a developer to deliver a wastewater

Central for many years and I wish him, his wife and his family well. I genuinely hope that the next chapter in their lives brings them good health and much happiness. Today, we must confront honestly the record of the Government he leaves behind, a record defined … young life. It is a painful reminder of the system that fails a child and not alone him, fails families and not alone his, fails communities and not alone his, and then, worst of all, fails to own up to it. While the Government was consumed by scandals

households relying on organisations such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to keep the lights on. The Government sits back and allows big energy companies to rip people off at every opportunity. Now, as the days get darker, families will be forced to cut back … they flick on the light switch because they know it is costing them a fortune. Is that an acceptable way for people to live? The big question for me is this: how many wake-up calls does the Government need before it acts? Four energy companies announce

Spectacle Network, Give Us the Night, Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics, Youth Theatre Ireland, the Irish Theatre Institute, the Irish Comedy Guide, the Live Comedy Association, the British Comedy Guide, Gorm Media, the Irish Film Institute, Safe to Create and the Performing Arts Forum. Irish Equity, which represents … rehearse and perform. Learning and teaching are required to develop the skills involved in this art. Comedy is not a new art. Not alone did the Ancient Greeks consider drama to consist of both comedy and tragedy, but stand-up was present too in the Roman world

opportunity for us in the Thirty-fourth Dáil to make provisions for the most significant piece of electoral reform in recent history and allow the people of Ireland to have their say as to whether 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in future elections. I believe … vote in that election. As we know, that opportunity is not afforded to their counterparts in the Republic. The UK is not alone. As the Minister will know, some 14 other countries have extended voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, for municipal, European and-or general

women. One project under our aid for maternal health in Mozambique has saved the lives of 5,000 mothers in one year alone. These are lives saved because we chose to act. Similar projects in Sudan go against the unfortunate tide of death ripping through that country … throughout the country. Therefore, I implore the Minister of State to continue to aid these women and to focus on these issues so lives may be saved and further tragedies prevented. Our Government continues - I am very grateful for this - to assist in countries in humanitarian need. Even

child waiting in pain again. I am glad the State is confronting this horrendous situation fully and, in particular confronting how we allowed children to suffer under our watch. I appreciate and respect the work the Minister is doing. She is clear and unapologetic in her statements … urgent spinal surgery waiting list without his parents' knowledge or consent. Parents were begging for answers that never came. Now those same parents live with their unthinkable grief. No parent in Ireland should ever fear that their child has simply vanished off a waiting list. No parent should

grid and energy infrastructure, but what good will that do if we continue having homes in entire communities, and indeed businesses, living with blackouts. If we do not do the simple things right, like cutting back trees that knock down power lines, we are missing the point entirely … imposed on communities that are completely opposed. I have also had an issue with farms in Offaly where it is affecting animals. Not alone is it affecting the residents, but it is affecting the animals in the fields. I have had reports of livestock having to be moved

taking this important Topical Issue. I raise this issue today because there is an urgent need to finally close the loophole that allows drivers to continue renewing learner permits indefinitely without ever sitting a driving test. Of course, this is not a new problem. It was identified more … issue of multiple successive learner permits remains a glaring gap in our road safety framework. I acknowledge all those who have lost their lives this year - 147 people. I also think of their families today. I also want to acknowledge the work of PARC, the road safety advocacy

February, the CRU reported its opinion that the current provisions under the climate action Act do not provide a sufficient legal basis to allow it to explicitly mandate specific emissions reductions and offsetting measures, such as requiring that connection applicants put in place arrangements to ensure that emissions … salience of decarbonising our energy system in our fight against climate disaster, there should be the strongest obligations on the ESB to live up to its requirements under the climate Acts. I tabled an amendment to that effect but unfortunately, it has been ruled out of order. Nonetheless

clearly a traumatic ordeal for those impacted, especially the small children involved. I commend the members of the emergency services who saved lives. I hope those who carried out this and similar attacks are brought before the courts and held to account for their crimes. I also want … increasing bill for accommodation while those providing the accommodation make fortunes. IPAS alone is projected to cost €1.2 billion this year, with virtually no transparency and zero accountability. How and why has it been allowed to get to this point? Is it just part of the wider failures

Social Protection the number of people in County Kerry who will be affected by the changes in budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the estimated number of people who would have benefitted if further funding was provided for the allowance; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to ensure that older people living alone receive timely access to the living alone allowance and the household benefits package, particularly where delays in processing applications are causing hardship; and if he will make a statement

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Laois who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make

Social Protection the number of people in County Donegal who will be affected by the changes in Budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the estimated number of people that would have benefitted if further funding was provided for allowance; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the fuel allowance that live alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61840/25

Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the merits of expanding the fuel allowance to include all persons over the age of 70 that live alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61835/25

asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider changing the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance given the increasing numbers of adults living at home, where a single pensioner (details supplied) who lives alone falls well below the income threshold and is eligible for the payment, however if they