Social Welfare Benefits

383. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) from a self-employed individual who has experienced a sudden and substantial loss of business income and is now experiencing difficulty in meeting mortgage repayments, utility bills and other essential living expenses; the supports available in such circu…

281. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to carry out an urgent review in respect of means in relation to a carer's allowance application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53751/26]

284. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending eligibility for the fuel allowance to all people with disabilities at the current rate, at an increased rate by €20 per week, and extending the payment period to 52 weeks at the current and increased rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53971/26]

446. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance, respectively, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [52905/26]

447. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new applications for jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance received in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [52906/26]

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]

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]

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department will consider amending the rules governing the carer's allowance to permit people who are in receipt of a State Pension and who are providing full-time care to another pensioner to receive the full rate of carer's allowance, rather than the current reduced payment; whether he acknowledges that many older car…

136. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52257/26]

501. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are instances in which a person who availed of the back to work enterprise allowance for an upcycle business, but whose business was forced to close for 18 to 24 months due to Covid can avail of the scheme again before the five year waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51733/26]

503. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a former Dublin Airport Authority employee (details supplied) has to wait two years for dental and optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/26]

349. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently intervene and assist a Kerry resident (details supplied) with a jobseekers benefit application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50360/26]

345. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to address the issue where those in receipt of the widow’s pension cannot avail of illness benefit in Budget 2027; the reason such a restriction is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48413/26]

219. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of the household benefits package; the data on the number choosing to use the benefit on their gas versus their electric bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48078/26]

476. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to allow for the reinterpretation of the 18.5-hour work cap for carers who wish to avail of further education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46815/26]

589. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting nearly two years for a blind welfare allowance application to be processed. [47207/26]

10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional people that will benefit from increases in the carers allowance means test threshold due in July 2026; whether he has engaged with the Minister for Health and her Department to ensure that carers allowance income will not be included under the medical card means test so that those who benefit from the expanded …

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any additional disability-related supports he is planning to introduce in the upcoming budget to help disabled people with the increasing costs of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46362/26]

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]

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…

63. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions he plans on taking for those who have been working to date this year as reserves in the Defence Forces, and are now being left without certainty regarding income as they do not have the necessary PRSI contributions to qualify for jobseekers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46151/26]

66. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people he expects to benefit from the forthcoming increase in income disregards for the carer’s allowance; the plans for further changes in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46039/26]

68. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for carer's allowance, disability allowance, and domiciliary care allowance applications; the number of applications awaiting decision in each scheme; the average time taken to determine appeals in each scheme in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46257/26]

76. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the conclusion of the public consultation on a potential new targeted child payment and new working age payment launched by his Department on 5 May 2026; the number of submissions received to date; when he expects to bring proposals arising from the consultation to Government; and if he will make a statement on…

79. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider a review of the minimum 16 hours required weekly worked hours to qualify for carer’s benefit for teachers who are not on full time hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46264/26]