Social Welfare Benefits

873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 4 November 2025, her views on the way in which evidence based policy will be effectively developed in the absence of up-to-date data on return to work outcomes following maternity, paternity and parent's leave (details supplied). [61505/25]

269. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the application for disability allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied) to allow access to further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60606/25]

271. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60609/25]

272. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carers support grant application for a person (details supplied) was not approved, following the award of carers benefit for a person with autism who is been cared for full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60611/25]

275. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of an application for carers allowance for a person (details supplied) will be undertaken. [60801/25]

279. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in each county that have received the new baby grant since it was introduced, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60885/25]

281. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people that have received the pay related job seekers benefit since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60887/25]

130. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for invalidity pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60225/25]

102. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Taoiseach when the CSO will publish an updated set of the Employment Analysis of Maternity and Paternity Benefits 2019-2022. [58414/25]

1226. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently investigate and allow a pro rata payment of maternity benefit for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59844/25]

96. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance in County Kildare each year from 2022 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57472/25]

514. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection to please review the case of a person (details supplied) in the hope that his son can maintain his social welfare because of the extenuating circumstances. [56644/25]

522. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has engaged with, or intends to engage with, the UK department for work and pensions regarding the recent changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility criteria; if his Department will seek clarification on whether UK pensioners residing in Ireland under the common travel area will be afforded eligibility for the pay…

523. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he considers it fair that parents are being penalised through reductions or exclusions from the fuel allowance and other social welfare supports as a result of the ongoing housing crisis, where many adult children are unable to secure independent accommodation and are continuing to live in the family home; if he will review …

524. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if carers allowance will be approved immediately for a person (details supplied). [56924/25]

525. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the history of invalidity pension claims made by person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57017/25]

531. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance application will be approved and backdated as soon as possible (details supplied). [57222/25]

534. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance claim by a person (details supplied); the options available to them to resume payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57320/25]

259. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications his Department received for the living alone allowance in 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of applications that were refused in each of the years in question; and the average processing times for these applications. [56075/25]

261. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review the guidelines for carer's allowance (that is, needing partial care rather than full care); if his Department plans to undertake a review of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56106/25]

263. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a section 317 review of a person (details supplied); if it will be completed before his illness benefit is stopped in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56291/25]

265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider including verified disability-related expenses and private care costs as allowable deductions when assessing means for carer’s allowance; given the reality of many families not being able to access public healthcare supports due to significant delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56297/25]

266. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the phasing out of the carers allowance means test, as committed to in the Programme for Government; if there is a timeline for this commitment to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/25]

267. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance; if will he consider introducing a model similar to the Disability Tax Credit approach, where disability-related costs are acknowledged as reducing disposable income, thereby adjusting eligibility thresholds accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56299/25]

268. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any research or consideration given into the payment of a universal or partially universal carer support payment to replace or supplement the means-tested system, ensuring equity across income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56300/25]