Social Welfare Benefits

601. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the household benefit package to take into account the increases in electricity costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51184/25]

602. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the status of a jobseeker's application for a person's (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51203/25]

603. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process jobseeker's allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51215/25]

604. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process jobseeker's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51216/25]

605. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process disability allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51217/25]

606. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process carer's allowance applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/25]

607. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process carer's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51219/25]

608. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process invalidity pension applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51220/25]

609. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process child benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51221/25]

610. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process disability pension applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51222/25]

611. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process maternity benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/25]

612. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process parent's benefit applications, per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51224/25]

613. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process paternity benefit applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51235/25]

614. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process domiciliary care allowance applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51236/25]

615. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process supplementary welfare allowance applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51237/25]

616. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process widowed parent grant applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51238/25]

622. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding a jobseekers application which was submitted in June 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51400/25]

626. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of fuel allowance, by qualifying primary payment (for example State pension, disability allowance, jobseeker's long-term schemes, carer's allowance, etc.), by age band of primary claimant (under 66, 66-69, 70-79, 80+), for each of the past fuel allowance seasons 2021/2022 to 2025/2026, in tabular…

627. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of successful fuel allowance claims by assessment pathway, distinguishing claims qualifying under the over-66 higher means limits, claims qualifying under the standard means test; within those cohorts, the number of claimants with assessable capital falling within each €10,000 band up to and above the current capital dis…

628. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and share of claimants opting for weekly payments and opting for lump-sum payments of the fuel allowance for each of the past three seasons; the total value paid under each option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/25]

629. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipient households and total expenditure by local authority area; the claimant rates per 1,000 households to allow comparison between areas for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51429/25]

630. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the average and median processing time for fuel allowance applications in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 to date; the share of applications decided within two, four, six, and eight weeks; the number of refusals and appeals, with the principal reasons for refusal listed and ranked by frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

631. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fuel allowance recipients whose qualifying payment is carer's allowance, carer's benefit, disability allowance, or invalidity pension; the number of these cases which qualified under the over-66 means limits versus the standard means test, in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [514…

632. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide total fuel allowance expenditure; the average amount paid per recipient household for each of the past five seasons, showing the proportion of part-season payments due to late awards or changes in circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51432/25]

645. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have availed of parents benefit in each county; the number of mothers and fathers who have availed of parent's benefit in each county, in tabular form; his views on the further steps that can be taken to encourage greater uptake of parent's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51716/25]