Social Welfare Benefits

646. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to introduce pay related parents benefit; the estimated cost for the first 12 months for this extension if it was modelled on the same payment rates which apply to jobseekers pay related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51717/25]

655. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2026 if child benefit is increased by €12 per month. [51841/25]

657. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the levels of maternity benefit and maternity leave, paternity benefit and leave, parental benefit and parental leave which will apply during 2026; and if there are any anticipated changes in any of these due to take place during 2026. [51897/25]

658. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports or secondary benefits allowed to persons on a carer's allowance; and to persons on a carer's benefit. [51904/25]

659. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer's benefit; the typical duration of their claim; and if she has considered greater flexibility under the scheme to cover intermittent caring periods. [51905/25]

661. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the take up to date of the concession of free travel to those medically unfit to drive; and the number of children who will benefit from free travel. [51914/25]

99. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a targeted child benefit payment. [50693/25]

101. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the period of a social welfare payment following the death of a dependent from six to 12 weeks as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50439/25]

102. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed annual cost of the disability support payment. [50674/25]

103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on plans in the Programme for Government to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment, which will be increased incrementally over the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50432/25]

104. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to remove inconsistencies and anomalies in the current jobseeker's allowance scheme which discourage people from taking up employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50698/25]

106. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection the means by which he is enhancing application processes within his Department, and providing additional resources where necessary, to ensure that individuals receive decisions on their applications in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50711/25]

109. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50710/25]

110. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have received the free travel pass since it was extended to persons who are medically unable to drive, by county; the cost of this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/25]

115. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection to address delays in processing illness benefit and invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50783/25]

119. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the domiciliary care allowance from 16 to 18 in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50032/25]

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on removing the means test for carer's allowance; whether a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/25]

123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the abolition of means test for carer's allowance. [50775/25]

127. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to introduce a cost of disability payment in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50031/25]

130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection pursuant to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent cost of disability payment, the timeline for the introduction of the payment; the details of the planned payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50759/25]

131. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for his decision to remove the credit option for the household benefits package from December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50599/25]

135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Counties Cavan and Monaghan availing of companion passes; the measures in place to promote this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50749/25]

139. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the appeals process and criteria for carer's allowance and disability allowance, in light of cases where families providing full-time care have been refused supports despite clear evidence of need, particularly in rural areas where access to services is limited (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on …

141. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of cases where persons who commenced a self-employed role in 2023 and subsequently became unemployed in 2025 are facing issues with accessing jobseeker’s benefit due to the move to pay-related jobseekers benefit this year; whether his Department has any plans to assist this cohort of people; and if he will make a stat…

144. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have had their jobseekers' payments cut, by month, to date in 2025; the amount deducted from payments as a result; to compare this with previous years; if his Department has analysed the impact this has had on child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50505/25]