Social Welfare Benefits

170. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have benefitted since the minimum required hours under the wage subsidy scheme was reduced from 21 hours to 15 hours in April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39922/25]

171. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection when he plans to publish draft proposals for consultation on the new working age payment, which will ensure that inconsistencies within the social welfare system, which disincentivise work, are removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39923/25]

172. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons over 66 who have qualified for the fuel allowance since the expanded means test for over 66s was introduced, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39924/25]

173. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a widows pension who are under age 66; if he will provide an estimated cost of allowing persons in receipt of widow’s pensions to access illness benefit in the event that they get sick at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39925/25]

174. Deputy John Paul O'Shea 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 6 to12 weeks as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39926/25]

175. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed; if he will outline the estimated increase in PRSI rates which would be required to meet this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39927/25]

177. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who retires from employment at the age of 65 is entitled to receive jobseeker’s pay related benefit until they reach the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40152/25]

271. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she is considering abolishing means testing for the carer’s allowance (details supplied); and if the case of a person will be examined. [39991/25]

300. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of ongoing delays in processing blind welfare allowance applications throughout the Midlands and Western regions; if she will review this matter and establish the role of the Department of Social Protection in any such delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40097/25]

609. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the process for applying for carer’s allowance and if it is necessary for the applicant to be physically seen by the social welfare officer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38697/25]

615. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing a mobility support payment or allowance for disabled individuals who face ongoing difficulty accessing public transport and must rely on taxis for essential travel, in light of rising taxi costs and the absence of a dedicated subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38774/25]

637. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people, by county, who have availed of jobseeker’s pay-related benefit since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38992/25]

647. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people with permanent disabilities and not forming part of the workforce who have had their disability allowance payment reviewed in each of the past five years; the estimated cost of carrying out these reviews; the amount that has been recovered by the State in each of these years as part of this review, in tabula…

258. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would be supportive of budgetary measures to support carers through a basic income scheme for carers, similar to the current basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38631/25]

261. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a working family payment application can be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan as the family is under severe financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38427/25]

262. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance for a County Donegal constituent (details supplied) will be processed based on their current means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38455/25]

263. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently examine the carers benefit application for a person (details supplied) as this person has no income and is struggling to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38525/25]

102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) for domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37953/25]

579. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will conduct a review of the social protection supports available to widowed persons (details supplied); and if he will outline any planned reforms to address these issues with a view to delivering more equitable and compassionate supports for widowed individuals and families. [37486/25]

582. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed people who have availed of carer's benefit since it was extended to the self-employed; if he can provide a breakdown by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/25]

769. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision in relation to an application for blind welfare allowance, awaited since November 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37170/25]

276. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total budget for the treatment benefit (PRSI used dental) scheme in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36786/25]

280. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36844/25]

149. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 24 June 2025, if consideration was given to the application of the new jobseeker’s pay-related benefit to claimants with open existing jobseeker's benefit claims; if not, the reason this was not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36264/25]

164. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of providing a carer’s pension, at 2% contribution of the minimum annual living wage. [36586/25]