112. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the Household Benefits Package to alleviate poverty amongst households most in need. [67525/26]
Topics / Social Welfare Benefits
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsSocial Welfare Benefits
681 questions from 119 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 6 October 2026.
681
questions
667 written, 14 oral
119
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
6
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 45 |
| March 2025 | 26 |
| April 2025 | 19 |
| May 2025 | 39 |
| June 2025 | 83 |
| July 2025 | 46 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 88 |
| October 2025 | 39 |
| November 2025 | 39 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| January 2026 | 21 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| April 2026 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 22 |
| June 2026 | 60 |
| July 2026 | 12 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 33 |
| October 2026 | 3 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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37
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34
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22
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20
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19
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18
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17
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17
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to making fuel allowance an automatic entitlement to everyone over 70 years-of-age; and the estimated cost that will be incurred to make this change. [67575/26]
114. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine targeted supports in Budget 2027 such as increasing the monthly allowance of €35 for those with gas or electricity as part of the Household Benefits Package. [67298/26]
388. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the interaction between illness benefit, one-parent family payment and working family payment for parents who have dependent children and who are diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting illness; and to consider measures to prevent a significant loss of household income when such parents are no longer able to work due to their ill…
389. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has examined the adequacy of income supports available to lone parents with dependent children who are unable to continue working due to a terminal or life-limiting illness; and if he will outline any proposals under consideration to prevent such families from experiencing a sharp reduction in income when transitioning from emp…
392. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a review of the jobseeker's pay-related benefit application of a person (details supplied). [66592/26]
249. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the weekly rate of carer's allowance and carer's benefit to €325 to recognise the additional cost of providing full-time care in a cost of living crisis. [65994/26]
251. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the hardship caused when carers reach pension age and are in receipt of carer’s allowance; if he understands the impact that transitioning to half carers has on families; if he plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66097/26]
266. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the current status of a carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; and whether serious consideration will be given to the application due to the circumstances involved. [66201/26]
267. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the current status of a carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; and whether serious consideration will be given to the application due to the circumstances involved. [66199/26]
759. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a reduction in the weekly overpayment of the pandemic payment will be allowed for a person (details supplied). [64464/26]
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 circumstances; whether ad…
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 carers are struggling t…
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]