1001. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will make provision for widows/widowers to avail of free travel at 60 years of age regardless of whether their deceased spouse had free travel or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/25]
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
1008. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to reinstate a grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/25]
1015. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for working family payment (details supplied) that was submitted in November 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11355/25]
1019. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have availed of the free travel pass for those medically unfit to drive, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11509/25]
1026. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to replace jobseeker’s assistance; what consultations have been held on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/25]
1030. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the carer’s allowance who have applied for the fuel allowance; and of these, the number of applications who have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/25]
1040. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to deliver child benefit to mothers from the tenth week of pregnancy; and if he will consider the introduction of such a payment to help mothers with the cost of preparing for the arrival of children. [11888/25]
1047. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine subsidies for the elderly (details supplied) who cannot claim them because their children are still living at home due to the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11988/25]
1056. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individual domiciliary care allowance applications or social welfare appeals relating to domiciliary care allowance applications where the Minister or Department has either directly or indirectly received solicitor letters pertaining to that individual application or appeal for each year between 2020 and to date in 2025, in tabular fo…
1064. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department intends to restore child benefit for children in full-time third level education beyond 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/25]
121. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection what the new pay-related jobseeker’s benefit will mean for workers (details supplied) who sign on for jobseeker’s benefit during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10034/25]
89. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide better support to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8382/25]
95. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for phasing out the means test for the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8262/25]
97. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to parents in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/25]
100. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have been made to parents in Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8266/25]
103. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the newborn baby grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/25]
111. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have now been made to parents in Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8129/25]
122. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications in total for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) made in 2024; the number granted at first instance; the number granted at appeal; if he is satisfied with the criteria used for determining the grant of DCA at first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/25]
128. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a timeline for the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment to “Explore a targeted Child Benefit Payment”; his views on whether this would result in eligible families getting additional financial support or would the new payment simply replace the working family payment and the child support payment; and if he will make …
139. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection how he plans to strengthen the safety net for our older citizens, improving their quality of life and promoting dignity and independence in later years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7938/25]
144. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to a system whereby those who on carer’s allowance, and who are working, are able to provide information on their working hours on a more regular basis to the Department avoiding unintentional accrued debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6983/25]
145. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for enhancing the supports available to carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8130/25]
154. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants that have now been made to parents in Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8252/25]
296. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8658/25]
300. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) that is currently in receipt of illness benefit should apply for a disability allowance or an invalidity pension when her current benefit expires in September 2025, in view of the fact that her condition is terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8663/25]