Social Welfare Benefits

711. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the income thresholds for disability allowance, with a view to ensuring that people with disabilities are not discouraged from taking up part-time or flexible employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14574/26]

724. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the household benefits package, by county, over the past five years. [15011/26]

730. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to returning emigrants who do not meet the criteria for habitual residence condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15173/26]

206. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the adequacy of existing supports for single mothers in the weeks and months after giving birth; if any review of the State support structures can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12937/26]

207. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the adequacy of support services available to single mothers compared with those for two-parent families, particularly during pregnancy and the early months of their child's life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12941/26]

211. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Social Protection for assistance related to a welfare application (details supplied). [13165/26]

838. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered expanding the domiciliary care allowance payment to children up to the age of 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11628/26]

867. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to examine improvements to key ancillary benefits, such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance, to support vulnerable groups. [12594/26]

868. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will conduct a review of the means test disregards for farm assist, with a view to better rewarding farmers who avail of the scheme for enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/26]

869. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken on the Government commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit; a timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12702/26]

870. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 under the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12734/26]

871. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has fully processed and paid out in 2026 under the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12735/26]

872. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 and have not yet been paid out under the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12736/26]

873. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of applications that his Department has received in 2026 but were rejected under the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12737/26]

874. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the total amount paid out to date in 2026 under the emergency response payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/26]

211. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will make the carer's allowance and carer's benefit tax exempt and non-means-tested, the same as other social welfare supports including disability allowance, jobseeker's allowance, domiciliary care allowance and child benefit, in recognition of carers saving the State over €20 billion each year through their unpaid care; a…

397. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will confirm that carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit are treated as taxable income for income tax purposes; to clarify under which tax codes or Revenue rules this treatment is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9336/26]

743. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the homeowner's once-off payment will be open for applications this year (details supplied). [9356/26]

292. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason pensions and social welfare payments cannot be paid together or at the same time, with the exception of carers allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9096/26]

720. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1545 of 13 January 2026, the position regarding a timeline for the phasing out of the means test for carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/26]

721. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1545 of 13 January 2026, the approximate financial cost to the state of removing the means test for carers allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/26]

727. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to carry out a full review of the partial capacity benefit claim of a person (details supplied). [8079/26]

741. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that despite paying PRSI at the appropriate rate, widows in receipt of the widow and bereaved partners pension are not eligible for illness benefit; if he has any intention of changing this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8558/26]

324. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of refusal for first-time applicants for the domiciliary care allowance for each of the years between 2019 to 2025. [7187/26]

325. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of refusal of appeals by first-time applicants for the domiciliary care allowance for each of the years between 2019 to 2025. [7188/26]