122. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding new legislation being implemented following the Supreme Court decision in the O'Meara case, whether the definition of a cohabiting couple will be changed from that defined in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, or if the definition can be re-examined to be more inclusive; whether it will al…
Topics / Social Welfare Eligibility
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsSocial Welfare Eligibility
524 questions from 120 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 21 October 2026.
524
questions
517 written, 7 oral
120
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
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 | 11 |
| February 2025 | 57 |
| March 2025 | 25 |
| April 2025 | 16 |
| May 2025 | 36 |
| June 2025 | 17 |
| July 2025 | 45 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 37 |
| October 2025 | 32 |
| November 2025 | 28 |
| December 2025 | 9 |
| January 2026 | 23 |
| February 2026 | 40 |
| March 2026 | 14 |
| April 2026 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 40 |
| June 2026 | 42 |
| July 2026 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 31 |
| October 2026 | 8 |
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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22
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18
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16
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15
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15
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14
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13
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12
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
788. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to amend the fuel allowance eligibility criteria for recipients over 66 years in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/25]
795. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the current status of a disability allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be reached in this case; if serious consideration would be given to granting them this allowance due to their circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23532/25]
798. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any plan to implement recommendation No. 12 from the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, Report on Means Testing in the Social Welfare System in Ireland, October 2024 (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23744/25]
801. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the roadmap for phasing out the carer's allowance means test, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23772/25]
816. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase the means test allowance for single people over 70 years to qualify for fuel allowance in line with couples (details supplied); if he will take into consideration that it is the same cost to heat a house for a single person as it is for a couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23977/25]
818. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for phasing out the means test relating to the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24011/25]
821. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will consider exempting funds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24220/25]
831. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance his Department can offer to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/25]
100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for disability allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20504/25]
110. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact the programme for Government commitment to allow parents aged over 66 receiving the State pension, who are caring for a child with a lifelong disability, to retain a full-rate carer's allowance discriminates against other carers, such as those caring for a spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has plans to alter, abolish or change the means test on the carer's allowance; and if so, the date upon which these changes will come into effect. [20967/25]
120. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific timeline for the removal of the means test for carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; if he intends to significantly increase the income disregard in Budget 2026, as an important first step. [20776/25]
142. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for the carers allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20783/25]
143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in removing the means test for carer’s allowance; if a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/25]
1422. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of the social welfare entitlements of a person (details supplied) will take place. [19512/25]
1427. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and provide support for this person to access their full entitlements to social welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/25]
1439. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be reconsidered for qualification for half carer’s allowance. [19911/25]
1446. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made for a humanitarian assistance scheme application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal whose electricity supply was out following storm Éowyn [20175/25]
1450. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined. [20319/25]
1479. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/25]
1480. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application under the humanitarian assistance scheme for a person (details supplied) who was recently discharged from hospital on the day of a major storm event and required the urgent use of a generator to power medical equipment and heating; if he will take into account the individual’s low income, disability status, and the …
1481. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on an application under the humanitarian assistance scheme for a person (details supplied) who has not received any response from his Department following their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21156/25]
1482. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on an application under the humanitarian assistance scheme for a person (details supplied) who has not received any response from the Department following their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21157/25]
1483. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on an application under the humanitarian assistance scheme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21159/25]