Social Welfare Payments

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the maximum rent supplement payment; and whether he will review these maximum limits. [2903/26]

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will introduce a permanent cost-of-disability payment as promised in the programme for Government. [2794/26]

13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for disabled people to compensate them for the cuts imposed on them in the Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/26]

15. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to address the growing gap between social welfare payment rates and the actual cost-of-living, particularly in relation to food, energy, housing, childcare and transport; if he accepts that once-off lump sum payments have failed to provide ongoing protection for low-income households; the plans to introduce …

17. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of measures being taken in his Department in 2026 to support people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2685/26]

20. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new applicants aged 66 years and over who have been approved for the fuel allowance under the revised means thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/26]

21. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to a cost of disability payment given the increasing vulnerability of households with one or more disabled members to poverty; his plans to ameliorate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/26]

24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the rules and regulations governing the approval of rent supplement payments; and his plans to increase the payment. [2902/26]

25. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals in Cork per Intreo area currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1241/26]

28. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2520/26]

31. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; the potential cost to the Exchequer of such a payment; if there is a timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69982/25]

33. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/26]

34. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide any analysis on the inflation of costs associated with energy, housing, and groceries for people dependent on social protection supports for the majority of their income; and the way in which that compares with increases in social protection payments over the past five years. [2755/26]

35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the social protection payment increases that came into effect from 1 January 2026; the level of increased spending overall; the amount of people to benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/26]

36. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to design and deliver a targeted social welfare payment for families experiencing consistent poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1858/26]

37. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide analysis carried out by his Department on the net financial effect on individuals and families when a disabled person turns 16 years of age, given that disabilities payments commence but the domiciliary care allowance ends. [2754/26]

38. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the fuel allowance, per month, for the past three years, specifying which of these applicants are also in receipt of the working family payment or another automatically qualifying social welfare payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/26]

39. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to address delays and barriers experienced by applicants for social protection and disability-related payments in Dublin Bay North, including waiting times for decisions and appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2678/26]

41. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received the newborn baby grant in County Cork in 2025, and so far in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2684/26]

42. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for disability related payments for applicants in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1242/26]

43. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of newborn baby grants made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2592/26]

44. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes he plans to make to the means assessment carried out by his Department in order to remove anomalies in relation to the disability allowance identified in the Programme for Government; if he will provide details of the anomalies currently being observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2744/26]

45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the future plans he and his Department have for persons living with a disability following the outcome of Budget 2026, where there is now evidence that persons with a disability are facing a cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/26]

47. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in County Carlow and in County Kilkenny who received the newborn baby grant in 2025, and so far in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2682/26]

48. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that customers on pre-pay energy arrangements are finding their energy cut-off abruptly for days at a time while applying to the community welfare officer for emergency supplementary payments; if he is aware of the material deprivation these customers are being subjected to; if he has any plans to implement a system…