Social Welfare Rates

1628. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the weekly foster care allowance by €1. [43102/26]

736. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2027 if the living alone allowance increased to €28.50 per week. [38792/26]

584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has undertaken any comparative analysis between increases in Fuel Allowance and the static electricity/gas allowance, including whether one scheme is intended to compensate for the other; and if he will provide details. [33025/26]

585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether an impact assessment has been conducted on recipients of the Household Benefits Package who do not qualify for Fuel Allowance, and the extent to which these households may face a gap in energy support. [33026/26]

19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will equalise rates of jobseeker's allowance for young people so that age is no longer a factor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31415/26]

343. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection when the core child benefit rate was last increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31513/26]

344. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to increasing the core child benefit rate, which remains at €140 per month, noting that other child-related supports were enhanced in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31514/26]

352. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review and increase the current €30 per week initial means disregard applied to the State pension (non-contributory), for those in receipt of part of an occupational pension, in light of rising living costs and the impact on low-income older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31555/26]

353. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will undertake a review of the means assessment applied to recipients of the State pension (non-contributory) who also receive an occupational pension, with particular consideration of assessing 50% of that income to ensure a fairer and more proportionate system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31556/26]

167. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17644/26]

179. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review HAP limits for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/26]

257. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an increase to housing assistance payment rent limits is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/26]

578. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/26]

3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to equalise the youth jobseeker’s rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/26]

725. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the research his Department has carried out in respect of assessing the adequacy of social protection payments; the comparative research that has been carried out; the differential calculations used to determine that €325 if the minimum required for artists to survive on the basic income, as against claimants in receipt of the disabi…

692. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will re-examine the national guidelines in relation to exceptional needs payments for household furnishings, appliances and equipment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/26]

1543. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to parliamentary question No. 179 of 11 June 2025, when the review of means testing in the social protection system will be completed; if he now intends to amend the current weekly means limit for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension and to increasing the current means limit of €100 …

319. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned that the youth unemployment rate of 13.4% is almost treble the national unemployment rate of 4.9%; if he will consider introducing new programmes or amending existing programmes to assist young people into work; if he is satisfied with uptake of the work placement experience scheme in light of these figures; i…

244. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give due consideration to changing the current discriminatory practice which grants a half rate of carer’s allowance to recipients of maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70681/25]

654. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection his position on benchmarking social welfare rates against average earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61042/25]

668. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the significant disparity between the rate of illness benefit, currently €244 per week, and the rate of jobseeker's benefit which can be up to €450 per week; and if consideration will be being given to reviewing the illness benefit payment rate to ensure parity and adequate income support for persons who are unable …

688. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the carers allowance by two percent; in line with inflation; ten percent; 20 percent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62223/25]

388. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2026 if the living alone allowance increased to €26 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53848/25]

328. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased in budget 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52686/25]

99. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of jobseekers’ payment claimants that have had reduced rates applied to them in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; the amount by which jobseekers’ payments have been reduced in total as a result, for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52261/25]