Social Welfare Schemes

290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an urgent needs payment in Cork. [54169/26]

291. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [54170/26]

292. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an additional needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54171/26]

440. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been penalised by the rules adopted; and if he will consider amending current legislation to ensure early retirees can also access the treatment benefit scheme. [52659/26]

536. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 624 of 16 June 2026, to state how the 5,364 EU/EEA nationals and 2,606 nationals from other countries are entitled to disability allowance; are entitled to have been on it continuously for over five years; which such individuals are the subject of restrictions on their right to reside in Ireland,…

545. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disability allowance recipients currently subject to periodic entitlement reviews; the criteria used to determine the frequency of such reviews; whether consideration is given to the long-term or permanent nature of a person's medical condition when scheduling reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49…

546. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of concerns among families of individuals with severe and enduring mental health conditions regarding repeated disability allowance reviews; whether his Department will examine ways to reduce the administrative burden on claimants whose conditions are unlikely to improve; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

547. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact that repeated disability allowance reviews can have on claimants with severe mental health conditions and their carers; whether consideration is being given to introducing longer review periods for such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49679/26]

548. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a telephone allowance case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49754/26]

550. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the attached submission on the wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49763/26]

249. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated full year cost if the guide dog allowance increased to €1,000 based on 2025 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48461/26]

349. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection when the comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system, committed to in the Programme for Government, will be completed and published; whether specific reforms to income disregards, capital assessments and cliff edges are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48818/26]

5. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to change the fuel allowance thresholds for those over the age of 66 that are a single income household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46491/26]

12. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether an examination of improvements to key ancillary benefits such as the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance to support older and vulnerable groups has occurred as per the programme for Government; if not, when this examination will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

83. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children who will benefit from the extension of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to include children aged two and three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46033/26]

88. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance scheme in circumstances where many older persons living on modest fixed incomes marginally exceed the current means thresholds but remain at risk of fuel poverty, particularly persons aged over 80 and 90 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

101. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the fuel allowance eligibility criteria in cases where a pensioner is deemed ineligible due to a non-dependent adult child residing in the household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44574/26]

344. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if capital allowances are deducted from self-employed income for the carer's allowance means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46502/26]

347. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of expanding Catherine’s Law to include receipt of the basic income for the arts among scholarships exempt from means-testing for disability allowance and the blind pension; and the analysis that has been conducted within his Department or in consultation with the Department for Culture, Communications…

348. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the fuel allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46587/26]

349. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the disability allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46588/26]

350. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the domiciliary care allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46589/26]

351. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the jobseekers allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46590/26]

352. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the jobseekers transitional payment threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46591/26]

353. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the farm assist threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46592/26]