Social Welfare Schemes

1334. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of a case of an individual who has not been awarded the bereaved partner’s (contributory) pension and who believes this to be an error (details supplied); if he will instruct his officials to re-engage with the individual concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44738/25]

1336. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address as a matter of priority and end the discrimination that currently exists in regard to the fuel allowance payment in respect of senior citizens (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44926/25]

1337. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently investigate a disability allowance application (details supplied); the reason this person is being deprived of their payment; if the information submitted will be accepted and payment issued to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44927/25]

1338. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently review and disability allowance case of a person (details supplied) and take all circumstances into consideration by reinstating the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44931/25]

1339. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarification in relation to back-to-school allowance which does not appear to encompass all children for whom foster care allowance as the understanding is that it is means-tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44949/25]

1340. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that means-testing, actual or prospective of the back-to-school allowance is misaligned (details supplied). [44950/25]

1342. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a second carers allowance application for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44969/25]

1343. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide an additional level of child benefit to a remaining parent in circumstances where the other parent has passed away; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44984/25]

1345. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the PRSI threshold for employers in line with a minimum wage increase of €1.35; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45026/25]

1346. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if the fuel allowance thresholds will be increased for those in receipt of the State Pension contributory and the State Pension non-contributory in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45032/25]

1350. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the disparity whereby from budget 2026 the flat rate maternity benefit of €289 per week will be lower than the new jobseeker’s pay related benefit, which can provide up to 60% of previous earnings; if he will introduce a pay-related maternity benefit to ensure fairness, gender equality, and protect women’s pension…

1352. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the back-to-school allowance to all children in State care by removing means testing for foster families, including the requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, in recognition of children's rights under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, and …

1354. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an estimate of the cost of increasing the capital disregard for the jobseeker’s allowance means test from €20,000 to €30,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45330/25]

1355. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline whether any additional supports are currently available to parents who give birth to twins, or other multiple births; if there are any plans to expand these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45402/25]

1356. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider expanding child benefit for parents who give birth to twins or other multiple births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45404/25]

1358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will update the reference baskets used for means tests and payments to reflect higher grocery inflation given headline CPI of 1.7% year-on-year but food inflation of 4.7% in July 2025; and if not, the reason. [45469/25]

1360. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the current processing times for disability allowance, carer's allowance and social welfare appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45494/25]

1361. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the commencement date for the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme in view of previous deferrals; and if he will clarify whether it remains the case that the scheme will begin on 1 January 2026. [45520/25]

1364. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarity the entitlements of a widow to her husband’s accumulated contributions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45583/25]

1370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will consider moving the payment of the back-to-school allowance to an earlier point in the school year (details supplied). [45653/25]

1383. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the increase in income disregards for carer's allowance as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46206/25]

1385. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing jobseeker’s transitional payment by €1. [46301/25]

1386. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the income disregard for jobseekers transitional payment by 10%. [46302/25]

1387. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the income disregard for working family payment by 10%. [46303/25]

1388. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of introducing a part-time rate of job seekers for self employed making less than a 40 hour week at the current minimum wage. [46304/25]