Social Welfare Schemes

489. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number approved and refused for each stage; and the percentage of refusals per stage, in tabular form. [13488/25]

490. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the person that made the decision to refuse a high percentage of applications under stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the specific criteria used to determine eligibility; and the rationale behind the widespread rejections. [13489/25]

491. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants that requested a review after being denied assistance under stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number of reviews that resulted in a decision being overturned; and the criteria applied in the review process. [13490/25]

492. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications in the constituency Galway east received for stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number approved and refused for each stage; and the percentage of refusals per stage, in tabular form. [13491/25]

493. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a standardised rejection letter was issued to many applicants in the constituency Galway east under stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme; whether each application was individually assessed before refusal; and the number of applicants in the constituency Galway east denied assistance. [13492/25]

494. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of the reasons applications were refused under stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn, including the number and percentage of refusals attributed to each reason, in tabular form. [13493/25]

495. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of the reasons applications in the constituency Galway east were refused under stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn, including the number and percentage of refusals attributed to each reason, in tabular form. [13494/25]

496. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to determine the cut-off date for stage 1 applications under the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; to provide the rationale for setting 19 February 2025 as the deadline, given that hardship can extend beyond the immediate aftermath of a storm; to confirm where this cut-off date was advertised; a…

497. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way his Department determines which costs are reasonably expected to be covered by insurance policies under stages 1, 2, and 3 of the humanitarian assistance scheme; and if r his Department will review cases where applicants were denied assistance due to insurance expectations but were unable to claim from their insurers. [13496…

498. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for humanitarian assistance scheme stage 1, 2, or 3 have changed since the scheme was initially introduced following storm Éowyn; if so, the specific changes, including when each change was made; and the timeline of all adjustments to the scheme’s eligibility criteria with the reasoning behind each change…

500. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time per application under stages one, two and three of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the average time from approval to payment being issued; and average time to process an application, in tabular form. [13515/25]

501. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for stages one, two and three of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number approved and refused for each stage; and the percentage of refusals per stage, in tabular form. [13516/25]

502. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the person or body who made the decision to refuse a high percentage of applications under stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the criteria used to determine eligibility; and the reason behind the widespread rejections. [13517/25]

503. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants that requested a review after being denied assistance under stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number of these reviews that resulted in a decision being overturned; and the criteria applied in the review process. [13518/25]

504. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of the reasons applications were refused under stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number and percentage of refusals attributed to each reason, in tabular form. [13521/25]

505. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of the reasons applications in Galway east were refused under stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the number and percentage of refusals attributed to each reason, in tabular form. [13522/25]

506. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used to determine the cutoff date for stage one applications under the humanitarian assistance scheme following storm Éowyn; the reasoning for setting 19 February 2025 as the deadline; to confirm where this cutoff date was advertised; and when and the way applicants were informed of this deadline. [13523/25]

507. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which costs are determined "reasonably expected to be covered by insurance policies" under stages one, two and three of the humanitarian assistance scheme; if he will review cases where applicants were denied assistance due to insurance expectations but were unable to claim from their insurers. [13524/25]

508. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for humanitarian assistance scheme stages one, two and three have changed since the scheme was introduced following storm Éowyn; if so, the specific changes; when each change was made; the timeline of all adjustments to the scheme’s eligibility criteria; and the reasoning behind each change. [13525/25]

521. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications per county for stage 1 of the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Éowyn that were submitted before the application deadline of 19 February 2025; and the number of these applications that were refused, in tabular form. [13961/25]

522. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received from each county, or social welfare district, for the humanitarian assistance scheme stage 1 in each week since 24 January 2025; the number in each county, or social welfare district, that have been refused payment; the number in each county, or social welfare district, for which payment has issued…

524. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the decision to close HAS1 applications was made, and when this decision was notified to those accepting and processing applications; where and when this decision was notified to the public; where people can now send these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14043/25]

539. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his decision to close stage 1 of the HAS following storm Éowyn on 19 February 2025 was not announced or publicised, informing people of the deadline; and if applications that have been refused on this basis will be reviewed in light of this. [14228/25]

1010. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans on including varifocals in the optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/25]

1028. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have received the HAP under Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the emergency humanitarian assistance scheme operated by his Department from 31 January 2025; the average payment; the average length of time before people had to wait for payment; the number of outstanding applications to date; if additional resources will …