Topics / Social Welfare Schemes

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Schemes

492 questions from 102 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 21 October 2026.

492
questions
483 written, 9 oral
102
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
6
departments asked

Questions per month

The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.

Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
MonthQuestions
January 20250
February 202530
March 202544
April 202520
May 202555
June 202512
July 202544
August 20250
September 202556
October 20257
November 202514
December 20254
January 202644
February 202623
March 202633
April 202634
May 20267
June 202641
July 20264
August 20260
September 202613
October 20267

Who asks, by party

The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.

  • 100% RDR1 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú14 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil107 from 28 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael77 from 16 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party4 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent26 from 6 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland19 from 3 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party43 from 7 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity12 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin165 from 27 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 67
  2. 23
  3. 21
  4. 18
  5. 16
  6. 15
  7. 12
  8. 11

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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; and when and the way …
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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. [13496/25]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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. [13497/25]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Albert Dolan Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Sorca Clarke Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Matt Carthy Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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; and the average pa…
Claire Kerrane Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Mairéad Farrell Written 25 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Louise O'Reilly Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
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]
Carol Nolan Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
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 be allocated given t…
Pat Buckley Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
1034. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the introduction of a certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11681/25]
Michael Fitzmaurice Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
1044. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the amount paid under the HAS1 and HAS2 humanitarian aid scheme due to storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11941/25]
Michael Fitzmaurice Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
1045. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether on 7 March 2025 an email went from the Department of Social Protection to all Social Welfare offices advising them to shred all applications not yet filed for the humanitarian aid HAS1 and HAS2 due to storm Éowyn; the number of applications processed and paid under HAS 1 and HAS 2; the number of people who have been refused; …
Martin Kenny Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
1048. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will reconsider the refusal of the humanitarian assistance scheme payment to a person (details supplied). [12039/25]
Louis O'Hara Written 19 Mar 2025 · to Social
1050. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection if direction has been given to staff in his Department to refuse humanitarian assistance scheme applications based on the cost of food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12067/25]