Social Welfare Schemes

236. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 4 March 2026, the amount of money that will be recouped in tax from the €1.4billion paid out to carers by the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32971/26]

577. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any allowances, other than the carer's allowance, which require the recipient to work at least 35 hours per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32969/26]

11. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying carers who care for two or more people, based on a full carer’s allowance in respect of each person, not a half-rate for a second person. [31340/26]

15. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for disability allowance and carer’s allowance applications in Galway east; the steps being taken to address delays being experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31110/26]

23. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans to provide an online application process for further social welfare schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31105/26]

26. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people expected to receive the carer's support grant this year. [31086/26]

27. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce a scheme to provide bikes free of charge for people in receipt of social protection payments and State pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31413/26]

28. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications received, approved and refused in Kildare north in the past three years; the number subsequently approved on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31274/26]

35. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection in light of Louth County Council’s decision to pause housing grant applications from 1 May 2026, whether there is a Department of Social Protection scheme available for people whose oil or gas boilers have irretrievably broken, where they cannot afford to pay for a retrofit through SEAI, and do not have the means to pay for a new …

36. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on phasing out the means test for the carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31305/26]

37. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, consideration is being given to a further extension of the fuel allowance season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31311/26]

39. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to make any changes to the work and access scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31084/26]

41. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the relevant years to be different in jobseeker's benefit (employed) and jobseeker's benefit (self-employed) where JSB for employees are considered on 12 months and self-employed are considered on two years; the mechanisms there are to ensure that a person who sets up a business that closes in less than two years…

43. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans to review the qualifying criteria for the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31081/26]

46. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently supported under the work and access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31083/26]

48. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit to €325 a week; the full-year cost of increasing the monthly domiciliary care allowance to €400; and the full-year cost of increasing the annual carer support grant to €2,150. [31339/26]

50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if assistance is available under the additional needs payments scheme to assist persons to meet essential household costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31236/26]

54. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the number of families who have availed of the newborn baby grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31314/26]

55. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanisms that will be in place to ensure that everyone that is entitled to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance is made aware of this payment in advance of the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29991/26]

56. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration could be given to a compassionate approach to the reduction of entitlements for a carer following the death of a person. [31075/26]

58. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider expanding the free travel scheme to more recipients in light of the fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31414/26]

64. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are being explored to ensure that his Departmental budget allocated for the fuel allowance scheme will be sufficient to provide for those in need next winter, in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31282/26]

69. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is concerned about undue delays in processing invalidity pensions, as in the case of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that applicants suffering from health issues are not placed under further distress as a result of difficulties accessing their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the mat…

70. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people that have benefitted from the extension of the fuel allowance this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31092/26]

76. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans to further extend the fuel allowance season this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31093/26]