605. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that people who suffer the loss of a second spouse or civil partner may access their original survivor's pension or rate of pension pursuant to section 124(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; if he is aware that the original policy rationale behind this provision was to ensure that the "pension position of these people wi…
Topics / State Pensions
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsState Pensions
158 questions from 64 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 21 October 2026.
158
questions
157 written, 1 oral
64
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
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
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 11 |
| March 2025 | 3 |
| April 2025 | 9 |
| May 2025 | 17 |
| June 2025 | 8 |
| July 2025 | 11 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 22 |
| October 2025 | 9 |
| November 2025 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 9 |
| January 2026 | 5 |
| February 2026 | 9 |
| March 2026 | 4 |
| April 2026 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 4 |
| June 2026 | 1 |
| July 2026 | 8 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 |
| October 2026 | 8 |
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.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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14
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10
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10
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9
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9
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6
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4
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4
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
606. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that divorced and separated people whose former partner dies after the enactment of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 (as currently drafted) will no longer have an entitlement to a survivor's pension; if his Department has undertaken any risk assessment or poverty-proofing process concerning the proposals to re…
607. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has undertaken any human rights and equality impact assessment concerning the proposals to reduce the social welfare entitlements of divorced and separated people whose former partner has died in the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025; if he is aware that undertaking such an assessment is consistent with his Depa…
608. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who were divorced or separated from their former spouse or civil partner at the time of their death who then began receiving a widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension in each of the years 2019 to 2024; the number of those claims included an increase in respect of a qualified child or children; the t…
609. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who suffered a second bereavement and who re-commenced receipt of a widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension (or higher rate of pension) pursuant to section 124(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in each of the years 2019 to 2024; the number of those claims included an increase in respec…
610. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any estimates or projections available to his Department concerning the annual cost to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of expanding the scope of widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension schemes to include qualified cohabitants (as per the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) …
611. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any estimates or projections available to his Department concerning the annual savings to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of reducing the scope of widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension schemes to exclude divorced people, separated people and people who have suffered a second bere…
633. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of increasing State pension payments by €1. [25923/25]
125. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection his progress to date in the planned modifications or changes to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes to qualify for a State pension, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [21725/25]
131. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that ongoing pension reviews of the over 80’s are causing great anxiety and distress; if he will act to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/25]
1398. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to review a pension application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18869/25]
1432. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence regarding State pension category (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/25]
1459. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection the current policy with respect to the cessation of the widows or widowers contributory pension when an individual in receipt of the widows or widowers contributory pension reaches 66 years of age and qualifies for their own State pension; whether an individual must transfer solely to the contributory State pension; and if he will make a statement on t…
1463. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the substantial reduction in income for some recipients of the widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s contributory pension when they reach the age of 66 and transition to the State pension and the hardship incurred as a result; if he is aware that this disproportionately affects women; if he will review this policy with a vie…
1471. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the policy of a person’s entitlement to the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension at the age of 66 given issues that have been raised due to the loss of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20829/25]
1472. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Ireland under the EU temporary protection directive that were paid the non contributory State pension in each of the past three years; the number of beneficiaries of the EU temporary protection directive that are currently being paid the non contributory State pension; if a means test has been applied to beneficiaries of the EU …
668. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of women denied the non-contributory State pension due to their husband's contributory pension through his employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/25]
669. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the State to allow all women to qualify for the non contributory State Pension, regardless of their husband's pensions or earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16827/25]
504. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the annual cost of disability support payment to persons in receipt of the State pension; the form this consideration has taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/25]
512. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person (details supplied) is entitled to back-dated arrears to 2017 after being awarded a contributory State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13631/25]
352. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the issuing of the home caring periods for a person (details supplied), if there is adequate contributions for a State pension (contributory) to be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13022/25]
1042. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he will support this query; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11902/25]
104. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the draft Bill will be finalised to advance the entitlement of unmarried cohabitants to the widows, widowers or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/25]
140. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to examine what modifications or changes may be made to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes to qualify for a State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8253/25]
299. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a pro-rata contributory State pension submitted by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/25]