Written answers
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Departmental Policies
1932. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the policy and regulations governing the financial support offered to applicants under the HAS 2 and HAS 3 will be... - Redundancy Payments
1933. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of times the Government provided statutory redundancies for businesses that could not afford it; the number of... - Disability Issues
1934. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions his Department has carried out following the Cost of Disability-Strategic Focus Network Summit; and if he will... - School Meals Programme
1935. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider using existing meals-on-wheels services provided through local community based organisations in the... - Departmental Policies
1936. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to introducing a dedicated re-training and education support scheme for people who have spent... - International Protection
1937. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection who received employment... - Maternity Leave
1939. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department has examined the feasibility of requiring employers to provide enhanced maternity leave pay above the... - Social Welfare Schemes
1940. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consideration that has been given to expanding the range of courses eligible for grant support for participants in... - Construction Industry
1941. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the work being done to resolve the problem of bogus self-employment in the building sector;... - Social Welfare Application Forms
1942. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare claims currently awaiting a decision, in each scheme in County Wexford; the average waiting... - Social Welfare Payments
1943. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied) regarding a jobseeker's claim; and if he will make a statement on the... - State Pensions
1944. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the minimum period of time that land has to be transferred to a family member before a pensioner who is retired applies for... - Social Welfare Schemes
1945. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will undertake a review of the €20,000 PhD stipend disregard for recipients of disability allowance and blind... - Departmental Policies
1949. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the introduction of a cost of disability payment; and to provide details on same. [55231/26] - Social Welfare Payments
1950. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to urgently examine and allow a DCA payment in the case of a person (details supplied) [55232/26] - Programme for Government
1951. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide a report on the progress made implementing the Programme for Government commitments within his remit... - Social Welfare Payments
1956. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55487/26] - Departmental Expenditure
1957. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the efficiency and reform proposals that his Department has submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure,... - Departmental Bodies
1958. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the most up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under his Department, in tabular form.... - State Pensions
1959. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2027 if the maximum rate of State pension (contributory) increased by €18 per week. [55621/26] - Departmental Staff
1960. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of external recruitment campaigns for posts at the grade of higher executive officer within his Department that... - Paternity Leave
1961. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the campaign calling for 8 weeks of paid paternity leave to be provided for in Ireland... - Community Employment Schemes
1966. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department records the outcome of each referral made to a Community Employment vacancy, including whether the... - Artificial Intelligence
1967. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and proportion of staff who have completed AI-related training programmes since January 2024; the levels of... - Social Welfare Schemes
1968. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, illness benefit and partial capacity benefit... - Departmental Programmes
1972. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will establish a unit within his Department to deal specifically with disability and self-employment; and if he will... - Social Welfare Schemes
1973. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for jobseeker’s benefit that were refused in each of the first six months of 2026, per... - Social Welfare Application Forms
1980. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; including arrears; and if... - Community Employment Schemes
1981. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons employed under a CE scheme in County Westmeath as of 1 July 2024, 1 July 2025 and 1 July 2026, in... - Social Welfare Offices
1982. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of WTE staff by grade based at Ennis INTREO Office as of 17 July 2026; if he will provide the same figures as of... - Programme for Government
1983. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress and latest engagements he has had with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality on the Programme for... - Social Welfare Appeals
1984. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will investigate the assessment of the disability allowance... - Social Welfare Rates
1985. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the child support payment by €10, €12 or €14 for children under 12,... - Community Welfare Services
2003. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of every additional ten community welfare officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/26] - Social Welfare Rates
2004. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing child benefit by €20 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56694/26] - Social Welfare Code
2005. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a €55 per week cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the... - Social Welfare Schemes
2006. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the current administration of the disability allowance scheme sufficiently encourages recipients to participate in... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2007. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) regarding correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the... - Social Welfare Payments
2008. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider the way in which greater support can be provided to persons acting as a carer for a family member while also... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2009. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on persons in receipt of bereaved partner's pension payments not being eligible for illness benefit; and if he... - State Pensions
2010. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine pension entitlements in respect of a couple (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Social Welfare Payments
2011. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to issue a jobseeker's allowance payment and all arrears due to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement... - Departmental Properties
2013. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of publicly owned buildings that were vacant on the latest date available, broken down by purpose and-or last... - Social Welfare Payments
2014. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated number of pensioner households in County Kerry in receipt of fuel allowance; the number refused fuel allowance... - Money Advice and Budgeting Service
2015. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of families/individuals that MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) has assisted in County Kerry during the... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2016. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider a case for assistance under treatment benefit for a person (details supplied); his views on whether the... - Job Losses
2020. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available for persons at risk of job loss at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2021. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if disability allowance application will be approved for a person (details supplied). [57197/26] - Public Procurement Contracts
2022. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total value of non-compliant public procurement identified within his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his... - Artificial Intelligence
2023. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the usage of artificial intelligence within his Department; the categories of usage; the usage of artificial intelligence... - Social Welfare Schemes
2024. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of people who have availed of parent's benefit each year since 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a... - Pension Provisions
2036. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of people now enrolled in auto enrolment, by county; the total value of contributions collected to date;... - Social Welfare Rates
2038. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current weekly payment rate for the State pension, carer’s allowance, disability allowance and jobseekers... - Departmental Reviews
2039. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to conduct a review of maternity benefit (details supplied); if any consideration is being given to an... - Civil Registration Service
2040. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a death, birth or marriage certificate can be paid for with cash or card; and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Social Welfare Schemes
2042. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of extending the six-week continuation period for social welfare payments to 12 weeks; and if he will make a... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2043. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a social welfare payment despite being unemployed for the summer due... - Departmental Consultations
2044. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the proposed timeline for the publication of the public consultation on pay-related parent's leave; and if he will make a... - Social Welfare Schemes
2046. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider changing the mean assessment figure for the blind pension in Budget 2027 in line with the means... - Social Welfare Payments
2047. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether consideration can be given to a backdated payment of carer's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a... - Social Welfare Schemes
2048. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on the merits of eliminating the means test for the carer’s allowance; the research his Department has... - Social Welfare Code
2050. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of an emergency once off disability payment of €400, €450 and €500 for... - State Pensions
2053. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are circumstances that contributions paid after a person is over 66, still in employment can be used so those... - Social Welfare Schemes
2054. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the assistance available to people where their gas or oil boiler breaks down, and there is no grant support available from... - State Pensions
2055. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of complaints, reviews or representations received by his Department during the past ten years from persons who... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2076. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a disability allowance application was denied (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Social Welfare Payments
2077. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether consideration is being given to extending the fuel allowance season beyond the measures announced for Spring 2026 in... - Social Welfare Benefits
2078. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department has examined the adequacy of maternity benefit and paid parental leave supports available to working... - Departmental Policies
2079. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the contribution made by grandparents and extended family members in supporting... - Employment Schemes
2080. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who is referred to an organisation (details supplied), may request to be returned to Intreo; and the way they... - Departmental Contracts
2081. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the contract his Department with an organisation (details supplied) concludes; and if he intends to renew this... - EU Presidency
2083. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of his Department’s budget for the EU Presidency; the details of any planned gifts... - Departmental Data
2084. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of all gifts received in his capacity as Minister; the nature of these gifts and potential... - Artificial Intelligence
2086. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an overview of the AI policy in place within his Department; if AI has been incorporated into any work streams;... - Ministerial Communications
2087. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he uses personal emails for Government business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58686/26] - Social Welfare Schemes
2090. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current processing timeframes for new applications for disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the... - Social Welfare Appeals
2095. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting timeframes for a decision to be made on an appeal by the social welfare appeals office; and if he will... - State Pensions
2096. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if additional measures are under consideration to support people in receipt of a pension in rural areas such as Galway East... - Social Welfare Schemes
2097. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to recipients of carer's allowance that may engage in employment or self-employment for up... - Departmental Correspondence
2107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the process by which his Department contacts the British Work and Pensions Department seeking contribution... - Employment Data
2108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the nature and extent of engagement his Department has had with other Government agencies and Departments in... - Social Welfare Schemes
2109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the work and access scheme; the numbers that are using it; and his plans to increase this... - Employment Schemes
2111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has plans for his Department and Intreo staff to engage with employers and those with disabilities to facilitate a... - Social Welfare Appeals
2112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline the current waiting times at the Appeals Office; and if additional resources will be allocated to it; and... - Social Welfare Payments
2113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has plans to improve processing times for those who do not have year-long contracts and must avail of social... - Departmental Policies
2114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline the plans to reduce and remove the means test for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Social Welfare Eligibility
2115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current application status of a person (details supplied) who submitted their application online and submitted... - Departmental Funding
2116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the 100 non-governmental organisations that received the highest levels of public funding in the most recent year for which...
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