Parliamentary questions

School Accommodation Provision

Darragh O'Brien

215. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the necessary school accommodation and resources to meet the additional demand for primary school places in Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8537/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Robert Troy

216. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status regarding progress being made on the following schools (details supplied). [8541/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Murphy

217. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new education campus in Maynooth; if he or his officials have evaluated the tender report; when construction will begin; the proposed duration of construction works to reach completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8557/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Niamh Smyth

218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the assessment process for an application for a school (details supplied) will be complete; when moneys are likely to be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8564/17]

Third Level Admissions Assistance

Fiona O'Loughlin

219. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will facilitate greater access to third level education for young asylum seekers as recommended in the McMahon report in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8566/17]

Third Level Admissions Assistance

Fiona O'Loughlin

220. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will offer alternative access points for young asylum seekers seeking to access upper level further education and training and local training initiative courses in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8567/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Maureen O'Sullivan

221. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, with regard to the staffing schedules outlined in the DEIS programme, his attention has been drawn to the consequences of applying the pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1 in existing junior DEIS band 1 schools that currently retain additional teaching posts which allow a pupil-teacher ratio of 15:1 in junior classes, a legacy of previous enlightened schemes. [8571/17]

Junior Cycle Reform

Pearse Doherty

222. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to resolve the ongoing dispute between his Department and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland on changes to the revised junior certificate English curriculum; if his attention has been drawn to concerns from schools that the impasse may prevent students from completing the classroom based assessment and assessment task portion of the examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8575/17]

Educational Disadvantage

Michael Healy-Rae

223. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter with regard to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry that was not included in the DEIS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8576/17]

Mental Health Services Provision

Niamh Smyth

224. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra supports that are being put into schools to deal with an issue (details supplied); if he has met with the Minister for Health on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8579/17]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Kevin O'Keeffe

225. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being imposed on students that apply for a higher education grant through SUSI, whereby they are only granted an adjacent rate of grant due to the fact that the distance calculations used use road routes which are the shortest in distance but the most inaccessible (details supplied); and if he will review the distance calculations method in view of upgraded road networks. [8585/17]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

226. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to restoring maintenance grants for postgraduate students; the cost for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8588/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Murphy

227. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a grant by a school (details supplied); if there is a backlog in assessing grant applications for construction projects for national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8589/17]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Fiona O'Loughlin

228. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delays for a new build for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8593/17]

DEIS Scheme

Danny Healy-Rae

229. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools (details supplied) were not included in the DEIS plan 2017- new DEIS schools list published on 13 February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8610/17]

Junior Cycle Reform

Charlie McConalogue

230. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to rectify a situation for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8614/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine an application by a school (details supplied) for the summer works scheme; when the school might expect to find out if they are successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8618/17]

National Postcode System Implementation

Catherine Murphy

232. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of upgrading information technology systems and or databases to incorporate the use of Eircode postcode; if the use of Eircode postcode is mandatory in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8630/17]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Pringle

233. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the concerns raised by a school (details supplied), the students of which are having difficulties completing the assessment task worth 10% of their junior certificate English due to outstanding issues between his Department and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Pringle

234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish a detailed outline of the new assessment framework now used to determine if a school qualifies for DEIS supports; if he will specify the differences between the previous and current assessment frameworks used to determine a school's qualification for DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/17]

DEIS Scheme

Michael Healy-Rae

235. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has been refused DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8667/17]

DEIS Status

Michael Healy-Rae

236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has not been awarded DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8671/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Alan Farrell

237. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new secondary school for Swords, due to open in September 2017; if this school will open on time and if temporary accommodation has been arranged to facilitate students from September; the actions taken regarding the development of a permanent school building; if the transfer of ownership of the permanent site has been completed; the stage at which this project is in the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8672/17]

School Admissions

Colm Brophy

238. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the strict access criteria in place in special reading schools in view of the refusal by a school (details supplied) to accept the referral of a child. [8677/17]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Clare Daly

239. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will correct the record of Dáil Éireann in regard to his response to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 18 January 2017, specifically in relation to the appointment of the design team and the fact that it was appointed by his Department rather than by the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (details supplied). [8678/17]

Schools Building Projects Data

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the tenders for the Maynooth post-primary school complex will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8755/17]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

241. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a cheadófar an togra tógála atá beartaithe le tamall do scoil (sonraí tugtha); cén chúis atá leis an moill ar an gcead a thabhairt dul ar aghaidh leis; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [8782/17]

EU Funding

Pearse Doherty

242. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the EU funds his Department accesses; the plans he is putting in place to access these funds to a greater degree in view of Brexit; if he will outline initiatives he is pursuing to establish access to new funds in view of the challenge of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/17]

Legislative Measures

Robert Troy

243. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on the Technological Universities Bill 2015; if he still favours the amalgamation of AIT with Dundalk; if his Department is examining alternative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8818/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Bernard Durkan

244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which efforts continue to be made to create apprenticeship opportunities under various trades; the degree to which specific shortages have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8820/17]

Departmental Funding

Michael Fitzmaurice

245. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the public funding supplied to trade unions and representative bodies in 2015 and 2016 from his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9097/17]

Departmental Agencies Data

Clare Daly

246. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the Docklands oversight and consultative forum, including membership, meetings to date and its workplan for the year. [8736/17]

Rent Controls

Eoin Ó Broin

247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the 4% rent limits included as the new rent pressure zones apply to the rental accommodation scheme, housing assistance payment, SCHEP lease and approved housing body tenancies. [8110/17]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

248. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will in principle approve funding under the Traveller accommodation programme for a two bedroom extension in respect of a property in Galway city for a family that consists of eight children and two adults, in the event that the local authority recommends and makes a submission to his Department for such an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8137/17]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Éamon Ó Cuív

249. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money paid by his Department in 2016 to local authorities for the upgrade of private wastewater facilities; his plans to extend eligibility for this grant to all registered owners of such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8150/17]

Ambulance Service

Bríd Smith

250. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his Department have been briefed on any proposed changes by the Dublin city manager to the current operation of the emergency ambulance call out service as provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade. [8194/17]

Public Procurement Contracts

Frank O'Rourke

251. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, decided to rush the execution of the framework agreement to a UK company prior to the expiration of the challenging period, especially when the LGMA was aware that at least two Irish tenderers had expressed great reservation on the legality of the procurement process in the framework agreement for the supply of library books and AV material competition; the reason for the haste, in view of the fact that the LGMA's own system, according to its tender document, would not be ready until 31 March 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/17]

Public Procurement Contracts

Frank O'Rourke

252. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the Local Government Management Agency is advising participating local authorities to promptly place call off contracts under framework agreements, even if statutory judicial review proceedings have been issued, as according to regulation 8(2) of the remedies regulations, contracting authorities are prohibited to conclude any contract until such date that the court has determined the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8197/17]

Rent Controls

Fergus O'Dowd

253. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to add the Drogheda and greater Louth area to the rent pressure zones, RPZs, in view of the new information (details supplied) that shows the correspondence between Louth County Council and the Housing Agency during the consultation period to choose suitable areas for RPZs, in which Louth County Council state the current rent prices are far greater than the figures used to decide the RPZ. [8239/17]

Rent Controls

Fergus O'Dowd

254. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will revisit the decision and designate Drogheda and the greater Louth area in the rent pressure zone, in view of a report (details supplied) that shows the year on year increase in the Louth area now at 17.3%, the quarter on quarter increase at 4.2% and average monthly rents at €952; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8240/17]

National Planning Framework

Fergus O'Dowd

255. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the Drogheda boundary review; when the final decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Fiona O'Loughlin

256. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of households and the equivalent number of persons that are in receipt of rent supplement, HAP and RAS in County Kildare; the cost of rent supplement, HAP and RAS in County Kildare for 2015 and 2016; the number of households that have had their rent increased above the prescribed rent supplement; if he will provide a breakdown of one bedroom, two bedrooms, three bedrooms and so on of those households; the monetary value of those increases in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8284/17]

Renewable Energy Projects

Fiona O'Loughlin

257. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when his Department will issue the official guidelines to regulate solar energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8286/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme

Ruth Coppinger

258. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a long-term 30 to 60 years plus cost benefit analysis of the proposed new mortgage-to-rent scheme was carried out to compare it to the cost benefit to the State of taking ownership of the homes and leasing them to the occupants, especially taking into account that many of the mortgages in question are owed to State owned banks. [8328/17]

Rent Controls

Ruth Coppinger

259. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the penalties applicable to landlords that violate the maximum allowable rent increases in rent pressure zones, the way this will be policed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8329/17]

Local Authority Housing Data

Ruth Coppinger

260. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason for the alteration in the numbers of social housing builds for 2016 between Wednesday 8 and Friday 10 February in communications from his Department. [8330/17]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

261. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the technical guidelines for near zero energy buildings will be published; the detail of these guidelines and their implications for public buildings and in particular, all new social housing in terms of energy efficiency requirements. [8401/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Costs

Seán Haughey

262. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he is taking to deal with the problem of escalating rents in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8402/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Seán Haughey

263. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he is taking to deal with the problem of substandard accommodation in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8403/17]

EU Directives

Catherine Connolly

264. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the person or body that is the designated authority dealing with the EIA and SEA directive for offshore energy projects here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8469/17]

Land Issues

Róisín Shortall

265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which land costs for residential developments are measured and tracked by his Department or any agency under the remit of his Department; and the latest publication his Department is relying on to inform trends in this area. [8473/17]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Jan O'Sullivan

266. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority loans, on a national basis, that are in arrears; if there is a policy to deal with arrears, particularly when large amounts are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8492/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Barry Cowen

267. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way the procurement and tendering process for the new mortgage-to-rent scheme using private investors is intended to work. [8511/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Barry Cowen

268. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the new mortgage-to-rent scheme involving private investors to be finalised and full details of the new scheme to be announced; and his plans to run a pilot or demonstration project of the scheme prior to a full scale launch. [8512/17]

National Planning Framework

Barry Cowen

269. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the nature and detail of the relationship between existing regional planning frameworks and guidelines and the new national planning framework; and if existing regional plans will have to have regard to the national planning framework and thus could be altered by the Office of the Planning Regulator if they are not deemed to be in line with the new national plan if the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 is passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. [8513/17]

National Planning Framework

Barry Cowen

270. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the national planning framework consultations will feed into the mid-term review of the 2016-20 capital plan; if the mid-term review of the plan will wait until the new national planning framework is finalised to be undertaken; if not, his views on whether large infrastructure projects, such as the M20 motorway or proposed metro north, will be planned for progression without regard to the master national planning framework; and his further views on whether this would mean that the national planning framework and the existing capital plan will not be joined up and will suffer from the same mistake as has been levelled at the national spatial strategy and the national development plans in previous periods. [8514/17]

Construction Industry

Barry Cowen

271. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the national audit of construction costs to be completed; and his views on whether there is a need for a regularised quarterly review of construction costs by his Department or another body under its aegis. [8515/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

272. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether mixed tenure and sustainable community planning principles that are in use throughout local authorities are impeding the development of social and affordable housing construction developments of scale; and his further views on whether there is a trade-off between scale and speed of delivery of social housing and these planning guidelines. [8516/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

273. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if legislative changes will be required for new affordable rental models that have been proposed; and if the affordable units proposed as part of a development (details supplied) will be affordable rental or owner occupier units. [8517/17]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Charlie McConalogue

274. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department provides grants to support the installation of back boiler heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8558/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Róisín Shortall

275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the action he will take to ensure an improvement in the standard of one bedroom rental accommodation; if he is satisfied with the current level of inspections on such properties being carried out by local authorities; the steps that can be taken by local authorities to compel landlords to improve the standards of their lettings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8559/17]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Fiona O'Loughlin

276. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timeframe involved for a revision of shared ownership; and if retrospective issues are being considered. [8591/17]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Fiona O'Loughlin

277. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of repossessed shared ownership houses in County Kildare, including details of any which have been sold by local authorities since 2013; and the amount of moneys recouped by these sales, in tabular form. [8592/17]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Peter Burke

278. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which a legal case (details supplied) may affect wind energy guidelines here; if it may mean that local authorities are allowed to fill any legal gap in line with health values given by the WHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8599/17]

Wastewater Treatment

Mattie McGrath

279. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of efforts to prevent raw sewage being pumped into rivers across the State and to address the associated public health risks; his views on the fact that the State has failed to provide wastewater treatment facilities in 38 areas across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8601/17]

National Postcode System Implementation

Catherine Murphy

280. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of upgrading information technology systems and-or databases to incorporate the use of Eircode; if the use of Eircode is mandatory in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8631/17]

Protected Disclosures

Niall Collins

281. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has received a protected disclosure (details supplied); the action he proposes to take arising from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8670/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Barry Cowen

282. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to commitments made publicly by the Minister of State, Deputy English, that credit unions would be able to invest in the proposed new mortgage-to-rent scheme, the consultation that took place specifically with them regarding this scheme; the legislative amendments which will be required to give effect to their participation; and when this is expected to be put before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [8680/17]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

283. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total funding available from his Department in 2017 for new group sewerage and water schemes respectively; the maximum grants available for each type of scheme per connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/17]

Deposit Protection Scheme Establishment

Willie Penrose

284. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason a deposit protection scheme has not been introduced, given the fact it was promised five years ago; the level of progress being made to put in place a structure to enable such a scheme to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/17]

EU Funding

Pearse Doherty

285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the EU funds his department accesses; the plans he is putting in place to access these funds to a greater degree in view of Brexit; if he will outline initiatives he is pursuing to establish access to new funds in view of the challenge of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8805/17]

Departmental Funding

Michael Fitzmaurice

286. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the public funding supplied to trade unions and representative bodies in 2015 and 2016 from his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9098/17]

Disability Allowance Payments

Darragh O'Brien

287. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has received a sum of £836.39 sterling from the UK Department for Work and Pensions in respect of a payment due to a person (details supplied); when his Department will pay that money to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/17]

Disability Allowance Applications

Brendan Griffin

288. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8119/17]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Seán Sherlock

289. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears due are being retained by his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) who was recently awarded carer's allowance. [8152/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

290. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance application will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/17]

State Pensions

John Brady

291. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons, broken down by gender, who were awarded a contributory State pension in 2015 and 2016; the total number of lifetime social insurance contributions, paid and credited, made by those persons, by gender; the total number of lifetime credited contributions made by those persons, by gender; the quantity of each type of credited contribution for those persons, by gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8246/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

John Brady

292. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit by gender and age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/17]

Disability Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

293. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance application will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8257/17]

JobPath Implementation

Michael McGrath

294. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the referral of persons on jobseeker's allowance to An Turas Nua is automatic or if a selection process is undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8321/17]

Poverty Data

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

295. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the latest CSO survey on income and living conditions, SILC, data which showed a rise in the rates of deprivation and consistent poverty for those persons not at work due to an illness or a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8364/17]

Poverty Data

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the latest CSO survey on income and living conditions, SILC, report which shows that over 390,000 children are living in households experiencing deprivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/17]

Poverty Data

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the levels of constant poverty of children living in households headed by one parent, in the recent EU survey on income and living conditions, SILC, report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7024/17]

Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when access to the treatment benefit scheme will be extended to the self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8475/17]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an oral hearing will be facilitated in respect of an appeal against alleged overpayment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8534/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Jack Chambers

300. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the social protections that are available to a person (details supplied); if the action the person has been requested to take is correct; the social protections that are available generally for persons who are unemployed, divorced, not in receipt of maintenance payments and who do not qualify for the one-parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8563/17]

Labour Activation Measures

Declan Breathnach

301. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on recent reports in the media that his Department is considering ending the labour activation schemes, including Tús and Gateway; if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental effect this would have on these fundamental schemes which provide an excellent gateway into the workforce for unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8581/17]

Invalidity Pension Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8587/17]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Fiona O'Loughlin

303. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying criteria and eligibility conditions for a person who wishes to participate in a community employment scheme and who is over 50 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8595/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Fiona O'Loughlin

304. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Kildare who are in receipt of rent support; the number of those persons that have received an uplift in their rent support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/17]

Gender Recognition

Catherine Martin

305. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Social Protection the precise legal basis on which persons applying for a gender recognition certificate and wishing to use a name different from that on their original birth certificate are required to provide evidence of use and repute in respect of a name or to produce a deed poll that has been enrolled in the High Court; the reason such additional documentation is necessary in view of the fact that section 10(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 simply requires the applicant to furnish the preferred forename and surname; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8607/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Peter Burke

306. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite an application for carer's allowance for a person (details supplied). [8620/17]

National Postcode System Implementation

Catherine Murphy

307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of upgrading information technology systems and or databases to incorporate the use of Eircode; if the use of Eircode is mandatory in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8638/17]

Paternity Leave

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

308. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans his Department has to incentivise expectant fathers to apply for paid paternity leave; if he will consider a mandatory system of paid paternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8717/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Michael Healy-Rae

309. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the housing supports available to persons engaged in seasonal work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8728/17]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Joan Collins

310. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual figures since 2005 for appeals lodged with the social welfare appeals office querying a refusal based on the habitual residence condition, broken down by Irish citizens and non-Irish nationals. [8738/17]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

311. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8748/17]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Pat Breen

312. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8749/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

313. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8751/17]

Disability Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

314. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8753/17]