Parliamentary questions

Respite Care Grant Expenditure

Willie O'Dea

35. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is her intention to restore the level of the respite grant to what it was in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24677/15]

Invalidity Pension Payments

Willie O'Dea

176. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when arrears of an invalidity pension will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24859/15]

Firearms Licences

Willie O'Dea

381. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the matters of concern and proposals submitted in regard to firearms licensing by the Sports Coalition will be decided upon; when the review will conclude in view of the impending renewal process commencement at the end of July 2015; if she will respond to the Sports Coalition’s proposal and allay the suspicion that absence of engagement creates; if she is aware that the Sports Coalition has found it necessary to meet legal advisers to discuss a contingency in the event that any currently licensed firearms are capped or banned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24976/15]

Tax Code

Willie O'Dea

267. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance in view of the increase in property values, if he will consider amendments to the capital acquisitions tax regime in order to relieve the burden on persons who receive or inherit property; if he will introduce specific reliefs to cater for physically or mentally disabled persons who inherit a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/15]

Architectural Heritage

Willie O'Dea

918. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of monitoring her Department undertakes of local authorities' implementation of ministerial recommendations regarding the listing of particular structures under section 53 (3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000; her plans to ensure action is taken by local authorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23062/15]

Salmon Hardship Scheme

Willie O'Dea

224. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on reopening the compensation scheme for drift-net salmon fishermen, who did not avail of the scheme when it was in operation, in view of the fact that only a very small number of persons are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22791/15]

School Enrolments

Willie O'Dea

163. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason access has not been granted following a section 29 appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is attending a feeder school and whose parent is suffering from a critical illness and requires daily hospital treatment; if she is aware of parents abusing the common application system by using false addresses; her plans to address the shortfalls of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22549/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

166. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a Department inspector will review payments under the disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is a spina bifida patient and in financial difficulty pending an increase following the cessation of a maintenance payment from that person's estranged spouse for their now independent adult child, her Department having been notified of same on 1 May 2015. [21278/15]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

190. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the costs of the community employment schemes for each year from 2009 to 2014; the projected costs and actual costs under the headings, materials budget, training budget, supervisory budget and participant allowances; the number of participants and supervisors employed under the schemes for each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21551/15]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

220. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, in five year blocks, the length of service accrued by currently employed community employment scheme supervisors, both male and female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21829/15]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

222. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the free travel pass to include pensioners from other European Union countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21842/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

231. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a decision remains with an inspector since March 2015 pertaining to a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the reason the inspector in question is unable to reach a decision to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21989/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Willie O'Dea

241. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the child care supports will be put in place to ensure that those receiving payment under the one-parent family payment can avail of returning to employment or education, as promised by her on 18 April 2012; if she will honour her commitment to those persons who feel that their family status is discriminated against, in particular those lone parents who are employed part-time or in low-paid employment, who are self-employed, or who are in education; how persons in these categories, who receive family income supplement, can increase their income by increasing their hours to 19, as outlined by her, taking into consideration that lone parents who already work 19 hours will be cut, and given that many lone parents are restricted by low-hour contracts, where employers refuse to sign family income supplement forms guaranteeing hours; and where there are increased child care costs if hours are increased, and there is a loss to those in receipt of rent supplement and housing assistance payments of up to 75% of any increase, which does not cover the additional cost of working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22056/15]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

260. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the impact the Government’s privatisation of public transport services will have on the free travel scheme; if she will carry out an assessment of this policy change on the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22345/15]

Free Travel Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

261. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to ensure that the senior citizens and disabled travellers who use the free travel scheme do not suffer a reduced public transport service, in view of the change of policy regarding the tendering of public transport routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22346/15]

Bord na gCon Staff

Willie O'Dea

498. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, in respect of the past ten years and of 2015 to date the total number of employees, full-time and part-time, at the Irish Greyhound Board; the total wage bill for each year; the exact date that the Irish Greyhound Board accounts for 2013 and 2014 will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22479/15]

Defence Forces Records

Willie O'Dea

89. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence if he will amend records regarding the family of a person (details supplied) who was executed in Arbour Hill 1916; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20888/15]

Redundancy Payments

Willie O'Dea

223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current stage of the review by her Department into its position to establish the action that can be taken where employers such as a company (details supplied) which have ceased trading without engaging in a formal wind-up process and which owe moneys to an employee; when the review will be completed; her plans regarding this type of problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20464/15]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

244. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the age profile, male and female, in five year blocks of community employment scheme supervisors who are currently employed under the community employment projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20687/15]

Jobseeker's Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost for replacing the three day rule for the payment of jobseeker’s benefits, with a sliding scale system determined by hours worked. [19563/15]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

75. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of replacing the 38-hour threshold for family income supplement qualification, with a sliding scale system (details supplied) that would reflect the fact that many persons may be working, or wish to work, less than 19 hours per week, and may be in just as much need as current recipients of this supplement. [19564/15]

Tax Credits

Willie O'Dea

138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, for each tax credit, the estimated full-year cost of making each of the following tax credits refundable, that is, single person tax credit, married person or civil partner tax credit, widowed person or surviving civil partner tax credit, pay as you earn - employee tax credit and single person child carer credit. [19676/15]

General Practitioner Services

Willie O'Dea

346. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free general practitioner care to the approximately 57,000 recipients of the carer's allowance. [19562/15]

Jobseeker's Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for back payment of jobseeker's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18947/15]

Teachers' Remuneration

Willie O'Dea

169. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if those who have been paid over the past two years, at a post-2011 entrant fee of €34 hourly, should in fact have been paid at the pre-2011 rate of €42, as currently advertised on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18775/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

232. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when arrears of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18275/15]

Local Authority Funding

Willie O'Dea

187. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a submission from Limerick City and County Council was received concerning acquisition and development of Brannigan's site on Mulgrave Street, Limerick, to create a community centre for the Garryowen area; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17002/15]

Railway Procurement Agency

Willie O'Dea

197. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow Luas security workers to operate as transport police, similar to airport police; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15051/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Willie O'Dea

67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge that it is current Government policy to discourage lone parents from engaging with postgraduate education in view of the fact that it is virtually impossible to undertake a postgraduate course without a maintenance grant; her views on whether the provision for the special rate is in actual fact a smoke screen to convey that such an option is a possibility for some when in reality, under the current legislation, any support, scholarship or moneys granted for the purpose of completing a Master of Arts degree can result in the withdrawal of the provision of fees at the special rate; in view of the fact that 98% of lone parents are women, if she acknowledges that the reforms discriminate against lone parents on grounds of class and gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14268/15]

Respite Care Grant Applications

Willie O'Dea

118. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the refusal of a respite care grant for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14859/15]

Seniors Alert Scheme

Willie O'Dea

176. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the consequences Pobal's senior alert proposal will have on volunteer groups such as Neighbourhood Watch, in that it will sideline these groups which have played a major role in communities; if he will postpone the changes in view of this fact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13464/15]

Employment Support Services

Willie O'Dea

195. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the training opportunities available to an unemployed person who has been refused participation on a community employment scheme and on SOLAS training courses, in view of the fact the person was previously self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12692/15]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

234. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that persons are losing out on a significant portion of their contributory pension as a result of changes implemented by her Government in 2012; her views that persons should lose out on pension entitlements because they worked part-time jobs when they were students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13203/15]

Health Services

Willie O'Dea

439. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to have a Jigsaw hub in County Limerick, in view of the fact there are now ten Jigsaw hubs in other communities, and young persons in County Limerick would benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12688/15]

Local Authority Housing

Willie O'Dea

610. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the regulations to be made thereunder will be implemented in order that local authorities will have a proper legal process to pursue tenants who are in breach of the terms of their tenancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12709/15]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration

Willie O'Dea

232. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that many persons who reside outside the country and own homes here were unaware of the introduction of the non-principal private residence tax, and yet they are now facing interest and penalties for not paying the original tax; his views that this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12540/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

161. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11174/15]

Banking Sector Regulation

Willie O'Dea

258. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance his views on the stated intention of the Bank of Ireland to pay dividends to its shareholders in the second half of 2016, in view of the facts that it consistently refuses to write off any secured debt for bonuses, that it repossessed 200 family homes in 2014, that it forced the sale of another 500, that it is increasing its application for repossessions and that it forced its subsidiaries' bondholders, including credit unions, to settle for as little as 1% of the value of their securities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11389/15]

Hospital Facilities

Willie O'Dea

596. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if wireless free internet WiFi is available at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11401/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Willie O'Dea

44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the outcome of her officials' discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a pension plan for community employment supervisors; when they will report back, which they had previously indicated would be by January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10650/15]

Garda Vetting Applications

Willie O'Dea

303. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made by the Garda vetting office regarding an application for a contractor's licence (details supplied) in County Limerick; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9883/15]

Public Transport Provision

Willie O'Dea

588. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure all public transport services are put out to tender; if it will be covered by the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5023/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Willie O'Dea

1. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to postpone the proposed changes to lone parent payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9402/15]

Child Poverty

Willie O'Dea

4. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that the F grade for the Government in the area of child poverty in the 2015 report card of the Children's Rights Alliance is a fair assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9403/15]

Departmental Reports

Willie O'Dea

15. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on her Department's recent report, which states that better-off families are set to be the main beneficiaries of budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9125/15]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

18. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will bring forward proposals for a new supplementary workplace retirement saving scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9123/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure

Willie O'Dea

30. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her targets for expenditure on social protection, as a proportion of gross domestic product; the latest figures for Irish expenditure on that matrix; the way it compares to the European Union average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9124/15]

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Willie O'Dea

31. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures she is putting in place to tackle food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9126/15]

National Internship Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her response to the proposal by the National Youth Council to double JobBridge payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9122/15]

JobsPlus Scheme

Willie O'Dea

48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report outlining the cost of increasing the current assistance rate to an employer to employ a person in the JobsPlus scheme, to a rate which would provide each employer with a subsidy of 70% of the minimum wage, for 37.5 hours per week, for each employee, for a period of 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8578/15]