Parliamentary questions

Roads Maintenance

Willie O'Dea

581. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received estimates from Limerick County Council to repair bridges at Clonteen, Cappamore, and Croughlahan, Cappamore, County Limerick; if he will provide funds for the repairs; when he will make a decision regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38054/14]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments

Willie O'Dea

38. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the cost of restoring by 50% the funds cut to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance introduced since the Government came into office; the cost of fully restoring the cuts outline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36269/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

39. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding in the electricity and gas element of the household benefits package that has been introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36270/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding in the telephone allowance element of the household benefits package that have been introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36271/14]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Willie O'Dea

41. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the cost of restoring by 50% the cut in funding that has resulted in a reduction in training and materials grants for community employment scheme, back to education and jobs initiative schemes introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36272/14]

Child Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding provided for child benefit introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36273/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Willie O'Dea

229. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Limerick city is one of the only areas in the country that does not have any mainstream schools, primary or secondary, with autistic spectrum disorder units attached to educate autistic children; her plans to put same in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36261/14]

Community Employment Schemes Review

Willie O'Dea

83. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons participating on community employment schemes, who are in receipt of a second social welfare payment, can suspend their second payment until they have completed their time on the scheme and then receive the second payment again once the scheme has finished as an alternative to having to finish the scheme in December in order to keep their second payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35302/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

178. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the committee which is currently reviewing eligibility for medical cards will consider the question of eligibility for long-term illness cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34905/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

179. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his views on extending entitlement to a long-term illness card for people who are suffering from Huntington's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34906/14]

School Enrolments

Willie O'Dea

215. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provision that will be made for children in County Limerick who have not yet been placed in secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34904/14]

Homeless Persons Supports

Willie O'Dea

34. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken to address the homeless crisis here; the action he will take to ensure homelessness is ended within two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/14]

Human Rights Issues

Willie O'Dea

1177. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of organisations have identified 60 countries throughout the world where Christians are persecuted for their religious beliefs; his position on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33177/14]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

1424. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made pertaining to an application for home tuition 2014-15 (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34606/14]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

394. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the average waiting time for a decision in relation to appeals for the invalidity pension, disability allowance, the domiciliary care allowance and the one-parent family payment; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing and where there is an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32861/14]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

395. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the average waiting time for a decision in relation to appeals for all social welfare payments paid on a weekly basis; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing and where there is an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32862/14]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

108. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will commit to keeping the free travel pass in its current form; if she will ensure there are no restrictions surrounding the times that the pass can be used; if the current criteria to be eligible for the travel pass will be retained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31684/14]

Medical Card Appeals

Willie O'Dea

276. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no specific appeal allowed for refusals to over 70s medical card applications; the reason two single persons over 70 who live together are assessed on the basis of a lower income threshold than a couple; the reason over 70s medical card holders have to appeal a refusal on an under 70s appeal form and, as a result, are assessed on the basis of criteria for an under 70 year old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31820/14]

Unemployment Data

Willie O'Dea

62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the current number of young persons not in education, employment or training here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30813/14]

Free Travel Scheme Review

Willie O'Dea

63. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the review of the free travel scheme; if she is concerned at the possible withdrawal of private transport services from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31161/14]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

66. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to address the increasing poverty levels here; if she will commit to protecting the universal payment of child benefit at its current levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31162/14]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

85. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of pension schemes that have utilised the Social Welfare and Pensions (No 2) Act 2013 legislative provisions; when pensioners in Waterford Crystal will receive their pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30817/14]

Social Insurance

Willie O'Dea

98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the solvency of the Social Insurance Fund; if she will protect all benefits accruing from the fund; if she will consider covering persons in self-employment under this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30816/14]

Social Insurance

Willie O'Dea

103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address the PRSI anomaly resulting in lower paid workers taking home less pay when they earn more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30814/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

365. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30773/14]

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

394. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the social protection schemes recipients of the one-parent family payment transfer to when ceasing to be eligible for that payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31396/14]

JobsPlus Scheme

Willie O'Dea

363. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are in receipt of one parent family as opposed to other payments are being denied the chance to participate on JobsPlus, having successfully completed JobsBridge, in view of the fact that they are the best candidates for the positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/14]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Willie O'Dea

398. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the highest weekly payment from all payments from her Department to any one family and person; the highest annual monetary value from all payments from her Department in 2013 that was received by any one family and person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29494/14]

Disability Services Funding

Willie O'Dea

540. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reconsider a decision not to provide funding for Deaforward, an essential support service for the deaf community; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Deaforward office must now close as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29720/14]

Departmental Funding

Willie O'Dea

236. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has now taken over the previous responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the distribution of food to charities here; the timetable in place to distribute the food; the way this process will be managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28152/14]

Exceptional Needs Payments

Willie O'Dea

238. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding that has been allocated for exceptional needs payments in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; if her attention has been drawn to a problem which arises in isolated rural areas where persons are now being refused assistance for taxi fares for essential medical appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28213/14]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

250. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment schemes supervisors and assistant supervisors here; if their salary is paid in full by the State; who their official employer is; the current arrangements that are in place or payment of pensions to such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28388/14]

One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the one-parent family payment who will lose their entitlement on 1 July 2014 following changes introduced in the budget for 2012; the arrangements that will be in place to assist such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28389/14]

Departmental Budgets

Willie O'Dea

258. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the partial year and the full year monetary effect of her Department's budget 2014 reductions to expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28481/14]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Willie O'Dea

324. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Clúid Housing Association and other approved housing bodies have engaged with Limerick City and County Council and the office of regeneration regarding a proposal to both build and retrofit and upgrade housing stock in Limerick city; when he will respond to these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

457. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if, in the interest of fairness, persons on long-term dialysis, some of whom are experiencing extreme financial difficulty, will be added to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27885/14]

Medical Card Delays

Willie O'Dea

583. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in issuing a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28493/14]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Willie O'Dea

279. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that two members of staff who are redeployed from FÁS to her Department and are carrying out all of the higher grade duties whilst on secondment to LES Limerick on a continuous basis for 16 years have not received the acting up allowance of €16,135 since January 2012; that they have been informed that this allowance will not be paid until they sign their transfer contracts, however, this allowance is not reckonable for superannuation purposes even though they now pay full pension contributions due on their full salary for the past 16 years; her plans to regularise this situation and if not, the recourse the employees have to ensure regularisation of their situation whilst retaining their rights as civil servants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26828/14]

Hospital Facilities

Willie O'Dea

550. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that will be caused by the closure of the laboratory at St. John's Hospital, Limerick, which will further increase pressure on an already-stressed laboratory service at University College Hospital; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26767/14]

Departmental Offices

Willie O'Dea

355. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the lack of a public toilet facility available to customers at the Finglas social welfare office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25836/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Planning

Willie O'Dea

431. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the social inclusion community activation programme will replace the community development programme; if he is further aware that tendering for SICAP will not be permitted by national organisations and that Pobal has suggested that women's networks form a consortium to tender for SICAP; if it is possible for the old system to be reinstated as the National Collective of Community Based Women's Network is economically viable as it is reliant on volunteer hours and extremely beneficial to the most disadvantaged women in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25264/14]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

117. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will enhance the community employment scheme in order to increase opportunities to carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25130/14]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

118. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered revising the habitual residence requirement for carers to provide more flexibility to those in receipt of the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25131/14]

Respite Care Services

Willie O'Dea

81. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to improve services to those who depend on the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24272/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Willie O'Dea

84. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will review the caps on the rent supplement schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24273/14]

Work Placement Programmes

Willie O'Dea

91. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been put on the Gateway initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24105/14]

Data Protection

Willie O'Dea

93. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the data protection safeguards present in her Department; if she plans to improve these safeguards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24106/14]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Willie O'Dea

104. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she has not yet acted on the Waterford Crystal decision in the Court of Justice of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24108/14]

Social Welfare Offices

Willie O'Dea

107. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the tendering arrangements that have been put in place for the renting of offices for social welfare branch offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24159/14]

National Internship Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

108. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of companies and State agencies who have utilised JobBridge since its foundation; if she is satisfied that the internship programme is not creating displacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24107/14]