Parliamentary questions

University Governance

Willie O'Dea

70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is reasonable that after 16 months and having been vindicated by the Mazars review, two staff members are still suspended; his views on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32377/16]

University Governance

Willie O'Dea

71. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the events outlined in the Mazars report indicate proper governance and accountability at the public institution in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32378/16]

Pensions Legislation

Willie O'Dea

362. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in relation to Government deliberations concerning persons who are compelled to retire at 65 years of age and will have to wait until they are 67 years of age to qualify for a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31977/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Willie O'Dea

86. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31047/16]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Willie O'Dea

46. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant which was closed to new applicants in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28748/16]

Broadband Service Speeds

Willie O'Dea

610. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to improve the speed and quality of the broadband service to the Castletroy, Annacotty area of County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30430/16]

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

Willie O'Dea

89. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to compensate persons in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension who also have income from the UK, in view of the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30026/16]

EU Directives

Willie O'Dea

30. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the outstanding EU directives his Department or agencies under its remit are responsible for implementing; if the implementation of any of them require specific legislative change; and if so, the details of same. [29897/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

256. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application by a person (details supplied) has not been decided in view of the fact that the application has been submitted since 16 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29354/16]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Willie O'Dea

257. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a review of a decision to refuse carer's allowance to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29358/16]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications

Willie O'Dea

276. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made pertaining to a partial capacity benefit claim by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29800/16]

Community Employment Schemes Review

Willie O'Dea

309. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chairperson of the community high-level forum, which was set up in November 2015, has had only one meeting since and that the chairperson has since stepped down to take up a new position with the Workplace Relations Commission; when it will reconvene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29613/16]

One-Parent Family Payment

Willie O'Dea

1. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the assertion by an organisation (details supplied) that the main impacts of the reform of the one-parent family payment have been to reduce the income of lone parents in employment and to reduce the likelihood of lone parents who are not in employment, education or training take up work or education in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29009/16]

Child Poverty

Willie O'Dea

3. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reduce child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29010/16]

Fuel Poverty

Willie O'Dea

12. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he plans to address the issue of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28747/16]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Willie O'Dea

21. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the legislation in relation to liable relatives who have moved from the one-parent family payment to the jobseeker's transitional payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28749/16]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

30. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the national pensions framework, which commits to sustain the value of the State pension at 35% of average weekly earnings to prevent poverty among older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28746/16]

National Internship Scheme Review

Willie O'Dea

44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to replace the JobBridge scheme; the procedures in place to ensure the mistakes made with respect to the JobBridge scheme will not be repeated and that participants are not forced into unsuitable and inappropriate employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28745/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

259. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

229. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will extend the SUSI grant scheme to students (details supplied) in view of the fact that the college they attend can be designated as an outreach college of UCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26469/16]

Family Income Supplement Data

Willie O'Dea

382. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2017 of lowering the requirement to qualify for family income supplement from 19 hours per week to 15 hours per week for one-parent households only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26650/16]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

803. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants who received for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in 2016 to date; the total number granted or refused the allowance; the total number who have appealed the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26104/16]

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

804. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time in 2016 for a decision in respect of all social protection payments in tabular form; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26105/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

805. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans, if any, to extend the homemaker scheme prior to 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26106/16]

Departmental Reports

Willie O'Dea

806. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report by a person (details supplied) regarding lone parent households and commissioned by his Department will be released; the date the report was first commissioned and submitted to his Department by the author; the reasons for the delay in releasing the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26107/16]

Youth Unemployment Data

Willie O'Dea

807. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the youth unemployment rate here; the way in which this figure compares to the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26108/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

819. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of amending the home-maker scheme by disregarding up to 200 pre-1994 A1 PRSI payments for the purpose of calculating a person's entry to the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26320/16]

Maternity Benefit

Willie O'Dea

364. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full year cost in 2017 of increasing maternity benefit by one week, two week, three weeks and four weeks in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24052/16]

Direct Provision Data

Willie O'Dea

365. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the estimated full year cost in 2017, based on the projected number expected to access direct provision, of increasing the adult rate by €5 and the child rate by €5 in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24053/16]

Qualified Child Increase Payments

Willie O'Dea

441. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2017 of increasing the qualified child increase by €2, €3 and €5, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22357/16]

Free Travel Scheme

Willie O'Dea

442. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected increase due to changing demographics in the number of persons availing of the free travel scheme over the next five years; the cost of maintaining the scheme at current levels, taking account of the projected increase in users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22358/16]

School Meals Programme

Willie O'Dea

454. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the school meals programme; the cost in 2017 of increasing expenditure on this programme by 5% and 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22610/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Willie O'Dea

458. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2017 of restoring the Christmas bonus to 75% and 100% of its previous rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22639/16]

Community Services Programme

Willie O'Dea

471. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the changes to the most recent operation manual for community services programmes, dated 4 April 2016, Version 1, in particular, the stipulation that working hours must be spread over four days, resulting in new entrants of the programme no longer being able to claim jobseeker's allowance; if he has considered the adverse effects this may have on persons wishing to participate in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22851/16]

Community Services Programme

Willie O'Dea

472. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to discuss the expectation of community services programmes, CSPs, to pay market rates and the living wage where possible, given that his Department's contribution to CSPs no longer matches the legal minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22852/16]

Community Services Programme

Willie O'Dea

473. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when successful applicants for the community services programme support fund will receive funding; if he is aware that they have been obliged to pay the new national minimum wage rate since the 1 January 2016, incurring significant additional costs and placing many under considerable financial strain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22853/16]

Community Services Programme

Willie O'Dea

474. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the estimated full-year cost to the State in 2017 of increasing the wage contribution to the community services programme to match the new national legal minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22854/16]

Family Income Supplement Data

Willie O'Dea

142. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost in 2017, of extending family income supplement, to one parent households in receipt of the jobseeker transitional payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21481/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Willie O'Dea

143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined and costed, moving to a system based on hours worked rather than days worked, to qualify for jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21482/16]

Family Income Supplement

Willie O'Dea

144. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined and costed, the possibility of introducing a sliding scale for family income supplement, as opposed to the current system of 19 hours per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21483/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie O'Dea

17. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase between December 2015 and May 2016 in the number of outpatients waiting more than one year for a consultation in University Hospital Limerick. [20983/16]

Labour Activation Measures

Willie O'Dea

125. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the number of persons currently engaged in activation and employment support schemes; the number of persons engaged in such schemes in 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20564/16]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

358. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when will a decision be made on an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20508/16]

Free Travel Scheme

Willie O'Dea

359. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the free travel scheme whereby children who are being cared for by their carers are excluded in circumstances where the carers obtain a free travel pass on the basis of them caring for their children who have a disability; if he will investigate this anomaly as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/16]

Public Services Card

Willie O'Dea

360. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is mandatory to attend a SAFE appointment for the new public services card; if a person does not attend, if this will have negative consequences for the current social protection payment to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20551/16]

Ministerial Advisers

Willie O'Dea

361. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to his special advisers; if he will provide details for requests, if any, for an increase above the special advisers' pay cap as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20562/16]

JobPath Implementation

Willie O'Dea

362. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons referred to JobPath to date in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

363. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time in 2016 for a decision in respect of all Social Protection payments in tabular form; 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [20565/16]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

364. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of one-parent households in consistent poverty; the number of one parent households experiencing deprivation; the way these figures compare to the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20567/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie O'Dea

503. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is an extremely long waiting list for scoliosis patients to meet with a consultant and that the subsequent waiting list for surgery is also very long; the current waiting list periods; his plans to deal with the waiting list for this debilitating condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20649/16]