Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for all sittings
Page 45 of 65
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Poverty Data
Willie O'Dea
16. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the recent data in the Survey on Income and Living Conditions which shows that 29% of the population is experiencing deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1192/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Youth Unemployment Data
Willie O'Dea
34. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the high rate of youth unemployment, which currently stands at 19.2; the impact of the measures she has introduced to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1193/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
54. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of payments to persons reaching 65 years of age who were born after April 1955 and who must wait until 67 years of age for a State pension and who must sign on for a jobseeker's benefit or a jobseeker's allowance in the interim years; if he will enable those persons to receive a State payment without being means-tested for the second year, given their social protection contributions during their working lives, given the status of those social protection clients employed by local authorities who insist retirement must occur at 65 years of age and prevent employees from remaining in employment until 67 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46535/15]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits
Willie O'Dea
110. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 did not receive the Christmas bonus in 2015; if she will make the payment if it is found that this payment was not paid in error; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1169/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Rates
Willie O'Dea
139. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average weekly payment under the jobseeker's benefit scheme and jobseeker's allowance scheme in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1437/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
150. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing all working age payments by €2.50, €5.00, €6.00, €7.00, €8.00, €9.00, and €10.00 per week, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1486/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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One-Parent Family Payment Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
151. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the income disregard for the one-parent family payment from its current threshold of €90 per week to €100, €110, €115, €120, €125, €130, €135, €140, €145, €150, €155 and €160 per week, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1487/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
152. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing child benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20, €25, and €30 per month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1488/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
153. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the jobseeker's allowance of €100 per week for those from 18 to 24 years of age, by €5, €10, €15, €20, €25, €30, €40, €44, €88, and €100 per week, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1489/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
154. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the jobseeker's allowance for those in receipt of the €144 per week payment by €5, €6, €10, €15, €16, €20, €25, €26, €30, €35, €36, €40, €44, €46, €50 and €56 per week, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1490/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Public Procurement Contracts Data
Willie O'Dea
249. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that have been successful in the public procurement process, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1512/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Public Sector Staff Retirements
Willie O'Dea
255. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of local authorities and public bodies insisting on a retirement age of 65 years of age and preventing employees from remaining in employment until 67 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46534/15]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Low Pay Commission Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
306. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost to the Exchequer of the Low Pay Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1508/16]
Wed, 13 Jan 2016
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Registration of Nurses
Willie O'Dea
572. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health why An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann has not responded or advised a person (details supplied) in County Limerick of the status of a request for recognition of qualifications obtained abroad, thereby preventing the person from securing better paid employment; if he will ensure that these procedures are improved going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46614/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times
Willie O'Dea
43. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on appeal for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis, in cases where there is no oral hearing and in cases where there is an oral hearing, in 2015, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45666/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Youth Unemployment Data
Willie O'Dea
44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons classified as not in education, training or employment; the percentage of youth unemployment; the way this number compares with the European Union area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45667/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Code Reform
Willie O'Dea
45. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has analysed the impact of the increase in the national minimum wage from January 2016 on income disregards pertaining to schemes and payments under the auspices of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45668/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Ministerial Advisers Remuneration
Willie O'Dea
46. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the name, position and annual salary awarded to her special advisers; the details of requests for increases above the special adviser pay cap as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45670/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Data
Willie O'Dea
70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the carer's allowance and the disability allowance; the number who were initially refused each of these allowances; the number who were granted the allowances on appeal; the administrative cost to her Department of the appeals process; the cost of processing each appeal in each year since 2011 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46080/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Family Income Supplement Payments
Willie O'Dea
71. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average payment under the family income supplement scheme in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46081/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Family Income Supplement Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
72. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the feasibility of extending the family income supplement to those who are self-employed; the cost of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46082/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Jobseeker's Benefit
Willie O'Dea
73. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial implications in 2016 of changing the eligibility for jobseeker's benefit from days worked to number of hours worked over the course of a seven-day week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46083/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Jobseeker's Benefit
Willie O'Dea
74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial implications of basing eligibility for jobseeker's benefit on having worked 14 hours or less, 21 hours or less and 28 hours or less per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46084/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Data
Willie O'Dea
75. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2016 of increasing the disability allowance payment by €5, €6, €7, €9 and €12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46085/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
76. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending jobseeker's benefit to self-employed pay-related social insurance contributors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46086/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Labour Activation Measures
Willie O'Dea
77. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average cost of activating a person who is unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46087/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Data
Willie O'Dea
78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2016 of increasing all working-age benefits and payments under the auspices of her Department by €3, €4, €5, €6, €7, €9 and €10 per week in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46088/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Youth Guarantee
Willie O'Dea
80. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of extending the Youth Guarantee to those under 25 years of age who are in receipt of disability allowance and are currently excluded from the guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46134/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Free Travel Scheme Data
Willie O'Dea
81. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [46135/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Jobseeker's Benefit
Willie O'Dea
88. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of replacing the three-day rule for the payment of jobseeker’s benefits with a sliding scale system determined by hours worked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46211/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Family Income Supplement Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
89. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of replacing the 38-hour threshold for family income supplement qualification with a sliding scale system that would reflect the fact that many persons may be working, or wish to work, fewer than 19 hours per week and may be in just as much need as current recipients of this supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46212/15]
Thu, 17 Dec 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Data
Willie O'Dea
99. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the fuel allowance from 26 to 32 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46322/15]
Tue, 15 Dec 2015
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Disability Allowance Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will award a backdated increase to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is in receipt of a disability allowance which had been recently reduced to €42 per week based on spousal income, as this income has now ceased from 13 November 2015 and the spouse is now due to recommence employment on a casual basis; if she will confirm that arrears will issue for the full amount of disability allowance to the applicant for the period from 13 November to date, as no other income has been received in the household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44944/15]
Wed, 9 Dec 2015
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Rent Supplement Scheme Data
Willie O'Dea
64. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients under the rent supplement scheme, of active tenancies under the housing assistance payment scheme, the number of households who have applied to have their rent supplement increased above the current threshold, the number who have had their rent supplement increased, the number who have been refused, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44432/15]
Tue, 8 Dec 2015
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Direct Provision Expenditure
Willie O'Dea
117. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the direct provision adult allowance from €19.10 to €25.00, €30.00, €35.00, €38.74, and the cost of increasing the allowance paid in respect of children from €9.60 to €15.00, €20.00, €25.00, €29.80 per year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43756/15]
Thu, 3 Dec 2015
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Home Care Packages
Willie O'Dea
57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to provide a statutory entitlement to a home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42999/15]
Thu, 3 Dec 2015
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Hospital Waiting Lists
Willie O'Dea
158. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the long waiting times for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42998/15]
Wed, 2 Dec 2015
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School Services Staff
Willie O'Dea
149. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will contact the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick concerning the position of a retired caretaker; if she will resolve this issue in conjunction with the board of management given that the caretaker would have been prepared to continue to work if made aware of the full facts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43194/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Garda Operations
Willie O'Dea
62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the additional resources that will be made available to An Garda Síochána in Limerick city under Operation Thor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42423/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Garda Deployment
Willie O'Dea
70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Henry Street and Roxboro districts on 1 November 2010 and on 1 November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42424/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
140. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the eligibility of participants on community employment schemes who are over 55 years of age; her plans to overturn the recent amendments preventing those over 55 years of age from remaining on a scheme for six years or more; if she will provide clear guidelines to those who administer these schemes, particularly on the subject of extensions, to avoid discrepancies in the use of discretion and to ensure that persons are retained within the community who provide a valuable contribution to it, given the pride they take in their participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42538/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
150. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why an application for renewal and extension of a community employment scheme at a place of work was rejected for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; if she will review the application and appeal, with a view to re-instating it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42593/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Departmental Programmes
Willie O'Dea
184. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in activation programmes who, because of their participation, are not included on the live register, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42961/15]
Tue, 1 Dec 2015
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Water Charges Exemptions
Willie O'Dea
547. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to exempt pensioners from the water charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/15]
Thu, 26 Nov 2015
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Swimming Pool Programme Applications
Willie O'Dea
225. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding through the sports capital grant programme to return the full use of facilities at the University of Limerick Arena, permitting the addressing of significant maintenance issues relating to the 50-metre pool which are having a negative impact on the arena's ability to host any major event at present; why he has not provided these funds to date; why his Department has enabled the loss of business to the locality through its inaction and lack of attention to these health and safety issues, an inaction that has cost Limerick City and the province in general loss of revenue, and has caused detrimental damage to the development of local talent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/15]
Tue, 24 Nov 2015
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Employment Support Services
Willie O'Dea
109. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current number of participants in the JobBridge and community employment schemes, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41296/15]
Tue, 24 Nov 2015
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Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility
Willie O'Dea
142. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the policy that persons in receipt of a jobseeker's benefit have their claim frozen if they go on JobBridge, meaning that if they had one day left on their claim they would not be assessed during the nine month internship and would still have that one day left at the end of the internship, regardless of their assets or other household income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41762/15]
Tue, 24 Nov 2015
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Social Welfare Benefits Data
Willie O'Dea
143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension and non-contributory pension in Limerick city and county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41763/15]
Tue, 24 Nov 2015
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Garda Deployment
Willie O'Dea
323. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in the Limerick Garda Síochána division in each of the years 2011 to 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41521/15]
Tue, 24 Nov 2015
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Medical Card Data
Willie O'Dea
400. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards in circulation in the Limerick health area on 1 November 2014 and on 1 November 2015, in tabular form; the number of these that were issued, on a discretionary basis; to persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41523/15]