Parliamentary questions

Army Barracks

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

6. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the dilapidated condition of accommodation blocks that recruits and soldiers are required to live or stay in while receiving training in the Curragh; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Cadet School is operating out of prefabs and that the Army Ranger Wing is located in old stables with no running water; and if a five-year demolition, restoration and construction strategy will be developed in order to address the needs of a modern military training school. [45677/19]

White Paper on Defence

Jack Chambers

7. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the White Paper on Defence update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45728/19]

UN Missions

Jack Chambers

8. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the new United Nations missions he expects the Defence Forces to undertake in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45727/19]

Defence Forces Strength

Bernard Durkan

9. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which retirements from the Defence Forces have been filled by new recruits with a view to ensuring that the strength of the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps remains in line with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45735/19]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Martin Heydon

10. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress being made in considering Defence Forces representative organisations' affiliation with a union (details supplied) as a means to address the interests of Defence Forces members in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45766/19]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

11. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that members of the Defence Forces are the only soldiers in the various missions in Mali that are required to take Lariam; and when he will abide by the instructions of Dáil Éireann to cease the use of the drug of first choice in preventing malaria in view of the fact that most other military authorities have switched to alternative anti-malaria drugs and that already some of those in the latest deployment have had an adverse reaction to a drug no longer on public sale here. [45675/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to or met with the First Minister of Scotland recently. [43259/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to or met the First Minister of Scotland recently. [45494/19]

Government Information Service

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in the Government Information Service, GIS; and the communications budget for 2019. [43185/19]

Brexit Preparations

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department working on Brexit preparedness. [43186/19]

Brexit Preparations

Joan Burton

5. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department working on Brexit preparedness. [44317/19]

Wildlife Conservation

Niamh Smyth

19. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she has taken on foot of the recommendations from the curlew task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45670/19]

An Teanga Gaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

20. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta a leagan amach conas a dhéanfar dul chun cinn ar thograí athbheochana dár dteanga náisiúnta laistigh de chonstaicí an mhaoinithe a leagadh amach i mbuiséad 2020. [45468/19]

Arts Council

Niamh Smyth

21. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the additional responsibilities given to the Arts Council following budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45671/19]

Traveller Culture

Joan Burton

22. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding provided for the Travellers' Journey exhibition at the National Museum in Turlough Park, County Mayo, in each of the years 2017, 2018, and to date in 2019; the funding provided for tinsmithing and Cant, the traditional language spoken by Irish Travellers in each of the years 2017, 2018, and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45467/19]

Maoiniú Údarás na Gaeltachta

Aindrias Moynihan

23. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén soláthar airgid a cuireadh ar fáil i mbuiséad 2020 d’Údarás na Gaeltachta, briste síos idir soláthar caipitil agus soláthar reatha; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45776/19]

Urban Development

Joan Burton

24. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has held discussions with Dublin City Council regarding the renovation of a number of historic markets in Dublin such as the Iveagh Market on Francis Street; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45454/19]

National Biodiversity Plan

Thomas P. Broughan

25. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to protect the Dublin Bay biosphere in the coastline of Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. [45358/19]

Heritage Promotion

Martin Heydon

26. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional funding available for heritage measures under budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45568/19]

Artists' Remuneration

Richard Boyd Barrett

27. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is planning to take to combat employment and income insecurity across the arts sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45502/19]

Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta

Catherine Connolly

28. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta maidir le Ceist Parlaiminte Uimhir 231 ar an 18ú Mean Fomhair 2019, soiléiriú a thabhairt maidir leis an gCoiste Idir-Rannach do na hOileáin, go háirithe o thaobh na dtéarmaí tagartha, na mball den choiste agus an phlean oibre; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45412/19]

Artists' Remuneration

Willie Penrose

29. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to research by an organisation (details supplied) into pay and conditions for performing artists that showed that a third earn less than the minimum wage and that working in the performing arts is characterised by poor conditions and precarious employment; her plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45457/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met. [42284/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met. [43183/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met. [45217/19]

Cabinet Committees

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if climate change is covered by Cabinet committees he attends. [43226/19]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if climate change is covered by Cabinet committees he attends. [45218/19]

Departmental Reform

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he is considering new divisions in his Department. [43258/19]

Departmental Reform

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he is considering new divisions in his Department. [44457/19]

Rent Pressure Zones

Darragh O'Brien

21. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of specific staff allocated to each local authority affected by short-term letting regulations to implement the new rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45192/19]

Water Supply Contamination

Eoin Ó Broin

22. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the information he received regarding the failure of Irish Water and Fingal County Council to fully implement the recommendations of the March 2019 drinking water audit report relating to the Leixlip water treatment plant prior to the alum dosing incident that resulted in the issuing of a boil water notice for 615,539 persons on 21 October 2019; and the action he will take in view of the findings of the October 2019 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, drinking water audit report regarding the Leixlip plant, which indicated the October boil water notice. [45363/19]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Darragh O'Brien

23. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken to strengthen the use of compulsory purchase powers by local authorities to acquire units for social and affordable housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45193/19]

Rental Sector

Michael Healy-Rae

24. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if incentives will be put in place to ensure that the private providers of accommodations are encouraged to keep their properties available for letting purposes and not to sell into the private market due to the fact at present no one is purchasing property to go into the business of letting in view of the fact it does not make financial sense to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45136/19]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Seamus Healy

25. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will immediately fund local authorities to enable them to commence an emergency local authority house building programme of a minimum of 10,000 new builds per year on public land. [45493/19]

Housing Estates

Aindrias Moynihan

26. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if projects that were approved for funding under the first national taking-in-charge initiative but that were not completed will be prioritised under the new national taking-in-charge initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45228/19]

Water Quality

Eoin Ó Broin

27. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the cause of the recent boil water notice at the Leixlip water treatment plant was the same as that discovered by the Environmental Protection Agency in March 2019. [45234/19]

Traveller Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

28. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on Traveller accommodation published in July 2019. [45235/19]

Housing Estates

Aindrias Moynihan

29. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria that will be used to allocate funding under the new national taking-in-charge initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45227/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Martin Heydon

30. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the allocation of additional funding for Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications from County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44687/19]

Housing Estates

Martin Heydon

31. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of applications for funding by Kildare County Council under the National Development Plan 2018-2022 for developer-provided infrastructure to assist in the taking in charge of housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44688/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Boyd Barrett

32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of affordable homes which will be delivered in 2020; when the income eligibility criteria for such homes will be defined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45220/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

John Curran

38. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if appropriate regulations regarding the sale of affordable homes will be reviewed and introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45008/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

Darragh O'Brien

48. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated final average cost of an affordable home under the new affordable purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45198/19]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking to ensure the availability of affordable housing units in view of Central Bank rules and the income limits that apply to qualify for inclusion on social housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45149/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Thomas Byrne

1160. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding will be allocated to Meath County Council for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45190/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Dara Calleary

1. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and value of approved projects being funded under the rural regeneration and development fund; the funding allocated for the scheme in 2019; the value of the total amount of payments made for approved projects to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43881/19]

Brexit Preparations

Brian Stanley

2. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the preparations or contingency planning being carried out to address a no-deal Brexit for rural communities, especially in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43656/19]

RAPID Programme

John Curran

3. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the analysis carried out to ensure that those communities most disadvantaged as previously identified in RAPID areas are receiving adequate support and funding under the community enhancement programme since the closure of the RAPID programme and the establishment of the community enhancement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43882/19]

Fire Safety

Ruth Coppinger

4. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will establish a national fund to assist community centres in need of fire safety works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43806/19]

Community Development Initiatives

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which he plans to progress the report, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, to ensure real community development. [43818/19]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

James Browne

6. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to provide additional funding for the local improvement scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43046/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

7. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount provided in the 2019 Estimates for the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF; the amount transferred to other subheads in the Vote; the amount remaining in the Vote for the fund; the amount spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43662/19]

Community Services Programme Administration

Ruth Coppinger

8. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will increase funding of community centres to ensure workers receive a wage higher than the national minimum wage (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43809/19]

Local Improvement Scheme

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to set out the likely timescale for the allocation of funding to local authorities in 2020 for local improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43822/19]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Bernard Durkan

10. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the mission statement of his Department; the degree to which he remains on course to achieve or exceed its targets; the degree to which these objectives can be widened to cater for a wider section of the community, if not already covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43823/19]

Local Improvement Scheme

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to set out the level of funding to be allocated to local authorities in 2020 for the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/19]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Bernard Durkan

288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to be in a position to respond in full to the request in respect of rural and community development in both rural and urban areas in proportion to need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44122/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with EU leaders and others when he attended the UN meeting in New York; and if the backstop was discussed. [39633/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

2. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach the EU leaders he met or with whom he spoke at the UN meeting and since Brexit. [39948/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to EU leaders since 18 September 2019 about Brexit or other issues. [39632/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to President Macron recently. [41943/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken directly to the German Chancellor recently. [41957/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Swedish Prime Minister. [41981/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Danish Prime Minister. [41982/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

8. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the conversations he has had with the UK Prime Minister since 8 October 2019; and if he subsequently met him, the issues that were discussed. [41956/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his telephone conversation with the UK Prime Minister. [41977/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the UK Prime Minister in the week of 7 October 2019. [42161/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the proposed veto was discussed when he met with the UK Prime Minister in Liverpool; and the rationale for same. [42309/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

12. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if a timeline on the backstop was discussed when he met the UK Prime Minister; and the response that he gave. [42310/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

13. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with the UK Prime Minister since the EU Council meeting on 17 and 18 October 2019; and if so, the matters that were discussed regarding Brexit and the Northern Assembly. [43222/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the engagements he has had with the UK Prime Minister. [43229/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joan Burton

15. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversations with the UK Prime Minister since 8 October 2019. [43264/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagement with the UK Prime Minister. [43409/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

17. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the status of the withdrawal treaty; and if he has spoken with the UK Prime Minister since the October 2019 European Council meeting. [43597/19]

EU Issues

Michael Moynihan

18. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Mr. Donald Tusk recently. [41939/19]

EU Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the European Council. [42160/19]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

20. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the European Council. [41980/19]

EU Issues

Micheál Martin

21. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the agenda for the EU Council on 17 October 2019 and if he contributed on the discussion in regard to the multi-annual framework and EU reform items. [41958/19]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

22. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council on 17 and 18 October 2019. [43182/19]

EU Issues

Micheál Martin

23. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he had bilateral meetings while attending the EU Council on 17 and 18 October 2019; and if so, the issues that were discussed. [43221/19]

EU Issues

Paul Murphy

24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent contacts with the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission. [43230/19]

EU Issues

Eamon Ryan

25. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meetings at the European Council on 17 and 18 October 2019. [43262/19]

EU Issues

Joan Burton

26. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the European Council. [43263/19]

EU Issues

Joan Burton

27. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the EU Council meeting on 17 and 18 October 2019. [43265/19]

EU Issues

Mary Lou McDonald

28. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the European Council. [43408/19]

EU Issues

Michael Moynihan

29. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if Turkey and Syria were discussed at the October 2019 EU Council meeting; and if so, the conclusions that were drawn. [43555/19]

EU Issues

Michael Moynihan

30. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach the areas of EU reform that were discussed at the October 2019 EU Council meeting. [43556/19]

EU Issues

Micheál Martin

31. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the European Council meeting in October 2019. [43600/19]

EU Issues

Micheál Martin

32. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he held bilateral meetings at the October 2019 European Council meetings. [43601/19]

Public Services Card

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the public services card and the findings of the Data Protection Commissioner on same; if enforcement proceedings have been issued by the Data Protection Commissioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43652/19]

Departmental Staff

John Brady

41. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of her plans to implement a new front office-back office model in Intreo offices; the effect the changes will have for existing offices and staffing levels in the offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43654/19]

Fuel Allowance Data

Willie O'Dea

42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which her Department has calculated that an increase in the fuel allowance as announced in budget 2020 will compensate for the increase in carbon tax; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43653/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

John Brady

43. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that by increasing the hours carers can work outside the home and not increasing the income disregard at the same time, carers who work those additional hours may see a reduction in their carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43655/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie Penrose

44. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the income disregard means test for carer’s allowance, which has not changed for 11 years further to her decision in budget 2020 to increase the number of hours that a family carer can work to 18.5 hours; the number of carers projected to have their allowance reduced in 2020 and 2021, respectively, if they work more hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43851/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

John Curran

45. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the means test qualifying criteria for carer’s allowance to include such costs as rent, mortgage payments and childcare costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43421/19]

JobPath Data

Bríd Smith

46. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of jobseekers who have entered the JobPath programme since its commencement; the number who faced sanctions from her Department in each year on foot of this interaction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43634/19]

Back to Work Allowance Data

Martin Heydon

47. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the uptake of the back to work enterprise allowance in County Kildare in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; the supports available to those persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43630/19]

Social Insurance

Brendan Smith

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if insurance contributions will be credited to farmers for pension purposes for the time they were in receipt of farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43631/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Bernard Durkan

49. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the efforts being made to speed up the processing of applications for carer's allowance and benefit, disability allowance and invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43574/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

50. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the impact on the income disregard for carer's allowance was given consideration in view of the increase in the hours permissible to work as announced as part of budget 2020; if the income disregard for carers will be revised in view of the increase in the hours they can work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43603/19]