Parliamentary questions

Social Partnership Meetings

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent contacts he has had with the social partners. [39841/14]

Social Partnership Meetings

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his process of social dialogue. [39842/14]

Social Partnership Meetings

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the groups he has met as part of the process of social dialogue. [39843/14]

Social Partnership Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

4. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the reason the National Economic Social Council is still devoid of any representation from the small and medium sized enterprise sector; the way the concerns and interests of the self employed and small business are represented on the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40959/14]

Social Partnership Meetings

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has met with the social partners recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40968/14]

Social Partnership Meetings

Joe Higgins

6. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent meetings he has had with social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/14]

Aer Lingus Sale

Timmy Dooley

123. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his position regarding the sale of Aer Lingus to IAG; the commitments he will make with regard to the security of employment of the Aer Lingus staff and the connectivity from Irish airports to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4656/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Dessie Ellis

124. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the State's stake in Aer Lingus; and the maintenance of its Heathrow slots which are vital to the Irish economy. [4666/15]

Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme

Clare Daly

125. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the initiative proposed on 2 December 2014 by the Secretaries General of his Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the expert panel in relation to the IASS dispute was not acted on until 14 January 2015, creating needless anxiety for workers at the three State airports; and if he will direct the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority to lift the imposed deadline of 15 March 2015 for signing waivers to allow the process to take place. [4687/15]

Public Transport Provision

Timmy Dooley

126. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be taken with regard to the best route and infrastructure option in connecting Dublin city with Dublin Airport; if he is satisfied with the current public transport connections to the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4657/15]

Rail Network Expansion

Dessie Ellis

127. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the future of the public rail network under Irish Rail; and the way it will be better integrated with the wider public transport network. [4668/15]

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Alan Farrell

128. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected timeframe for the completion of each stage of the north Dublin transport study; when a decision will be made on the optimum transport solution to serve Dublin north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4291/15]

Road Signage

Thomas P. Broughan

129. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the proposed changes of speed signage for rural roads from a specific speed limit to drive carefully; and his plans for a much clearer speed limit and on-road signage on all national and local roads and streets in 2015. [4290/15]

Rail Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which rail services can be tailored to meet the ongoing travel requirements of commuters with particular reference to identifying how best the rail services in general can meet the demands of medium to middle distance commuters from towns and villages outside the greater Dublin area thereby alleviating road traffic congestion and reducing travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/15]

Penalty Points System

Mick Wallace

131. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on measures his Department has taken or will take in order to rectify malpractice in the penalty points system, particularly in view of the recent Garda report which found that abuses are still occurring in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/15]

Climate Change Negotiations

Catherine Murphy

132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport now that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill has been published, his Department's response in terms of the preparation of a sectoral emissions reduction plan; if he plans to prepare a draft plan in anticipation of the national adaptation plan; if such a plan will be left until the latter end of the 2017 timescale envisaged in the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/15]

Land Acquisition

Seán Kyne

133. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the model being used, including issues such as the land acquisition and access, to develop greenway projects. [4346/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Paul Murphy

134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the sale of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4360/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Ruth Coppinger

135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the take-over bid by IAG for Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4362/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Patrick O'Donovan

136. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of plans his Department may have for a sports capital scheme in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4286/15]

Dublin Bus Services

Dessie Ellis

137. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for the Swiftway rapid bus services; and if he will make a commitment to keep the service under the operation of Dublin Bus. [4341/15]

Tourism Promotion

Timmy Dooley

138. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a tourism initiative similar to The Gathering is not being developed around the centenary of the 1916 Rising; his plans to commemorate the Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4350/15]

Traffic Management

Timmy Dooley

139. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he plans to address the increasing congestion on the M50; the current capacity reached at rush hour on the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/15]

Air Navigation Orders

Mick Wallace

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on his Department's role in the processing of exemptions for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the arrangements between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in this regard; the number of such exemptions granted by his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/15]

Penalty Points System Investigation

Clare Daly

141. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views following the latest Garda report revealing widespread continued breaches in the penalty point system, in view of the importance of the system operating correctly in the interests of road safety and the need for all drivers to have confidence in the system. [4332/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Clare Daly

142. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reject the International Airlines Group takeover bid for Aer Lingus, in the interests of maintaining the future of the airline, its jobs and key strategic role in providing connectivity with the rest of the world for business and tourism. [4333/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Timmy Dooley

143. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the fraud prevention measures utilised on funding provided through the sports capital grant programme; the investigations that occurred last year; his plans to increase anti-fraud measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Joan Collins

144. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Governments position on International Airlines Group's €1.3 billion takeover bid of Aer Lingus. [4336/15]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Dessie Ellis

145. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for improving cross-Border transport links; and if he will commit to meeting with his counterparts in Stormont to discuss improvements in access and planning of transport services. [4343/15]

Road Projects

Catherine Murphy

146. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to confirm funding for the upgraded M7 Naas-Osberstown interchange and Sallins bypass; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this stretch of motorway is the most dangerous in the State in terms of incidents recorded annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/15]

Wild Atlantic Way Project

Brendan Griffin

147. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a new marketing initiative to promote the winter Wild Atlantic Way, to bring more visitors to drive the Wild Atlantic Way during October to April months; his views on whether the Wild Atlantic Way is as spectacular a winter destination as a summer destination; his views on whether increasing visitor numbers in the winter months would have a significant impact on the tourism sector and wider economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4294/15]

Road Tolls

Timmy Dooley

148. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his discussions with his UK counterpart in view of the new HGV tolls applying to Irish hauliers there; his plans on introducing a similar toll system here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4353/15]

Rail Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy in relation to the development of heavy rail services throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4293/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on widespread concern that the possible takeover of Aer Lingus by IAG could result in large job losses and threaten connectivity to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4365/15]

Public Transport Provision

Clare Daly

151. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the six short listed schemes in the Fingal-north Dublin transport study appraisal report; and when there will be a long overdue high capacity light rail public transport solution serving the Swords-Dublin Airport-Dublin city corridor. [4335/15]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Seán Kyne

152. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the position of the introduction of greenway projects in County Galway. [4345/15]

Rural Transport Services Provision

Denis Naughten

153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to implement the recommendations contained within the CEDRA report pertaining to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4288/15]

Roadworthiness Testing

Denis Naughten

154. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the regulations covering the commercial vehicle roadworthiness certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4287/15]

Legislative Process

Dessie Ellis

155. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the implementation of Part 4 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2012 and the relevant Schedules; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some gardaí have been meeting with some taxi licence holders and telling them they will be disqualified upon implementation; and if this is correct procedure. [4340/15]

Air Navigation Orders

Clare Daly

156. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he is satisfied with existing arrangements between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the processing of exemptions for carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, and his plans to change the current system. [4331/15]

Taxi Regulations

Dessie Ellis

157. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he had discussions with the National Transport Authority regarding the changes to the taxi fares model and that consultative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4342/15]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

158. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the contact his Department has had with Aer Lingus and the Shannon Airport Authority regarding the way different actuarial assumptions were used in both companies in their recent proposals for future pension provision; and his views regarding same. [4334/15]

Tourism Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy in relation to the development of long distance greenways for cycling and walking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4292/15]

Sport and Recreational Development

Dessie Ellis

160. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for promoting women in sport in view of the successes of women athletes here. [4344/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Paul Murphy

161. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on discussions held with trade union representatives and community organisations on the sale of Aer Lingus. [4361/15]

Driver Licences

Thomas P. Broughan

162. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the discrepancies occurring when drivers fail to produce their licences in court, when drivers fail to surrender their licences and when judges omit to announce the number of penalty points in court. [4289/15]

Tourism Policy

Brendan Griffin

163. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on making 2016 a year of the home gathering, a nationwide year of Irish persons holidaying at home and going someplace here that they have never been before, with communities involved in the hosting of special events to mark a home gathering; his views on whether keeping even an additional 10% of Irish holidaymakers here rather than holidaying abroad would have a significant impact on the tourism sector and wider economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4295/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Bernard Durkan

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he is satisfied that any takeover of Aer Lingus will involve adequate protection for national interests such as continued access without restriction to all existing routes and landing provisions at airports worldwide and fundamental to the viability of the airline into the future; if he is satisfied that the regional airports are likely to be sufficiently provided for in such a way as to ensure not only their existence in the future but their continued growth and expansion; if he is satisfied that staffing levels are not reduced thereby restricting the scale and operations of the airline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Lucinda Creighton

165. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the proposed sale of Aer Lingus shares to IAG is in the best interest of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4359/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Ruth Coppinger

166. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether a sale of Aer Lingus will have an impact on employment, pensions, aviation services and tourism. [4363/15]

Public Transport

Timmy Dooley

167. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the current financial situation in the CIÉ group of companies; if he will provide an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4352/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Lucinda Creighton

168. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of representations in written or oral form he, his officials or advisers have received from a person (details supplied) seeking the appointment of persons to positions that fall under his remit since March 2011; if he will provide the details of the persons for whom the member made representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4284/15]

Office of the Attorney General

James Bannon

169. Deputy James Bannon asked the Taoiseach the number of staff currently employed in the Attorney General's office engaged in the drafting of legislation; if he is satisfied that there is sufficient staff and resources available to the office to facilitate the prompt and efficient drafting of the outstanding legislation in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4374/15]

National Flag

Finian McGrath

170. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Taoiseach the reason the Tricolour was flown at half-mast recently following the death of the King of Saudi Arabia, which country has the worst human rights record in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4378/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

171. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form for the years 2007 to 2010 the total photography costs for his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4500/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

172. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form for the years 1997 to 2007 the total photography costs for his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4516/15]

National Flag

Seán Crowe

173. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach if the flag over Government Buildings was flown at half-mast on 23 January 2015 to mark the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; if his office decided this action; if he requested other Departments to do the same; and the number of times flags have been flown at half-mast over Government Buildings for the death of foreign leaders since March 2011. [4519/15]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

174. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/15]

Paternity Leave Costs

Michael McGrath

175. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost associated with allowing four weeks of paternity benefit to fathers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4328/15]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Brendan Griffin

176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an appeal of a decision on a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [4330/15]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appealed decision to refuse a disability allowance on 3 July 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4416/15]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Bernard Durkan

179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when all arrears in respect of a carer's allowance application will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who applied in May 2014 but whose arrears have only been backdated to September 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4432/15]

Labour Activation Measures

Michael McGrath

181. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of education, training and activation measures that are open to persons who are unemployed but who are not in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance by virtue of the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4438/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Data

Michael McGrath

182. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has estimates of the number of persons who are unemployed but who are not in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance by virtue of the means test and are therefore not included in the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4439/15]

Job Initiatives

Jonathan O'Brien

184. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of all library and archiving related JobBridge positions in publicly funded bodies since the establishment of the scheme, including their duration and location. [4452/15]

Work Placement Programmes

Colm Keaveney

185. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on permitting persons on disability allowance to access Gateway and Tús schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4465/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

186. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010,inclusive, the total photography costs in her Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4499/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

187. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, for the years 1997 to 2007, inclusive, the total photography costs in her Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4515/15]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

189. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by her Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4549/15]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Bernard Durkan

190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when an oral hearing in respect of a carer's allowance application will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4566/15]

Job Initiatives

Dara Calleary

191. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there are circumstances in which a person can commence an internship prior to completing three months on jobseeker's allowance; her plans to change this restrictive rule in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4572/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance

Brendan Griffin

192. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4578/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Data

Róisín Shortall

193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who are on an age-related social welfare payments, with a breakdown by the number in each year of age. [4601/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Bernard Durkan

194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the grounds on which a new rent supplement form is required in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4606/15]

Living Alone Allowance

Frank Feighan

195. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason elderly persons living here who are in receipt of a United Kingdom pension are discriminated against by not being entitled to a living alone allowance, in view of the fact that this is not a means-tested benefit. [4612/15]

Carer's Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

196. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of carer's benefit and working 15 hours per week is entitled to be paid for public holidays under the Organisation of Working Time Act, for example, if that person can receive payment for a public holiday that is not a normally scheduled working day for that person; if that person will exceed the threshold of 15 hours per week working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4620/15]

Disability Allowance

Michael P. Kitt

200. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons with cystic fibrosis in receipt of disability allowance are allowed an easing of means-testing if, in the event of marriage, there are changes to their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4720/15]

Free Travel Scheme

Terence Flanagan

201. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide assurance that there are no plans to abolish the free travel passes for companions of the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4735/15]

Departmental Programmes

Noel Grealish

202. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the JobBridge programme as at 28 January 2015; the number of persons on community employment schemes, rural social schemes and any other job activation or social welfare schemes which remove persons from the live register, broken down by each scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4741/15]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Noel Grealish

203. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person aged over 55 years who commenced a community employment scheme in April 2013, having spent 156 weeks in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, can spend a maximum of six years of participation on a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4742/15]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

James Bannon

204. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Longford will receive notification from the social welfare appeals office regarding their current appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4780/15]

Registration of Births

Clare Daly

205. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to IT difficulties being experienced in the Dublin office of the registrar of births; if these IT difficulties have resulted in difficulties for clients in obtaining certificates (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4785/15]

Departmental Investigations

Mattie McGrath

206. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status, for social welfare purposes, of ESB meter readers; if they are considered self-employed or sub-contractors by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4787/15]

Social Welfare Overpayments

Bernard Durkan

208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the weekly amount by which repayment of overpayment in the period January 2013 to May 2014 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4807/15]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Mary Lou McDonald

209. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 4 November 2014 and in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 who was in dispute with the community employment sponsor, the role her Department has in cases where the person believes their representations to the sponsor and her Department have not been adequately dealt with; the mechanisms in place to deal with disputes between community employment participants and sponsors or her Department; her Department's policy on evidence required from participants relating to fitness to work; and the rights participants have to access information relating to them held by the sponsor organisations or her Department. [4832/15]

Social Insurance Payments

Maureen O'Sullivan

210. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out her views on the risk and if she will acknowledge the challenge in moving from unemployment to self-employment by considering an arrangement where self-employed persons contributing to social insurance fund at class S would be entitled to one jobseeker’s benefit claim, in other words, on the same basis as for class A contributors, but extending to no more than 15 months over the course of their career in self-employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4835/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the amount expended on rent allowance in each of the years from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, for Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4836/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

212. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that people at risk of homelessness in the greater Dublin area, that is, Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin, are treated no less favourably on the basis of the local authority they happen to be dealing with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4837/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

213. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to outline her views in respect of whether, when providing statistics on a local authority basis, her Department should provide figures separately, and generally, for each of the four Dublin local authority areas, that is, Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, and south County Dublin, rather than aggregating same, in view of the fact that no other sets of local authority areas are aggregated for statistical purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4838/15]

Social Insurance Refunds

Thomas P. Broughan

214. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the current one-year backlog for processing PRSI refunds; and the measures that will be put in place to ensure citizens receive entitled refunds in a timely manner. [4889/15]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

216. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that the community employment and employment services programmes are now only accepting persons on training if they can confirm they have a job secured when they leave the training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4939/15]

Water Conservation Grant

Pearse Doherty

217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the total anticipated cost of the water conservation grant to her Department including any additional administration requirements and so on; if she will provide a breakdown of these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4941/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Seán Kyne

219. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the rent supplement payment is permitted if the owner of the property is the son or daughter of the resident and potential recipient of the payment. [4949/15]

Community Employment Schemes Places

Brendan Griffin

222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there will be an adequate training budget to meet the three-year training requirements for participants in health and social care services community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4961/15]

Community Employment Schemes Places

Brendan Griffin

223. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the positions of participants on community employment schemes in the health and social care area remain with the existing main sponsor groups, as is the current situation throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4962/15]

Public Services Card Provision

David Stanton

225. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 17 and 30 of 5 March 2014, the progress that has been made with the roll-out of the new public services card to social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5020/15]

Community Welfare Services Provision

Catherine Murphy

226. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection whether front-line services provided by her Department to the individual citizen have suffered dramatically, given that many urban centres are without community welfare officer access and rely instead on a telephone number which is often not answered; whether she is aware that many persons attempting to make contact with CWOs are doing so in distressing situations; whether communication with these citizens has fallen to an unacceptable level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5024/15]

Family Income Supplement Data

Paul Murphy

227. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of public servants in receipt of family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47835/14]

Child Poverty

Richard Boyd Barrett

228. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has undertaken any impact analysis studies on the effect on children of the cut to the lone parent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2179/15]

Social Insurance Payments

Seán Kyne

229. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to alter the tax collection structure in a manner which would enable self-employed persons to make contributions that would provide income support in the event of business failure in view of the fact that the current social insurance system does not provide non-means tested support in the short term in such instances. [4690/15]