Parliamentary questions

Departmental Staff Data

Niamh Smyth

214. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archives Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19614/16]

Schools Amalgamation

Jack Chambers

215. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the amalgamation of three schools (details supplied) which share a campus for funding purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19629/16]

Departmental Properties

Michael Ring

216. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if will relinquish a long-term lease held on a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19632/16]

State Examinations

Michael D'Arcy

217. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a reader for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19637/16]

Special Educational Needs

James Browne

218. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) has a special needs unit; if so, the number of clients it currently has; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19648/16]

School Curriculum

Richard Boyd Barrett

219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put Mandarin on the curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19656/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Jackie Cahill

220. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any changes planned in the medium to long term to adjust the minimum number of pupils required either up or down to maintain a two-teacher school that currently has 19 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19681/16]

School Transport Provision

John McGuinness

221. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements he will put in place to provide school transport for persons (details supplied); if he will approve an application under the school bus transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19691/16]

Site Acquisitions

Michael McGrath

222. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his progress in identifying and securing a permanent site for a primary school (details supplied); when construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19702/16]

Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh

Éamon Ó Cuív

223. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aige airgead breise mar atá iarrtha a chur ar fáil le hobair a dhéanamh ar scoil (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [19711/16]

Scéimeanna Rannach

Éamon Ó Cuív

224. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén fáth nach bhfuil iompar scoile curtha ar fáil do scoláire chuig an nGaelscoil is gaire a bhfuil folúntas inti de bharr go bhfuil cónaí ar an scoláire níos mó ná 4.8 ciliméadar ón scoil; agus cén fáth a bhfuil go leor scoláirí eile sa gceantar ina bhfuil cónaí ar an scoláire seo ag freastal ar an scoil chéanna sna cúinsí céanna; an bhfuil an scoláire i dteideal Dheontas na gCeantar Iargúlta mura bhfuil córas iompair curtha ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [19713/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

225. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his progress on the planned construction of the new amalgamated primary school in Monasterevin, County Kildare; when the project will move to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19720/16]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Pat the Cope Gallagher

226. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will announce the second tranche of the summer works scheme for primary and secondary schools; if he is aware that many schools are urgently awaiting an announcement relating to mechanical works, toilet facilities, roof works, window projects, curricular requirement projects and other structural improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/16]

Summer Works Scheme Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

227. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary and secondary schools in County Donegal he has approved for funding under the summer works scheme to date under various headings, including projects for special needs and emergency works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19743/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Willie Penrose

228. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to provide accommodation to facilitate a school (details supplied) which has been upgraded and granted a fourth teacher with effect from September 2016, given that it is urgent to have this matter sorted without delay as the installation of a portacabin will take time and effort in order to have it ready of the academic year in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19788/16]

Teacher Recruitment

Niall Collins

229. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will assist in having a teaching post reinstated as per correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19815/16]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

David Cullinane

230. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional public sector staff hired in his Department over and above those who had retired or left the service, that is, new positions only as and from 31 December 2010, broken down for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20141/16]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

David Cullinane

231. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new public sector workers in his Department hired to replace retiring staff and those who left the Department in each of the years 2013 to 2015; the overall percentage of staff turnover this represents; the cost or savings in payroll and pensions accrued, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20150/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Mary Butler

232. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why he is discriminating against persons living in council properties who earn under €15,000 per annum and who have lived in their home for in excess of 40 years by denying them the opportunity to purchase the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19362/16]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Carol Nolan

233. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the wind turbine regulation guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19382/16]

Local Authority Services

Joan Burton

234. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the supports in place for development and protection of county archive services to preserve local cultural patrimony. [19828/16]

Proposed Legislation

Barry Cowen

235. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill into the Oireachtas; and the reason for the delays in legislating to give effect to the seventh amendment of the Constitution. [19070/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Michael Ring

236. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of social housing, given the funding his Department allocated for housing units (details supplied); the stage this project is at and if it has gone to tender; if not, when it will go to tender and when works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19128/16]

An Bord Pleanála Appointments

Michael Ring

237. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to detail the current members of An Bord Pleanála; when these members were appointed to the board; when new members will be appointed to the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19170/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Jack Chambers

238. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allow a person (details supplied) to be included in the tenant purchase scheme; the criteria of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19177/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Jack Chambers

239. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allow a person (details supplied) to be included in the tenant purchase scheme; the criteria of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19178/16]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Brendan Griffin

240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19186/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Richard Boyd Barrett

241. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the use of bin tags in houses that are unable to have wheelie bins will be affected by the new waste management legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/16]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Funding

Eoin Ó Broin

242. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to the mortgage to rent scheme, per year, since the scheme was introduced in 2012; and the amount of this allocation that has been spent per year since 2012, in tabular form. [19253/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Darragh O'Brien

243. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that a person's home is remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Darragh O'Brien

244. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that the home of a person (details supplied) is remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19336/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Tom Neville

245. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the clause stating no sale will be completed for a tenant who cannot prove that his or her water bills with Irish Water are up to date and will be removed from the tenant purchase scheme if the water charges are suspended. [19371/16]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications

Michael McGrath

246. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a mortgage to rent case for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Clare Daly

247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a company (details supplied) is in breach of consumer protection legislation and-or the customer charter for household waste collection by automatically opting customers into its pay-by-weight system unless the customer contacts the company themselves by 1 August 2016 to state that they wish to opt out and avail of the 12-month price freeze announced by Government; if the company gave customers sufficient information regarding their options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19447/16]

Local Authority Finances

Barry Cowen

248. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total debts of each local authority to date, in tabular form. [19449/16]

Local Authority Finances

Barry Cowen

249. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to identify and address unsustainable debt problems in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19450/16]

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

Jan O'Sullivan

250. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider extending the homeless housing assistance payment scheme pilot to other cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19524/16]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

251. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of approvals that have been given to local authorities under the streamlining process for funding whereby developments of social housing with 15 units or less or of under €2 million in cost entail only a single funding submission; if he has discussed this process with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19526/16]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Jan O'Sullivan

252. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority mortgage loans that have been approved through local authority schemes, including the home choice loan scheme, in 2015 and to date in 2016; his views on the fact that loans administered by local authorities can play a greater role in accessing mortgages for middle income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19527/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Jan O'Sullivan

253. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of his discussions with waste collection companies, he will allow areas that currently include bag collection to continue to do so until there is a resolution to the issue of high standing charges as that charge is generally incorporated into the price of the bag and many elderly persons put bags out infrequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19529/16]

Local Authority Housing

Kevin O'Keeffe

254. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the length of time it takes for his Department to complete and make the necessary payment to a local authority in respect of property purchased under the Part V condition of a planning application and on receipt of the application from the respective local authority. [19542/16]

Local Authority Housing Data

Kevin O'Keeffe

255. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by each local authority and the number paid for by the State since January 2015, in tabular form. [19545/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Darragh O'Brien

256. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the remediation works under the pyrite remediation scheme will commence at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19566/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Darragh O'Brien

257. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the remediation works under the pyrite remediation scheme will commence at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19567/16]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Clare Daly

258. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to change the net income limits for social housing applicant households. [19568/16]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Criteria

Richard Boyd Barrett

259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is assessing payments under the disability allowance scheme and the family income supplement scheme for rent purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Niamh Smyth

260. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when works on a building (details supplied) will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19588/16]

Departmental Records

Niamh Smyth

261. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archive Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19615/16]

Electoral Reform

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

262. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a referendum on lowering the voting age to 16 years of age, given no reference was made to it in the programme for Government. [19650/16]

Electoral Commission Establishment

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

263. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he envisions an electoral commission in the lifetime of the Government or if he has a proposed timeline or target date for establishment of an electoral commission. [19651/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Eugene Murphy

264. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an exemption for existing waste collection customers who pay by a tag system for their refuse collection but who are now being treated as first-time customers and are being subjected to a service charge and a pay-by-weight system despite the fact that the pay-by-weight charges have been frozen for 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19657/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

265. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Shannon, County Clare, which should result in the creation of 15 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19668/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

266. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Quilty, County Clare, which should result in the creation of ten housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19669/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

267. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Ennis, County Clare, which should result in the creation of seven housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19670/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

268. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Doonbeg, County Clare, which should result in the creation of 12 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19671/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

269. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Thomas Davis Street in Cork city which should result in the creation of 35 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19672/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

270. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Vincent Avenue, St. Mary's Road in Cork city which should result in the creation of 25 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19673/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

271. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Boyces Street in Cork city which should result in the creation of 12 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19674/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

272. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Friar's Walk in Cork city which should result in the creation of four housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19675/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

273. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at St John's Well in Cork city which should result in the creation of two housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19676/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

274. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Lough Road in Cork city which should result in the creation of two housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19677/16]

Recycling Policy

Catherine Martin

275. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a scheme in relation to recycling facilities for tin, aluminium, which pays the person based on the quantity recycled as an incentive to recycle said materials; if he is aware of issues raised on a television programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19682/16]

Local Government Reform

Fergus O'Dowd

276. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the efficiency of local government, including its financial and organisational remit, and best practice in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/16]

Housing Assistance Payments Data

Eoin Ó Broin

277. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide the figures on increases under the housing assistance programme taking effect from 1 July 2016 by county in tabular form. [19778/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Fergus O'Dowd

278. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that users of the tag on the bag system of waste management who are not weekly users will not be required to pay a service charge along with the tag lift charge under new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19781/16]

Public Sector Staff Data

David Cullinane

279. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of additional public sector staff hired in his Department over and above those who had retired or left the service, that is, new positions only as and from 31 December, 2010, broken down for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20142/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

280. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19165/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Thomas P. Broughan

281. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the State pension payments by €10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19342/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Thomas P. Broughan

282. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing disability allowance by €10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19343/16]

Carer's Support Grant

Aindrias Moynihan

283. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carer's support grants paid during June 2016; if all of the automatic renewals have been paid; and if not, the number which remain unpaid and when they will be paid. [19404/16]

Child Benefit Data

Thomas P. Broughan

284. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of restoring child benefit to families with children in full-time second level education but who have reached 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19419/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Thomas P. Broughan

285. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing basic social protection rates for the jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, illness benefit and carer’s allowance by €5 and €10 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19420/16]

Artists' Remuneration

Joan Burton

286. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the supports for working artists in the social protection system; and if he will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves (details supplied). [19817/16]

Jobseeker's Benefit

James Lawless

287. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has had their jobseeker's payment stopped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/16]

Carer's Allowance Waiting Times

Mattie McGrath

288. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for processing carer's allowance appeals in the social protection appeals office; the assistance available to persons who are providing full time care without any social protection payment during this time; the efforts he will make to reduce the waiting times in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19099/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19105/16]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Seán Fleming

290. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance can receive up to €20 per week for helping to feed their dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19183/16]

State Pensions

Thomas P. Broughan

291. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons resident here in receipt of a United Kingdom pension; the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom, by area in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in receipt of an Irish State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/16]

Community Services Programme

Michael Healy-Rae

292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for the minimum wage support fund by a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19198/16]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Danny Healy-Rae

293. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19209/16]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Danny Healy-Rae

294. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Danny Healy-Rae

295. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application for a person (details supplied) under the invalidity allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19211/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19255/16]

Redundancy Payments

Michael McGrath

297. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims under the redundancy payments scheme in tabular form in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date. [19259/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19260/16]

Social Welfare Fraud Investigations

John McGuinness

299. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 23 June 2016, if it was the fraud section of his Department that investigated this matter; if payment of contributions continued after 2008, as to date this person has not been issued with a P45; the action that was taken by the fraud section following the discussion by phone with this person; if this person's future pension entitlements will be adversely affected by not having contributions credited to them while they were in employment after 2008; and if he will provide the contribution records. [19339/16]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

John Lahart

300. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection why spinal injuries are excluded from the list of long-term illnesses in the awarding of benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/16]

Training Support Grant

John Curran

301. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has been approved for funding for an educational course by their local Intreo office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19373/16]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

302. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the range of reforms of community employment eligibility recently proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19439/16]

Community Employment Schemes Places

Kevin O'Keeffe

303. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the community employment programme for participants over the age of 60 by increasing the number of places allocated within each individual scheme from 7% to include all participants over that age category to remain on the scheme until they reach retirement age. [19506/16]

Social Welfare Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

304. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which investments in shares, annuities, AVCs and insurance policies, including mortgage protection policies on a person's primary dwelling, are assessed for various means tested payments, including carer's allowance, disability allowance, dependent adult allowances, non-contributory pension, jobseeker's allowance and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19517/16]

Disability Allowance Eligibility

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

305. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused disability allowance. [19532/16]

Community Services Programme

Niamh Smyth

306. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will intervene to prevent cuts to funding at a location (details supplied); the reason such cuts are being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19590/16]

Family Income Supplement Applications

James Lawless

307. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for family income support allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19592/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Ruth Coppinger

308. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection why he has increased the maximum rent limits at a lower rate in Fingal than in other areas in County Dublin under the rent supplement scheme, given the acute housing crisis in the Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19594/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Niamh Smyth

309. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archives Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19622/16]

Community Work Initiatives

Billy Kelleher

310. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will allow an increase in the self-referral percentage for Tús work placement initiative participants in Cork from the current 20% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19635/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Bernard Durkan

311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19643/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Bernard Durkan

312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19644/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Willie O'Dea

313. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost in 2017 of increasing all working age payments, including the costs of proportionate increases for qualified adults, by €10, listing all working age payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/16]