Parliamentary questions

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Peadar Tóibín

53. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of persons in County Meath whose rent supplement has been stopped following a review which found the rent paid was higher than the threshold allowed in 2013 and 2014. [49751/14]

Departmental Bodies Data

Patrick O'Donovan

54. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by her Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1020/15]

Decentralisation Programme Data

Patrick O'Donovan

55. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the agencies or sections from her Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1035/15]

Property Tax Administration

Clare Daly

56. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason three weeks local property tax was deducted from her Department's payments before Christmas. [1039/15]

Property Tax Administration

Clare Daly

57. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the week in 2015 that her Department will be reversing the extra local property tax debit and putting through a credit for social welfare recipients deducted an extra week before the year end. [1042/15]

Pension Provisions

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

58. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the pension schemes that became insolvent between 25 January 2007 and 25 December 2013 and which availed of the personal insolvency practitioners service; the size of each in terms of number of members; the name of the sponsoring employer; the scale of the deficit in each at the time of wind-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1049/15]

Social Welfare Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

59. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason that there is no disregard of €2,539.48 allowed for money received from agri-environmental schemes such as REPS-AEOS in the assessment of disability allowance; the reason there are different rules for the means assessment for schemes such as jobseeker's allowance, farm assist and State pension non-contributory, compared to disability allowance in this regard; her plans to change the law to correct this anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1061/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Alan Farrell

60. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the action she will take on a matter (details supplied), where a tenant in receipt of rent supplement did not pass this on to the landlord and, when this was reported to the local social welfare office on at least two occasions, payment to the tenant continued for several months; the further action she will take to more effectively prevent such abuse of the rent supplement system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1062/15]

Pension Provisions

Finian McGrath

61. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on State pensioners not having their the basic rates cut; if she will ask the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to reconsider its plans concerning this issue as this will have dire consequences on the pensioners who are rapidly reaching the poverty line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1075/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

62. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1165/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Michael Creed

64. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1194/15]

Illness Benefit Appeals

Martin Heydon

65. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision on an illness benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1195/15]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Mary Lou McDonald

66. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there are circumstances where a person over the age of 55 years who has been on community employment for three years can continue on this scheme or if there are other labour activation programmes available to such a person. [1245/15]

Maternity Benefit

Robert Troy

67. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost to extend paid maternity leave from 26 weeks to 52 weeks over a five-year period: year 1, 26 weeks to 36 weeks; year 2, 36 weeks to 40 weeks; year 3, 40 weeks to 44 weeks; year 4, 44 weeks to 48 weeks; year 5, 48 weeks to 52 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1269/15]

Pension Provisions

Finian McGrath

69. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1324/15]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Ruth Coppinger

70. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average time between an appeal of a decision being registered and the appeal being considered; the causes of delays; the steps her Department is taking to make any necessary improvement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1333/15]

Community Services Programme

David Stanton

71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to reopen the community services programme to new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1346/15]

Insolvency Payments Scheme Payments

Jim Daly

73. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when her Department will have completed a review to decide if payments can be made to persons under the insolvency payments scheme after being made redundant by companies which have not been liquidated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1378/15]

Insolvency Payments Scheme Payments

Jim Daly

74. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have applied to her Department for a payment from the insolvency payments scheme but do not qualify as the employer has not been liquidated for each of the past seven years; the value of these application to the applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1379/15]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Peadar Tóibín

75. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will meet with a representative group of the Tara Mine pensioners to discuss proposed cuts to payments arising from the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014. [1386/15]

Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís

Éamon Ó Cuív

76. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Tánaiste agus Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1437/15]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Data

Brendan Griffin

77. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a supplementary welfare exceptional needs payment will be provided for persons in need of urgent dental treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1457/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Jack Wall

80. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1482/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Jerry Buttimer

81. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review rent supplement levels as early as possible during 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1510/15]

Citizen Information Services

Jerry Buttimer

82. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will commence section 5 of the Citizens Information Act 2007, which provides for the establishment of the personal advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1516/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

83. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of host organisations on the JobBridge programme that have taken on between one and four interns; the number that have taken on five to nine interns; the number that have taken on ten to 20 interns; the number that have taken on 21 to 50 interns; the number that have taken on 51 to 100 interns; and those that have taken on 101 or more since the commencement of the programme in July 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1583/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

84. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of interns placed with the five host organisations that have taken on the highest number of interns since the commencement of the scheme in July 2011; if these organisations are in the private, public and-or community and voluntary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1584/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

85. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of host organisations that have been excluded from participation in the JobBridge scheme; if she will provide a breakdown of the reasons for the exclusion since the commencement of the scheme in July 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1585/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

86. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in a tabular form the number of participants who have commenced a JobBridge internship in each Department, public body and agency since the commencement of the programme in July 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1586/15]

Youth Guarantee

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

87. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers under 25 years of age by county in tabular form who to date have been offered and completed a personal progression plan as part of the Youth Guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1587/15]

Youth Guarantee

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

88. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers under 25 years on a PEX score basis in tabular form who have been offered and completed a personal progression plan as part of the Youth Guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1588/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

89. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the youth development internship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1589/15]

Job Initiatives

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

90. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employers who have signed up to the employment and Youth activation charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1590/15]

Job Initiatives

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

91. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers on the live register who have been interviewed for positions under the employment and youth activation charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1591/15]

Job Initiatives

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

92. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers on the live register who have been employed under the Employment and Youth Activation Charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1592/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

93. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to conduct a second evaluation of the JobBridge scheme in view of the recommendation in the Indecon report published in April 2013 that such an evaluation should be conducted every two years and should include a control group analysis to ascertain the effectiveness of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1593/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

94. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants who have commenced an internship to date on the JobBridge scheme aged under 25 years; the number aged 25 to 34 years; the number aged 35 to 44 years; the number 45 to 54 years and the number aged over 55 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1594/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

95. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the JobBridge scheme in the high, medium and low PEX category who have commenced an internship to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1595/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

96. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has undertaken or plans to undertake an analysis of the progression rates to employment for JobBridge interns in the 310 host organisations that have taken on ten or more interns under the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1596/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

97. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 327 of 30 April 2014, if her Department will collect data on the number of times the cooling off period has been waived under the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1597/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

98. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of internships positions advertised on the JobBridge website since its establishment; the number of these advertised positions which have never been filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1598/15]

Employment Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

99. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of jobseekers who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative since July 2013; the number of these jobseekers who are still in employment; the number who are no longer in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1599/15]

Employment Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

100. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of employers who have employed one jobseeker under the JobsPlus scheme; the number who have employed two jobseekers; the number who have employed three jobseekers; the number who have employed four or more jobseekers under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1600/15]

Employment Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

101. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out any analysis of the pay levels of participants on the JobsPlus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1601/15]

Employment Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

102. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of systematic short time workers in receipt of social welfare payments or credits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1602/15]

Employment Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

103. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of week-on, week-off workers in receipt of social welfare payments or credits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1603/15]

Live Register Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

104. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the number of part-time and casual workers on the live register who are under 25 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1604/15]

Respite Care Grant Data

Jack Wall

105. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set down the number of persons who received the respite grant in each of the past three years, by county, in tabular form; the cost to the Exchequer for each of the years of the grant, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1623/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Derek Nolan

107. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider her Department's eligibility requirements for separated parents in respect of their accommodation needs in light of a recent court ruling (details supplied) from October 2014; if this ruling will be taken into consideration in the decision-making process in respect of the needs of their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1636/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Tom Fleming

108. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of all consultancy firms engaged by her Department during 2014; if she will also provide details of all the relevant fees paid to those firms during the period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1673/15]