Parliamentary questions

Housing Provision

Alan Kelly

379. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the construction project at Dale Road, Kilmacud under Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which should result in the creation of four housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22655/16]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Catherine Murphy

380. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the number of social housing units in the area of Fingal County Council where fire safety structural deficiencies have been detected over the past ten years; the number of units per housing scheme or development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22694/16]

Departmental Staff

Seán Sherlock

381. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of politically appointed staff working in his Department, including the names, roles and salaries of each staff member; in the case of special advisers, their qualifications and experience relevant to their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22731/16]

Capital Assistance Scheme Applications

Brendan Griffin

382. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an application under the capital assistance scheme by a housing association (details supplied) was unsuccessful. [22749/16]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Eoin Ó Broin

383. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has taken a decision to have those households whose income is above the specified eligibility thresholds removed from local authority housing lists as part of the 2016 social housing assessment; if this decision has been explicitly highlighted by departmental officials in recent briefing meetings with local authority staff in preparation for the social housing assessment 2016; if so, the level of excess household income which would determine whether a household that is €1 above the threshold, a nominal amount above the threshold, or a percentage above the threshold would be removed from the list; the number of households which were removed from the local authority lists in 2013 for having exceeded the household income threshold; and the reason he is not taking into account high rent levels, high child care costs or other household costs when making the income assessments. [22753/16]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Barry Cowen

384. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding announced for capital funding housing units that has been recouped by each local authority in 2015 and 2016 to date; the number of units this funding has provided; and to provide a breakdown by each local authority area, [22797/16]

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Barry Cowen

385. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide figures on the amount allocated to each local authority to provide emergency homeless assistance in 2016; and to provide a breakdown on a local authority area basis. [22800/16]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Barry Cowen

386. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government whether the cap of €30,000 imposed on his Department for refurbishment of vacant local authority units has been lifted; the number of applications for funding for vacant social housing refurbishment that were received by his Department in 2015 and in 2016; which local authorities these were from and the number of units; and the number of applications for individual units which were refused. [22801/16]

North-South Ministerial Council

Brendan Smith

387. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date for the next meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment in sectoral format, as provided for in the North-South Ministerial Council; the issues to be discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22859/16]

Wind Energy Generation

Éamon Ó Cuív

388. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an inspector will be appointed to examine the issue of setback from dwellings of proposed new wind energy projects; when it is hoped to report the terms of reference of the examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22863/16]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Brendan Griffin

389. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 28 June 2016, if voluntary housing associations are required to announce meetings, and, if so, whether these meetings are publicly announced; and if the VHA board members receive training for their positions. [22877/16]

Architectural Qualifications

John McGuinness

390. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the engagement he had with the European Union, relative to the Building Control Act 2007, and Article 46 of Directive 2005-36-EC, on the recognition of professional qualifications; if members of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, who are recognised to practise legally here, and use the suffix MRIAI (Irl), will be recognised to practise in the EU, as part of a review of the directive; if he is pressing this case with the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22907/16]

Social Welfare Schemes

Eugene Murphy

391. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to replace the JobBridge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21951/16]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Noel Grealish

392. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the operation of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service dedicated mortgage arrears services launched late in 2015; the numbers of home owners the court mentoring service has helped and the number it has helped to avoid repossession, listed by county; if it is operating in all court areas and, in the case of areas where it is not operating in all court areas, and in the case of areas where it is not operating, the reason they are not included; the amount of funding allocated to MABS; the number of advisers it has employed in each of the past five years; and the projected allocation for 2016. [22088/16]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

393. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the backlog for assessing medical evidence in respect of schemes is causing significant hardship and delays to families awaiting outcomes of assessments of new claims and those supplying further medical evidence; the way in which he will address this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21926/16]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

394. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he has resourced the team conducting the assessments of medical evidence in respect of social protection schemes; the number of full-time equivalent staff he has working on processing the medical evidence; the number of outstanding claims; the length of time for the backlogs per scheme; the delays citizens can reasonably expect when submitting medical evidence to his Department; the way in which he intends to innovate for families awaiting outcomes of assessments of new claims and those supplying further medical evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21927/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Deering

395. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on an application under the carer's allowance scheme. [21928/16]

Departmental Reviews

Denise Mitchell

396. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the determinations of the interdepartmental working group viewing the increased incidence of workers being classified as self-employed but not possessing the features of self-employment; and the impact this has on tax and PRSI payments. [21940/16]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Mary Butler

397. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding of the community employment programme 2015 under the headings in budget and actual amounts in participant allowances, supervision, materials and training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21962/16]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Mary Butler

398. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors in each region of his Department who are due to retire or reach 66 years of age for the years 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21963/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Brendan Griffin

399. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21964/16]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Appeals

Richard Boyd Barrett

400. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to a person who cannot work due to illness in order to pay their mortgage in the absence of the mortgage interest supplement which is being phased out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21966/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Thomas Byrne

401. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address inequalities in the pension system for women, particularly those who left the workforce to rear children before 1994; if he will address the glaring impact the increase in the required number of paid contributions made in recent years has had on women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21992/16]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Applications

Bernard Durkan

402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application by a person (details supplied) for a back-to-school allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22019/16]

Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review of eligibility for the insolvency payments scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22020/16]

Departmental Funding

Ruth Coppinger

404. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the State funding provided by his Department and agencies under its remit to non-profit or non-governmental organisations for each year from 2008 to 2015. [22046/16]

Departmental Funding

Ruth Coppinger

405. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the State funding provided by his Department and agencies under its remit to faith-based non-profit organisations for each year from 2008 to 2015. [22047/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22106/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

407. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22108/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22109/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Joan Collins

409. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will decide on an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); the average waiting time for such applications to be assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22119/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Joan Collins

410. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department received an application for a carer's allowance from a person (details supplied); when payment of the allowance will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22120/16]

Labour Activation Projects

Fiona O'Loughlin

411. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the safeguards he has put in place to assure jobseekers who have been selected for the JobPath activation scheme that they will not end up being forced into unsuitable and inappropriate jobs; if this can be avoided given that participation in JobPath is mandatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22124/16]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Fiona O'Loughlin

412. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to reduce the waiting time of 19 weeks before applications for carer's allowance are examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22125/16]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the partial capacity benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22166/16]

Exceptional Needs Payment Applications

Bernard Durkan

414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an exceptional needs payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22175/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Lisa Chambers

415. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an application for a disability allowance which was lodged on 26 May 2016 for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22201/16]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

416. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will intervene in a case to ensure that a person (details supplied) is not required to make a new carer's allowance application for a relation. [22209/16]

Invalidity Pension Waiting Times

Lisa Chambers

417. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/16]

Carer's Support Grant

Brendan Griffin

418. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a carer's support grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22215/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Brendan Griffin

419. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22218/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22220/16]

Disability Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22226/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

422. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22227/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

423. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22233/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

424. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22275/16]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Michael Ring

425. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be reached on a carer’s allowance review for a person (details supplied). [22276/16]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Pat Breen

426. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22279/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

427. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22284/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Pat Breen

428. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22285/16]