Parliamentary questions

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding his breakfast meeting with the Vice President of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Biden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12766/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

2. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding his meeting with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding discussions on the undocumented Irish with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12768/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding discussions on Northern Ireland with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12769/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the bilateral meetings he attended while in the United States of America in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12770/15]

Official Engagements

Denis Naughten

6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions regarding the undocumented Irish during his recent visit to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12776/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the United States of America in March 2015. [12782/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he met with members of the Irish-American community during his visit to the United States of America in March 2015. [12783/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

9. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12784/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

10. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he raised the Stormont House Agreement with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, and with the leaders of the Congress of the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12785/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

11. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he raised the case of Mr. Pat Finucane with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, and with leaders of the Congress of the United States of America during his visit to the United States of America in March 2015. [12786/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

12. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he met any of the lobby groups working with the undocumented Irish and other groups in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12787/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

13. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he met with business leaders during his visit to the United States of America in March 2015. [12788/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

14. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of the undocumented Irish with the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, and the Government of the United States of America during his visit in March 2015. [12789/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

15. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, during his Saint Patrick’s Day visit concerning the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/15]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

16. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, regarding the plight of the increasing number of refugees arising from the conflicts in the Middle East. [12792/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

17. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the business leaders he met while in the United States of America in March 2015; if double taxation was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15196/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

18. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met groups representing the undocumented Irish while in the United States of America; if progress has been made in relation to the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15199/15]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

19. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the names of the Senate representatives in the United States of America with whom he met to discuss the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15200/15]

Official Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the outcome of discussions regarding the undocumented Irish in the United States of America at his meeting with the American President, Mr. Barack Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32856/15]

Special Educational Needs Data

Charlie McConalogue

121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns regarding the new system of allocation of special needs assistants that is being piloted this year; her plans to address the long waiting times for special needs assessment by the National Educational Psychological Service. [34079/15]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Jonathan O'Brien

122. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the primary school pupil-teacher ratio by one point for each of the next five years, accounting for rising demographics; and the cost of additional school and classroom building to cater for reduced class sizes during each of these years. [34191/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Ruth Coppinger

123. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's involvement in the process of constructing an access road to a planned school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the resulting delay in the opening of this new school building; if this will result in students continuing to travel to temporary off-site accommodation; her views on the impact this delay is having on the much-needed sports pitches and facilities for the Tyrrelstown community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34032/15]

State Examinations Reviews

Charlie McConalogue

124. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals for progressing with junior certificate reform following the rejection of the proposals by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34080/15]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Ruth Coppinger

125. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the failure to lodge a planning application on time for a temporary building for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15, given that children in the school have started the school year in a gymnasium without natural light, adequate ventilation, or a play area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34033/15]

School Curriculum

Seán Kyne

126. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the context of the reform of the junior certificate, the changes that are planned for the Irish language curriculum with particular reference to the spoken language elements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33953/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

127. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that parents in County Cork are finding it difficult to access mainstream secondary school places for their children with autism, in view of the unavailability of resources at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will set out her plans to rectify the lack of mainstream places for children with autism as a matter of urgency. [33939/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Charlie McConalogue

128. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on a preferred site for new school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be made; the reason for the delay in securing a site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33955/15]

Bullying in Schools

Bernard Durkan

129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which her Department continues to monitor the level of school bullying at primary and second level schools; if particular issues have arisen which may benefit from specific attention; if traditional methods of dealing with the issue continue to be effective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33936/15]

School Funding

Thomas Pringle

130. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns of the Irish National Teachers Organisation with regard to schools in rural Ireland, including the issues of class sizes, funding inequality between primary and secondary schools and the increased workload for many school teachers and principals who lack the support of a middle-management infrastructure in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33981/15]

State Examinations Reviews

Jonathan O'Brien

131. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of junior cycle reforms. [33940/15]

School Patronage

Charlie McConalogue

132. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made in providing a greater choice of school patronage to parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33954/15]

Student Accommodation

Terence Flanagan

133. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on concerns regarding the shortage of accommodation for university students; the steps she is taking to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33959/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Michael McGrath

134. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the substandard accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if her Department plans to consolidate the infant school within the same site as the remainder of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33942/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration

Helen McEntee

135. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to her speech at the IMPACT conference in County Galway in September 2015, her plans to improve the working conditions and salaries of special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33979/15]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Terence Flanagan

136. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action that is being taken to reduce primary school class sizes to the European Union average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33960/15]

School Absenteeism

Ruth Coppinger

137. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has analysed the impact that homelessness has on school attendance, the education of pupils and the life of schools; her plans to address these matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33975/15]

Student Accommodation

Ruth Coppinger

138. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will take to provide for affordable student accommodation; her views that the lack of such accommodation has an impact on accessibility to third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33977/15]

School Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

139. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to fund primary schools in the same manner as secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33949/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Michelle Mulherin

140. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the student grant scheme and the student support regulations in order that erstwhile legally resident Student Universal Support Ireland applicants who are deemed to be ineligible because they have not met the residency conditions, as they have worked overseas for a number of years as unpaid volunteers doing charitable work in some of the world's most deprived places, will be eligible for higher education grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33965/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

141. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when architectural tender documents will be issued for the development of new permanent buildings to replace current prefabricated units at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33956/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

142. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a recent analysis (details supplied) which provides evidence that there are severe socio-economic inequalities in access to special needs supports across schools and pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33957/15]

Physical Education

David Stanton

143. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the role of physical education as part of the curriculum at primary and second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33963/15]

School Management

Jonathan O'Brien

144. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to hold an inquiry into the schools using resource hours for administrative duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33937/15]

Languages Programme

Charlie McConalogue

145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for improving foreign language education at primary and secondary level to address the deficit of foreign language skills among the population. [33958/15]

Educational Projects

Bernard Durkan

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to be in a position to make adequate provision through the capital works programme to meet the full preschool, primary, second, third and fourth level current and future educational needs in all areas throughout the country, having particular regard to demographic trends, overcrowded classrooms, the schools building programme, special needs, and the challenge of the varying and increasing demands of the workplace and apprenticeships; if she is satisfied that the plans in place remain adequate to meet the challenges of an expanding economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33935/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ruth Coppinger

147. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the newspaper report (details supplied) which indicated that wealthier areas are accessing more resource teaching than poorer areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33974/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Mick Wallace

148. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the current special needs assistant allocation levels in the education system, particularly in the early years of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33950/15]

Education Policy

Ruth Coppinger

149. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for primary school education; if she has any plans to restore teachers' pay and conditions, including newly qualified teachers; to reduce class sizes to 20 pupils; to reverse cuts to the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; to reverse cuts to special needs education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33978/15]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reduce class sizes to the European Union average; the measures she plans to put in place to address this problem; when these measures will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33948/15]

Physical Education

David Stanton

151. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the importance of physical education, in particular swimming, for primary and secondary school students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33964/15]

School Patronage

Ruth Coppinger

152. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the lack of diversity of school patronage in areas of high multicultural populations, such as west Dublin at both primary and secondary levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33976/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Michelle Mulherin

153. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills given her decision to allow students in protection to be provided access to student supports, if she will also consider extending eligibility to erstwhile legally resident Student Universal Support Ireland applicants who have worked overseas for a number of years as unpaid volunteers, so as not to discourage overseas volunteering by Irish residents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33945/15]

Education Schemes

Clare Daly

154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views regarding whether she has considered the patronage, access, curriculum, and teaching proposals from Atheist Ireland with regard to delivering equality in our schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33961/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Denis Naughten

155. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to support broadband provision for adult and further education and training centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33967/15]

Education Policy

Clare Daly

156. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has taken note of the Irish National Teachers Organisation's Stand Up for Primary Education campaign; and the steps she plans to take to address the issues that are the focus of this campaign. [33962/15]

School Enrolments Data

Denis Naughten

157. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who left primary school in summer 2014 and who failed to enrol in a secondary level school in September 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33966/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Seán Kyne

158. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of her Department's pre-fabricated replacement scheme if she will provide a list of the number of schools which have benefitted nationally, and also in counties Galway and Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33952/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael McGrath

159. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the promised delivery of two new prefabricated units at a school (details supplied) in County Cork to properly cater for the junior infants intake for the 2015-2016 school year; the steps being taken to provide further temporary accommodation for the planned intake of two junior infant classes for the 2016-2017 school year; the progress being made in securing a site for the promised permanent school building; the timeframe for the construction of this building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33943/15]

School Discipline

Jonathan O'Brien

160. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has ever sought legal advice on the operation of prone restraint and seclusion rooms in schools; if she will provide the details of this advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33941/15]

Special Educational Needs Data

Jonathan O'Brien

161. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children requiring resource hours of any kind during each year since 2009; and if she will provide an update on the National Council for Special Education reformed allocation system. [33938/15]

Counselling Services Provision

Mick Wallace

162. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to re-introduce a policy for dedicated guidance counselling services in all secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33951/15]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

163. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the matter of pupil teacher ratios in Budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33944/15]

Live Register Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

164. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of persons on the live register; of these, the number on the live register for fewer than 12 months; from 12 plus to 24 months; 24 plus to 36 months; and for 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34358/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Micheál Martin

165. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in the Government Information Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34055/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Micheál Martin

166. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of staff responsible for the website merrionstreet.ie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34056/15]

Northern Ireland

Micheál Martin

167. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Cameron, since the talks began in Northern Ireland on 21 September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34058/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Patrick O'Donovan

168. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of the numbers of supernumerary positions in his Department, and those agencies, organisations or bodies funded by his Department; the maximum period in each case that supernumerary positions have existed; the total cost in maintaining supernumerary positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34149/15]

Quarterly National Household Survey

Paul Connaughton

169. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Taoiseach the level of employment in Tuam in County Galway and the surrounding region for the years 2011 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of persons on the live register in each of these years; the level of part-time employment versus full-time employment in the region; the level of youth unemployment or under-employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33733/15]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Clare Daly

170. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on justice reform has met. [34224/15]

Departmental Reports

Clare Daly

171. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach if he will lay the reports received under section 100 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 before the Houses of the Oireachtas since he took office, as required by the legislation. [34225/15]

Ministerial Travel

Jonathan O'Brien

172. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet handbook protocol requires Ministers to consult him in advance of international visits as to whether a spouse may accompany them; if a Minister of State (details supplied) did so for recent travel to Brussels in Belgium; the response received to the request; the number of such requests made during each year since 2011; and the number of those requests acceded to. [34311/15]

Back to Education Allowance

Michael Fitzmaurice

173. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number in receipt of the back to education allowance for the academic year 2014-2015 and the academic year 2015-2016; the total spend by the Government on the back to education allowance during both of these academic years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34348/15]

Paternity Leave Scheme

Eric J. Byrne

174. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans for paternity benefit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34245/15]

Disability Allowance Eligibility

Michael Ring

175. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive arrears of a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33996/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

176. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when arrears of a disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34021/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Róisín Shortall

177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average waiting times from the point of application to a decision being made in respect of each social welfare payment. [34045/15]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Charlie McConalogue

178. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a review of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34047/15]

Rural Social Scheme Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

179. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that the rural social scheme is an income support scheme for rural dwellers, that it is not a job activation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34070/15]

Disability Allowance Applications

Tom Fleming

181. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and reinstate a disability allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34097/15]

Tax Code

Eric J. Byrne

182. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to deal with employers who, having deducted pay related social Insurance from an employee, do not pay this over to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34106/15]

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Pat Rabbitte

183. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for an update on the new personal microcredit scheme currently being developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34126/15]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Willie Penrose

184. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to expedite an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Longford which was initially made in May 2015, and which is relevant for the months of May, June and July 2015, whilst the person was caring for his mother; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34133/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Patrick O'Donovan

185. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the numbers of supernumerary positions in her Department, and those agencies, organisations or bodies funded by her Department; the maximum period in each case that supernumerary positions have existed; the total cost in maintaining supernumerary positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34148/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Jack Wall

186. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in paying child dependency to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34156/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Mary Lou McDonald

187. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that where a family on one local authority housing list, for example South Dublin County Council, has been served a notice to quit from a private landlord, is unable to source alternative rent supplement accommodation in that local authority area, and is therefore at risk of homelessness, that family can apply for rent supplement accommodation in another local authority area, while remaining on the housing list in its original local authority area. [34193/15]

Guardian's Payment Appeals

Richard Boyd Barrett

188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) who her Department has informed that the person is no longer entitled to the guardian's payment; if her Department will provide the person with a copy of the full file; and if she will ensure the matter is investigated fully. [34231/15]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility

Jack Wall

189. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can be assisted with training expenses for a new job; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34234/15]

Illness Benefit Applications

Tom Fleming

190. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a payment of illness benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34241/15]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Tom Fleming

191. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry which has been ongoing for a long period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34249/15]

Fuel Allowance Applications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

192. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4 was refused a fuel allowance. [34285/15]

Invalidity Pension Payments

Charlie McConalogue

193. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a claim for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is not being backdated to the date at which the person applied for it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34289/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

John McGuinness

194. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a payment of jobseeker's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [34291/15]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Colm Keaveney

195. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department is refusing a carer's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34310/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance

John McGuinness

196. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the issues raised by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in correspondence sent to her regarding that person's means test, property tax, water charges and other taxes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34313/15]

Child Benefit Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

197. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the process involved when an application is made for State benefits such as child benefit by non-Irish citizens (details supplied); the way this differs from applications made by Irish citizens born here; and if this process differs from that which pertains for Irish citizens returning from abroad. [34333/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

198. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for a breakdown of the total spend of her Department for each year from 2010 to 2014, the projected spend by her Department for the year 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34351/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

199. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for a breakdown for each year from 2010 to 2014 of the amount paid in direct payments to social welfare recipients, including various schemes, etc; the projected figure for the total amount of direct payments for the year 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34352/15]

Unemployment Benefits Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

200. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance in 2014; the total amount paid out by her Department in jobseeker's benefit and jobseekers allowance in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34353/15]

Unemployment Benefits Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

201. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of those who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance who are claiming for themselves alone, and not for any dependants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34354/15]