Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for specific dates
Page 1 of 13
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Gerry Adams
1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform took place on 12 December 2016. [40127/16]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Bernard Durkan
2. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach if, arising from ongoing developments and indications from the UK and Europe in respect of Brexit, he is satisfied that all EU colleagues remain supportive of Ireland's necessity to remain at the heart of Europe, while at the same time endeavouring to accommodate the island of Ireland as a single market incorporating a common travel and customs area and that recognition is given to that fact that this country's geographic location in the context of Europe is such that the 12.5% corporation tax continues to prevail, thereby addressing in some part the geographic disadvantages. [1705/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Gerry Adams
3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the informal meeting of the 27 EU Heads of State and Government held on 15 December 2016. [1715/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Brendan Howlin
4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the matters discussed and positions agreed on Brexit negotiations at the EU27 meeting at the European Council in December 2016. [1989/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Micheál Martin
5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the next EU Council meeting and the matters that will be discussed. [2736/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Micheál Martin
6. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach his plans to visit and engage with the smaller EU member states prior to Article 50 being signed in March 2017. [3072/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Willie O'Dea
45. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the fact that a profitable company can close down a defined benefit pension scheme whilst the scheme is in deficit to the detriment of existing and deferred pensioners; his plans to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Carer's Allowance Eligibility
John Brady
46. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in place for those applying for carer's allowance; if any reviews of those criteria have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3060/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Pensions Reform
Willie O'Dea
47. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify recent comments he made in the media to establish a new SSIA-style universal scheme for private sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Local Employment Service
John Brady
48. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reduction in referrals to the local employment services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3061/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Willie Penrose
49. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he will take to prevent profitable companies from winding up their defined benefit pension schemes; and the way he will ensure the pension rights of workers and those already retired are protected. [3026/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Unemployment Levels
Bernard Durkan
50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he proposes to put in place incentives to reduce youth and long-term unemployment; the extent to which existing schemes require upgrading in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2761/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Family Income Supplement Eligibility
Richard Boyd Barrett
51. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure people on zero-hour contracts who some weeks work the required 19 hours per week to qualify for family income supplement, FIS, are granted FIS for those weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2772/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
State Pension (Contributory)
Bernard Durkan
52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which progress has been made in addressing the issue whereby women, for one reason or another, are deprived of contributory pensions having retired from the workplace while raising their families or due to the marriage ban and who have made a major contribution to society in the course of their working lives; if their cases will be re-examined with a view to crediting them with sufficient contributions to enable them qualify for State or retirement pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2763/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
State Pension (Contributory)
Martin Heydon
53. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address pension reform in 2017 and, specifically, the way this might impact on many women who having left the workforce to raise families only qualify for reduced State contributory pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2778/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Community Employment Schemes Eligibility
Brendan Griffin
54. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding reforming the community employment scheme qualification criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Willie Penrose
55. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection his proposals to extend more social insurance cover to self-employed persons including a form of jobseeker's benefit where a person's business fails or they can no longer continue working in their profession or trade; and when it will be implemented. [2756/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Farm Assist Scheme Administration
Charlie McConalogue
56. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the date the 15% income disregard announced in budget 2017 will apply to all current farm assist recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Pensions Reform
Thomas P. Broughan
57. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeframe for his upcoming action plan for pension reform, as outlined in his 2017 priorities for his Department earlier in January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2728/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Equality Issues
Mick Wallace
58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the increasing numbers of low paid or part-time workers and the impact of this on wage inequality here, which according to research carried out by UNITE is the second highest in the EU-15, and in view of the recent decrease in the number of persons on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2777/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Labour Activation Measures
Willie O'Dea
59. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures his Department plans to introduce to tackle unemployment for those persons aged 50 years of age and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Fraud
Tony McLoughlin
60. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to combat welfare fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2737/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments
John Brady
61. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the drop in supplementary welfare allowance scheme payments being issued from community welfare offices in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2766/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
oral
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Tony McLoughlin
62. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he has taken to date to support self-employed persons here; the plans in place to extend benefits to this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2738/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Free Travel Scheme
Jim Daly
63. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the introduction of travel vouchers for persons living in rural Ireland with no access to public transport and relying on private transport providers for essential weekly journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2752/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Labour Activation Measures
Willie Penrose
64. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reform and recalibrate local activation programmes such as community employment, Tús and Gateway as announced in his statement of 2017 priorities. [2755/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Martin Heydon
65. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that his Department will take in the future to further support self-employed persons following the changes announced in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Fuel Poverty
John Brady
66. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the action his Department is taking to tackle fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2764/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Departmental Contracts
Mick Wallace
67. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department has in place to ensure that the contracting out of public employment services to private companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, will not push claimants into low-paid, low quality and temporary employment; if he has read the report The Impact of Sanctions (details supplied); his views on the reported negative impact of financial sanctions on unemployed persons if they do not enter into employment or take up an internship quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2776/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits
Richard Boyd Barrett
68. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will revise the rules to ensure that all recipients of social protection payments receive the Christmas bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2773/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Clare Daly
69. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views regarding the future viability of defined benefit schemes here in view of the planned closure of a defined benefit pension scheme (details supplied); his plans to address the crisis in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2600/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
State Pensions
Fiona O'Loughlin
70. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made on achieving equality in pension entitlements for those persons who have taken time out of their paid career to care for family members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2573/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits
Willie Penrose
71. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will consult on options for the introduction of a working family payment; and if the family income supplement will be replaced in his reforms. [2753/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Bríd Smith
72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of unclaimed social protection entitlements that persons are entitled to claim but for whatever reason do not claim. [2774/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
JobPath Implementation
Willie Penrose
73. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has satisfied himself with the operation of JobPath; and if he plans to wind down this scheme with unemployment continuing to fall. [2757/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Free Travel Scheme
Jim Daly
74. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will confirm the future of the free travel scheme operated under his Department; the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2750/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Employment Support Services
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
75. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures he plans to introduce to address the issue of high levels of unemployment being experienced by persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2730/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Clare Daly
76. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he plans to take to prevent solvent and profitable companies from closing their defined benefit pension schemes and moving pension risk to employees which is a growing issue in pension schemes across different employments here. [2601/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Carer's Allowance Data
John Brady
77. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the most up to date figures on the refusal rates for those persons applying for a carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Pensions Reform
John Brady
78. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he is taking with regard to pension reform, including closing the gender pension gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Back to Education Allowance
Maureen O'Sullivan
79. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for persons on jobseeker's payments who wish to take up a higher degree to improve their employment potential. [2578/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Community Employment Schemes Administration
Thomas P. Broughan
80. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the operation of the community employment scheme; if he will report on his earlier commitment to assist community employment sponsors in ensuring maximum utilisation of community employment places in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2729/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Unemployment Levels
Willie Penrose
81. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reduce long-term unemployment. [2754/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Farm Assist Scheme Administration
Charlie McConalogue
82. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection when the changes announced to farm assist in budget 2017 will take effect; the date on which the 15% income disregard announced in budget 2017 will apply to all current farm assist recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2581/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
Bríd Smith
83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to publicise or launch campaigns to ensure persons are fully aware of their entitlements to social protection payments in various circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Community Employment Schemes Operation
John Curran
84. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to specific difficulties being experienced by supervisors and sponsors in managing special community employment schemes for drugs-related projects; if he will examine a more streamlined approach for these projects; the number of persons currently on drugs-related project community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2770/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
One-Parent Family Payment
John Curran
85. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection the nature and the scope of the review he and his Department are carrying out on lone parents; the timeframe for this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2771/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Rural Social Scheme
Willie O'Dea
86. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that rural social scheme supervisors are on notably different pay scales to community employment supervisors; the reason for such a discrepancy in view of the fact they carry out similar duties and responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2727/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Tax and Social Welfare Codes
Willie O'Dea
87. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend PRSI benefits to self-employed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2725/17]
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
written
Social Welfare Benefits
Willie O'Dea
88. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a new working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2724/17]