Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Benefits Data

John Brady

985. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made under the activation and family support programme since its introduction; the percentage of those accepted and declined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12650/18]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Data

John Brady

986. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 602 of 8 March 2018, the number of persons in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory) who have seen a cut in their payment following the recent review of 1,000 pensioners in receipt of this payment under a fraud and error survey; if the review is not complete, the number of persons who have seen a cut to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12651/18]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

John Brady

549. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of active defined benefit pension schemes and members in each of the years since 2010 and to date in 2018. [10895/18]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

John Brady

550. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the moves from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes by companies in which the pension pot is in surplus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10896/18]

Working Family Payment Eligibility

John Brady

566. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 5 December 2017, the reason local authority representatives as office holders and not employees of local authorities are not entitled to family income support; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11088/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

569. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions which will be put in place for those who qualified for a reduced State pension post-2012 pension changes when a person was self-employed and lost out on pension contributions as a result; the measures which will apply further to the announcement made on the 2012 changes for this category of persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11154/18]

Weather Events Response

John Brady

600. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to put protocols in place to deal with future severe weather events when it comes to the payment of social welfare to recipients; her further plans to publish such protocols for clarification in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11653/18]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

John Brady

601. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the possibility of introducing a cold weather payment which would be paid automatically in cases in which temperatures drop below zero after a certain number of days as is in place in United Kingdom will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11654/18]

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

John Brady

602. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of State pension (non-contributory) payments that have been cut as a result of the fraud and error surveys carried out involving 1,000 pensioners; the amounts cut from the affected pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11662/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

603. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, supplementary welfare allowance, farm assist, one parent family payment, carer's allowance and carer's benefit in tabular form; the increase to the weekly rates if they were to be increased in line with the Department of Finance's inflation forecast for 2019; the cost of this increase per scheme; the cost of further increasing each of the weekly payments to bring the rate increase to a total of €5; and the cost of the increase per scheme. [11663/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

604. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension in tabular form; the increase to the weekly rates if they were to be increased in line with the Department of Finance's inflation forecast for 2019; the cost of this increase per scheme; the cost of further increasing each of the weekly payments to bring the rate increase to a total of €6; and the cost of the total increase per scheme. [11664/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

605. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the family income supplement, FIS, in tabular form; the increase to the weekly rates if they were to be increased in line with the Department of Finance's inflation forecast for 2019; the cost of this increase; the cost of further increasing FIS expenditure to bring the increase to a total of 5% and 10%; and the cost of the increase. [11665/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

606. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the age related under 26 years of age jobseeker's and supplementary welfare allowance payment rates of €102.70 and €148.70, respectively in tabular from; the increase to the weekly rates if they were to be increased in line with the Department of Finance's inflation forecast for 2019; the cost of these increases; the cost of further increasing each of the weekly payments to bring the rate increase to a total of €10; and the cost of the increase per scheme. [11666/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

607. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the State pension in tabular form; the increase to the weekly rates if they were to be increased in line with the Department of Finance's inflation forecast for 2019; the cost of this increase per payment; the cost of further increasing each of the weekly payments to bring the rate increase to a total of €4.50; and the cost of the increase per payment. [11667/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

608. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the areas that will be examined for possible changes to or restructuring of PRSI contributions with a view to manage and finance State pensions into the future as per the newly published Roadmap for Pensions Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11671/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

609. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the protections that will be in place to ensure that poverty is avoided for those in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory) in view of the plans detailed in the Roadmap for Pensions Reform to link the State pension (contributory) amount to the consumer price index and wage levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11672/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

610. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the 40 years social insurance contributions needed to receive a full State pension was arrived at for the new total contributions approach as detailed in the Roadmap for Pensions Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11673/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

611. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the cost of tax reliefs on private pensions was not examined in the Roadmap for Pensions Reform; if this means that tax reliefs will continue for those that need them least; her views on whether this is worthwhile expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11674/18]

Pensions Reform

John Brady

612. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which her Department along with other Departments will determine whether or not there is improved flexibility for workers when it comes to remaining at work beyond the traditional retirement age; the way in which this will be kept under review as stated in the Roadmap for Pensions Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11675/18]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

John Brady

613. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the issue of defined benefit schemes in surplus being closed down as has been occurring in recent years was not examined in the Roadmap for Pensions Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11676/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

John Brady

617. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing all weekly social welfare payments, assuming family income supplement is included in line with inflation in each of the years 2019 to 2023 as per the most recent inflation rate forecasts by the Department of Finance in tabular form. [11727/18]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

100. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for completion of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10214/18]

School Accommodation Provision

John Brady

101. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will have the requested extra two prefabs in place to allow the school to accommodate a second junior infants class for September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10215/18]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Administration

John Brady

140. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health when the last review of the long-term illness scheme took place; if changes were made to the scheme as a result of a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10249/18]

Medical Card Appeals

John Brady

148. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card appeals that were recorded in County Wicklow over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10241/18]

Medical Card Applications Data

John Brady

149. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications from County Wicklow that were successful following an appeal in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10242/18]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

John Brady

215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending fuel allowance to all those in receipt of carer's allowance. [10245/18]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

John Brady

216. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale for the reason carers under 66 years of age cannot nominate their partner to travel with them under the travel pass scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10246/18]

Proposed Legislation

John Brady

532. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health when the drafting of a Bill for the introduction of a scheme to replace the former mobility allowance and motorised transport grant scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10177/18]

Telephone Support Allowance

John Brady

709. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of reforming the telephone support allowance payment in order that it is available to persons in receipt of the living alone allowance or the fuel allowance; the number of additional persons who would qualify for the payment if that change was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10127/18]

Child Maintenance Payments

John Brady

37. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to proposals (details supplied) regarding the establishment of a child maintenance service; her views on such a service; if her attention has been further drawn to the positive impact this would have on lone parents and their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8577/18]

Income Inequality

John Brady

39. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions she plans to take as a result of the findings of a recent ESRI report detailing high levels of persistent deprivation for persons of a working age with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8578/18]

Jobseeker's Payments

John Brady

43. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the report into the impact of the reduced jobseeker's payment rates for jobseekers aged 18 to 25 years, further to the commitment in the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8344/18]

Fuel Allowance Payments

John Brady

49. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the rates of payment and the periods of time for which the fuel allowance is paid by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8342/18]

JobPath Programme

John Brady

59. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the 18% of full-time employment sourced by JobPath providers (details supplied) for persons based on data for those engaged in the service from July 2015 to June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8343/18]

Youth Employment Initiative

John Brady

98. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of plans for the introduction of the youth employment support scheme to be introduced in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8345/18]

Citizens Information Services

John Brady

99. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the concerns raised by her Department as referenced in the recently published cost benefit analysis undertaken on behalf of the Citizens' Information Board regarding the structure of the MABS service prior to the restructuring plans now underway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8341/18]

HSE Staff Data

John Brady

391. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has environmental health officers covering south County Wicklow, namely, areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8625/18]

HIQA Inspections

John Brady

392. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of residential inspections carried out by environmental health officers in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/18]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Brady

365. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status of a youth mental health Jigsaw site for County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6915/18]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Brady

366. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is a need for a youth mental health Jigsaw site in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6916/18]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Brady

367. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the clinical services of Jigsaw youth mental health services; the expected publication time; the reason for the delay in publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6917/18]

Mental Health Services Data

John Brady

368. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons on the waiting list for the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in County Wicklow at the end of December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6918/18]

Mental Health Services Data

John Brady

369. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons waiting for their first CAMHS appointment in County Wicklow at the end of December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6919/18]

Child Maintenance Payments

John Brady

624. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a committee to examine the steps her Department can take to create a child maintenance service to assist lone parents to seek child maintenance payments will be established in view of commitments made during a debate in Seanad Éireann in December 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6857/18]

Social Welfare Rates

John Brady

626. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the estimated additional annual cost of ensuring via social welfare increases that all household types currently in receipt of a weekly social welfare payment are brought into compliance with the minimum income standards developed by an organisation (details supplied). [6921/18]

Social Welfare Code

John Brady

627. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out in tabular form the estimated annual cost of index-linking each payment (details supplied) to inflation over the next five years. [6922/18]

Social Welfare Code

John Brady

628. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the estimated annual cost of index-linking all weekly social welfare payments to inflation over the next five years. [6923/18]

Social Welfare Code

John Brady

629. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the estimated annual cost of index-linking all social welfare payments to inflation over the next five years. [6924/18]

General Practitioner Services Provision

John Brady

12. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated for the delivery of a general practitioner out-of-hours service for north County Wicklow in the HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6109/18]