Parliamentary questions

Departmental Data

Holly Cairns

496. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the number of nationals (details supplied) who are recorded as departing Ireland between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021, inclusive in tabular form. [44212/21]

Employment Support Services

Niamh Smyth

650. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding schemes under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41425/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Canney

651. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has had their disability allowance reduced when they got married and is now relying on their spouse to support them financially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41466/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Anne Rabbitte

652. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a conclusive response to their application for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41467/21]

Employment Support Services

Martin Browne

653. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis for Turas Nua keeping files open on persons after they begin full-time employment even in cases in which persons have taken-up employment in circumstances (details supplied); her views on whether a person who had minimum to no engagement with Turas Nua should be on file for a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41516/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Réada Cronin

654. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of a couple (details supplied) who have been without their pension due to an administrative error; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41517/21]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

655. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the vetting procedure that is carried out on positions submitted by an employer to the work placement experience programme before it is advertised publicly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41532/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Dessie Ellis

656. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria for qualifying for the short-term enterprise allowance; if previous experience in Ireland or abroad disqualifies persons from qualifying for the allowance; if an applicant can appeal a decision should their application for the allowance be rejected; if so, the grounds on which an appeal can be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41534/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

657. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41550/21]

Departmental Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

658. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in her Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of her Department; the disability quota of her Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41601/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

659. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a weekly payment will be backdated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41609/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Rose Conway-Walsh

660. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the unfair situation in which parents of children with disabilities and in receipt of a disability payment are excluded from the back to school clothing and footwear allowance and either allow parents to continue to collect the allowance or allow children in receipt of a disability payment apply for it independently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41654/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

661. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the living alone allowance given that the person has a UK pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41658/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

662. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of occasions since 2014 her Department has refused to process a request under freedom of information using section 15(1)(g) of the Act; and the number of persons this has applied to since January 2014. [41662/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

663. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken with regard to commitments made to community employment supervisors (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41671/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

664. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41721/21]

Departmental Funding

David Cullinane

665. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase funding to the National Advocacy Service for persons with disabilities by 10%. [41772/21]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

666. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of passenger journeys for which her Department compensated the licensed transport operator under the free travel scheme in respect of each year from 2015 to 2020 and during the period January 2021 to June 2021 in respect of licensed routes numbers 481 and 482 and licence numbers 01019 and 99070. [41813/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

667. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons with certain disabilities (details supplied) to continue to receive the fuel allowance during the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41845/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

668. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41890/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

669. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41891/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

670. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when the appeal is likely to be brought to a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41892/21]

Public Services Card

Mark Ward

671. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to put applications for the public services card online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41894/21]

Public Services Card

Mark Ward

672. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if having a public services card is mandatory or compulsory for applying to get social protection payments, State pension payments or a driver licence; the difference between mandatory and compulsory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41895/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Brendan Griffin

673. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if previous recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment who have returned to work can requalify for the pandemic unemployment payment after 8 July 2021 if their employment ends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41930/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

674. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41934/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Niamh Smyth

675. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons living alone over the age of 80 years receive an increased living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41941/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

676. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41944/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Carol Nolan

677. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to wi-fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41960/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Seán Fleming

678. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding finalising negotiations in respect of community employment supervisor pensions and gratuity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42002/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Fleming

679. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in circumstances in which a person who has been on disability allowance for a number of years, is a single parent and after a long number of years the former spouse is now agreeing to pay maintenance for their child; the implications of this in terms of means testing the disability allowance; if the matter is treated separately if the payment is for the benefit of the child as opposed to the benefit of the mother; if a payment for the benefit of the child can be separated from the child’s mother’s disability allowance for the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42005/21]

Rural Schemes

Dara Calleary

680. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the implications of the six-year rule which was introduced in 2017 that will see participants forced off the rural social scheme in 2023; if she will reconsider this rule and allow these participants continue on the scheme; if not, the alternatives her Department is proposing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42021/21]

Departmental Data

Joe Flaherty

681. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the Widow and Widowers’ pension. [42039/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

682. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42048/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

683. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42049/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Fleming

684. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the operation of the recovery and benefit assistance scheme in cases in which payments by an insurance company to a person take into account payments that her Department would have made to the person arising from the original injury or claim; if such recovery arrangements are in place in respect of a category of payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42077/21]

Public Services Card

James Lawless

685. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the difficulties a person (details supplied) is having with obtaining a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42127/21]

Employment Support Services

Neale Richmond

686. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by the Local Employment Services Network regarding the new Pathway to Work Strategy; if she will meet the group to discuss its concerns; if her attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to the payment by results model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42135/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Thomas Pringle

687. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the income from a retained firefighter (details supplied) is being used to calculate income for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. [42169/21]

Employment Support Services

Róisín Shortall

688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give urgent attention to serious matters of concern raised by a community organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42173/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Gould

689. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons on the disability allowance can avail of the enterprise support grant. [42179/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

690. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42215/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Denise Mitchell

691. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are issues, delays or otherwise in the application process for persons requiring PPS numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42255/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

692. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to grant passes under the free travel scheme to persons who suffer from epilepsy, and who are not eligible for driving licences due to their disability, to aid their mobility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42271/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Lowry

693. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the provision of making free travel passes available to persons with epilepsy who are temporarily barred from driving for one year due to having a breakthrough seizure; if she will consider uncoupling the free travel pass from other qualifying payments to ensure that there is a direct application process for a free travel pass (details supplied); if she will consider this request as part of her Department’s Budget 2022 proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42273/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Ruairí Ó Murchú

694. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection the situation facing family carers promoted to apply for jobseeker’s payment when their industry has not yet opened given the gradual reduction in the pandemic unemployment payment rates from 7 September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42278/21]

Employment Support Services

Michael Healy-Rae

695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42291/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Éamon Ó Cuív

696. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the continuing regulations restraining various industries and businesses from reopening completely or even in some cases partially, it is planned to re-instate the full rates of the pandemic unemployment payment to employees or former employees in the industries affected until the full reopening of society is possible, in view of the significant difference this would make to the persons affected and the reducing number of these persons and the limited duration that will be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/21]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

697. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the latest figures for the take-up of paternity leave; and the average cost per claim. [42329/21]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

698. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection her estimate for the cost of paternity leave over the next three years if existing duration of eligible claim continues; and the cost if the eligible period is increased by two weeks. [42330/21]