Parliamentary questions

Child Benefit Payments

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

132. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of child benefit recipients not in receipt of any means-tested social welfare payment. [49836/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Brian Stanley

133. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by the National Advocacy Service that community welfare officers are not willing to pay rent supplement to persons with disabilities who are leaving residential care; her views on whether this is making independent living impossible for some; and her response to same. [49856/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Michael Colreavy

134. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-introduce the freefone number for callers to the central rents unit and allocate case officers to specific geographic regions. [49840/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Dessie Ellis

135. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any progress made and the nature of negotiations that she has had with energy and other suppliers with a view to receiving greater value under the household benefits package without cutting the scheme. [49855/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

136. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of her visit to Sweden to examine child care; her plans to progress the model and proposals of the interdepartmental subgroup on school-age child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49914/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Clare Daly

137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that there are no further cutbacks in budget 2013 in payment benefits or allowances to elderly citizens and that the cutbacks in the last two budgets for this category be reversed. [49912/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection having regard to the Estimates prepared by her Department and the likely competing demand arising, if she is satisfied that she can meet the needs of those with disabilities and others who are vulnerable in our society arising from the situation she inherited from her predecessors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49860/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Pearse Doherty

139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take legislative or other steps to ensure that the decisions of social welfare appeals officers are implemented by her Department promptly and in full, including recommendations that the appeals officers may make with regard to the recoupment of past overpayments. [49843/12]

Early Retirement Scheme

Gerry Adams

140. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the impact that the early retirement scheme has had on the administrative functions of her Department; her plans to sanction the recruitment of additional staff; and if so, when, and the number of same. [49834/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

John Halligan

141. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to evidence that new rent allowance limits are resulting in tenants becoming homeless and or living in overcrowded situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49917/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to applicants for local authority housing who are forced to rely on rent support in respect of private housing and are subject to a maximum rent which is applicable throughout County Kildare notwithstanding the market variations for such rent and in view of the fact that in certain parts of the county rent levels vary dramatically arising from the demand; if she accepts the existence of such variations and the need to adjust the levels of rent support in accordance with the actual market situations wherein some cases rent levels are higher than in many parts of Dublin city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49859/12]

Employment Support Services

Martin Ferris

143. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will develop a clear strategy to increase awareness of the employment supports available to persons with disabilities; and her plans for further steps regarding same. [49850/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Issues

Sandra McLellan

144. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the findings of the FLAC report, Not Fair Enough, making the case for reform of the social welfare appeals system; if she has discussed the findings with the social welfare appeals office; her response to the findings and the steps she will take on foot of the report. [49841/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49918/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Jonathan O'Brien

146. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that deciding officers that are considering turning down an application for social welfare should make a telephone call to the applicant before finalising their decision during which basic things such as the absence of documentation or misunderstandings would come to light and these could be rectified in advance of the decision with a view to reducing the number of cases that go forward to the costly and time consuming appeals process. [49853/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Dessie Ellis

147. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that all unsuccessful applicants for social welfare payments be given their complete file, including comments of deciding officers automatically, to aid in their appeals, thereby avoiding the expense and inconvenience of having to go through the freedom of information procedure. [49854/12]

Disability Allowance Applications

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making a liaison or support person available to those who need assistance making applications and appeals with respect to disability-related payments as recommended by Inclusion Ireland. [49845/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

149. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date on the development of her plan for a Scandinavian style child care system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49915/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

150. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49919/12]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Gerry Adams

151. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commence a review of income supports for family carers as recommended by the Carer's Association. [49833/12]