Parliamentary questions

Family Income Supplement Data

Willie O'Dea

142. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost in 2017, of extending family income supplement, to one parent households in receipt of the jobseeker transitional payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21481/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Willie O'Dea

143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined and costed, moving to a system based on hours worked rather than days worked, to qualify for jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21482/16]

Family Income Supplement

Willie O'Dea

144. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined and costed, the possibility of introducing a sliding scale for family income supplement, as opposed to the current system of 19 hours per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21483/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie O'Dea

17. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase between December 2015 and May 2016 in the number of outpatients waiting more than one year for a consultation in University Hospital Limerick. [20983/16]

Labour Activation Measures

Willie O'Dea

125. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the number of persons currently engaged in activation and employment support schemes; the number of persons engaged in such schemes in 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20564/16]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

358. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when will a decision be made on an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20508/16]

Free Travel Scheme

Willie O'Dea

359. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the free travel scheme whereby children who are being cared for by their carers are excluded in circumstances where the carers obtain a free travel pass on the basis of them caring for their children who have a disability; if he will investigate this anomaly as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/16]

Public Services Card

Willie O'Dea

360. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is mandatory to attend a SAFE appointment for the new public services card; if a person does not attend, if this will have negative consequences for the current social protection payment to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20551/16]

Ministerial Advisers

Willie O'Dea

361. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to his special advisers; if he will provide details for requests, if any, for an increase above the special advisers' pay cap as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20562/16]

JobPath Implementation

Willie O'Dea

362. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons referred to JobPath to date in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

363. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time in 2016 for a decision in respect of all Social Protection payments in tabular form; the average waiting time for appeal for each of these where there is no oral hearing and where there is an oral hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20565/16]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

364. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of one-parent households in consistent poverty; the number of one parent households experiencing deprivation; the way these figures compare to the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20567/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie O'Dea

503. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is an extremely long waiting list for scoliosis patients to meet with a consultant and that the subsequent waiting list for surgery is also very long; the current waiting list periods; his plans to deal with the waiting list for this debilitating condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20649/16]

Home Care Packages Funding

Willie O'Dea

251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the home care package is exhausted in County Limerick since April 2016; if he will provide extra funding for same; if so, when he will do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20260/16]

Pensions Reform

Willie O'Dea

32. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made in establishing an interdepartmental group, as indicated in correspondence (details supplied), to examine the issue of those who are forced to retire at 65 years of age but are not eligible for a pension until 66 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18691/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Willie O'Dea

313. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost in 2017 of increasing all working age payments, including the costs of proportionate increases for qualified adults, by €10, listing all working age payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/16]

Home Care Packages

Willie O'Dea

563. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that funding for the home care package has been fully allocated in County Limerick since April 2016; if and when he will provide extra funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19628/16]

JobPath Implementation

Willie O'Dea

1. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the assurances that can be provided that jobseekers who have been selected for the JobPath activation scheme will not be forced into unsuitable and inappropriate jobs given that participation on JobPath is mandatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18818/16]

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Willie O'Dea

3. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to tackle poverty in view of the anti-poverty targets that have been missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18819/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

7. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the fact that only 2% of applications for the domiciliary care allowance were awarded within the standard timeframe in 2015 and that only 32% of applications for the carer's allowance were awarded within the standard timeframe in 2015; his views on the processing and appeals times for social protection payments in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18690/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

21. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the adequacy of social protection rates given that a recent report by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice which found that in 2016 social protection did not provide an adequate income for 183 of the 214 urban household cases examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18692/16]

One-Parent Family Payment

Willie O'Dea

34. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the status issue of determination orders which were not catered for in the jobseeker's transition legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18693/16]

Community Services Programme

Willie O'Dea

39. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has increased the contribution to the community services programme in line with the increase in the national minimum wage; if the programmes have as of yet received this funding; if he can provide assurances that the contribution to the community service programmes will be increased in line with any future increases in the national minimum wage as set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18694/16]

Preschool Services

Willie O'Dea

215. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will re-examine regulations recently introduced by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency which will compel childminders to complete Fetac level 5; if she is aware that this change in regulations may compel many persons who are providing childminding services in their own homes to discontinue this practice; if she is further aware that this will be a serious inconvenience to parents who prefer this arrangement rather than sending their children to a crèche; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18574/16]

One-Parent Family Payment Data

Willie O'Dea

297. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the net cost in 2016 of setting the eligible age at which the parent's youngest child is eligible at ten, 12 and 14 years of age under the one-parent family payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18481/16]

One-Parent Family Payment Data

Willie O'Dea

298. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the income disregard under the one-parent family payment scheme from its current threshold of €90 per week to €95, €100, €105, €110, 115, €120 and €125 per week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18483/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

299. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the child benefit scheme by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9 and €10 per month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/16]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

300. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme for the age groups specified by €10; €15; €20; €25; €30; €35; €40; €50; €60; €70; €80; €90; and €100, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18486/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

301. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing each working age payment by €3, €4, €5, €6, €7, €8, €9 and €10, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18487/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

302. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the jobseeker's allowance scheme of €100 per week for those from 18 to 24 years of age by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9, €10, €15, €20 and €25 per week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18488/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

303. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the jobseeker's allowance scheme for those in receipt of €144 per week by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9, €10, €15, €20 and €25 per week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18490/16]

Treatment Benefit Scheme

Willie O'Dea

304. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the benefits that have been withdrawn under the treatment benefits package since 2010; the full-year cost in 2016 of restoring each of these benefits based on contracts agreed with dental and medical practitioners at the time they were withdrawn and based on a 5%, 10% and 15% increase on the rates agreed at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18492/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

305. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the State pension by €5; €6; €7; €8; €9; €10 and €15 by week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

306. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing entitlement under the living alone allowance scheme by €2,€3, €4, €5, €6, €7, €8, €9, €10 and €15, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18495/16]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

307. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of restoring the entitlement under the telephone allowance scheme to the rate it was at in 2010 and in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18496/16]

Fuel Allowance Data

Willie O'Dea

308. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of extending the number of weeks the entitlement is paid under the fuel allowance scheme by one, two, three and four weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18497/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

309. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the disability allowance scheme, the carer's benefit scheme, the invalidity pension scheme and the blind pension scheme by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9, €10, €15 and €20 per week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18498/16]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

310. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of increasing the grant under the carer's support scheme by €50, €75, €100, €120, €125, €150, €175 and €200; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18499/16]

Ministerial Correspondence

Willie O'Dea

344. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied); if he has examined the issue raised; his views on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18391/16]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

164. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for a refusal of payment for a person (details supplied) under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17670/16]

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Willie O'Dea

78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will appoint the criminal injuries compensation tribunal and when it will hear appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16964/16]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

149. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when arrears will issue from the period January to November 2009 to a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16416/16]

Social Welfare Rates

Willie O'Dea

316. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will publish the report on the impact of reduced payment rates to persons from 18 to 25 years of age under the jobseeker's scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15875/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Willie O'Dea

317. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new recipients under the rent supplement scheme, by county, in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15876/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

318. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered increasing income thresholds for eligibility for social protection payments given the commitment in the programme for Government to increase the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15877/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

327. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15970/16]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Willie O'Dea

467. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his efforts to secure a favourable outcome for the staff of the Central Remedial Clinic who have been affected by the sudden and unexpected closure of their pension scheme; the direct contact he has had with senior management on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/16]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Willie O'Dea

342. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the recent changes to the community employment schemes as a result of outcomes; for example, a married man with a dependent spouse and three children qualifies for the equivalent of jobseeker's allowance of €402.20 plus €20.00 totalling €422.20 per week gross, PRSI of €16.89 deducted, resulting in net income of €405.31 per week, an increase of only €3.11 per week for 19.5 hours worked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15062/16]

Medical Research and Training

Willie O'Dea

483. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the Health Service Executive decided to change the selection system for medical interns in October 2015 to prioritise non-European Union students regardless of their academic achievement; if he will agree that this is very unfair to the past graduate non-European Union medical students who are completing their medical studies in 2016; if he will change this rule so that it will no longer apply to non-European Union medical students who are already in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14796/16]

JobPath Implementation

Willie O'Dea

219. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the checks in place to ensure that two companies (details supplied) contracted to provide JobPath services are offering suitable and appropriate employment opportunities to participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14236/16]