Parliamentary questions

Youth Guarantee

Willie O'Dea

218. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the budget for the youth guarantee in 2013, 2014 and 2015; the number of places available in the youth guarantee in 2013 and 2014 and the number expected to participate in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41888/14]

Live Register Data

Willie O'Dea

219. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under the age of 25 who are currently on the live register broken down by jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's credits for less than three months, for three to six months, for six to 12 months, for 12 to 24 months, for 24 to 36 months, and more than 36 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41889/14]

Departmental Staff Data

Willie O'Dea

220. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of employment service officers currently employed in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41890/14]

Live Register Data

Willie O'Dea

221. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the percentage and number of young persons currently underemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41891/14]

Job Initiatives

Willie O'Dea

222. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form each live register activation programme currently in operation and the numbers participating in these programmes in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and expected in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41892/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of persons who receive jobseeker's allowance at a rate below €188; the reason for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41893/14]

Midwifery Services Provision

Willie O'Dea

766. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason an independent midwife had her State indemnity insurance removed after transferring a person from her home to hospital when she became dizzy and subsequently had a bleed after ten hours in hospital yet in similar or worse situations no Health Service Executive staff were ever suspended or had insurance suspended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41945/14]

Employment Rights

Willie O'Dea

918. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an investigation was carried out into employment conditions at a site (details supplied) in County Dublin; who carried the inspection out; the issues which were investigated; if bogus sub-contracting and underpayment of bricklayers were included in the matters for investigation; if the investigation has concluded; if she will indicate the findings; if any issues were referred to another State authority, for example the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Health and Safety Authority or any other body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41884/14]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue pertaining to an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40737/14]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Willie O'Dea

93. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40753/14]

National Internship Scheme Placements

Willie O'Dea

78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the classifications of employment which have been prohibited from utilising the JobBridge scheme; the number of positions which have been removed by her Department from the JobBridge scheme; the kind of positions removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40054/14]

Data Protection

Willie O'Dea

81. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the responsibility her Department accepts in the circumstances where private investigators accessed social protection information in breach of data protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40055/14]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Willie O'Dea

86. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how the Department’s policy to migrate to electronic payments affects the Government’s stated objective of protecting the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39805/14]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

88. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the persistence of fuel poverty here; if she will enhance the fuel allowance in order to combat this poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39804/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

94. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that are currently in receipt of rent allowance; the number of persons that have been transferred from rent allowance to housing assistance payment under the pilot project which is currently being carried out in Limerick city; when she envisaged that HAP will be extended nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39807/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of elderly persons have been compelled to abandon security systems within their homes due to the abolition of the telephone allowance; her plans to rectify this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39806/14]

Social Insurance Rates

Willie O'Dea

113. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address the PRSI anomaly resulting in lower paid workers taking home less pay when they earn more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39803/14]

Social Insurance

Willie O'Dea

169. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to include the self-employed under State social insurance; the number of self-employed persons here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40231/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

170. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to ensure that landlords accept tenants who are in receipt of rent supplement; if her attention has been drawn to the high number of persons refused tenancy as a result of their receiving of rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40232/14]

Unemployment Levels

Willie O'Dea

171. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with her Department’s actions in ensuring that those in long-term unemployment are supported by her Department in their attempts to return to the workforce; the number of long-term unemployed who returned to employment annually from 2011 to date in 2014; the number and percentage of long-term unemployed during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40233/14]

Free Travel Scheme Review

Willie O'Dea

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the review of the free travel pass scheme; the annual expenditure on the scheme since 2011; those in possession of free travel passes since 2011 broken down in tabular form under categories FT-P, FT+S and FT+C; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40234/14]

Employment Rights

Willie O'Dea

269. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of allegations of bogus self-employment or subcontracting that have been made to the National Employment Rights Authority over the past five years; the number that were investigated; the number of allegations that were confirmed; the findings that were made; the action that was subsequently taken; if an employer has ever been convicted or penalised in any way for bogus subcontracting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40128/14]

Departmental Investigations

Willie O'Dea

520. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an investigation was carried out into employment conditions at a site (details supplied); the person who carried it out; the issues that were investigated; if bogus sub-contracting and underpayment of bricklayers were included in the matters for investigation; if the investigation was concluded; the findings of the investigation; if issues were referred to another State authority, for example, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Health and Safety Authority or any other body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40127/14]

Homelessness Strategy

Willie O'Dea

552. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken to address the homeless crisis here; the actions he will take to ensure homelessness is ended within two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40230/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Willie O'Dea

143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ring-fence funding to support the national collective of community-based women's networks of which Limerick Women's Network is a member group to deliver the only programme specifically targeted at women from disadvantaged communities; if this is not his plan, the way he plans to provide support for this most marginalised group who are not named under the social inclusion and community activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39418/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Willie O'Dea

145. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to engage with the national collective of community-based women's networks of which Limerick Women's Network is a member group, to resolve the difficulty that has arisen because that organisation created a national structure to meet the requirement of the community development programme which now precludes them from securing funding post 2014 under the new social inclusion and community activation programme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that NCCWN engaged with 35,580 marginalised women across 17 communities throughout Ireland in 2013 alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39420/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Willie O'Dea

148. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to engage with the national collective of community-based women's networks (details supplied) of which Limerick Women's Network is a member group, to resolve the difficulty that has arisen because that organisation created a national structure to meet the requirement of the community development programme which now precludes them from securing funding post 2014 under the new social inclusion and community activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39441/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Willie O'Dea

154. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to support the voluntary board of the national collective of community-based women's networks of which Limerick Women's Network is a member group with their responsibilities to seventeen local women's projects, 44 staff members and approximately 200 non-directly employed staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39465/14]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Willie O'Dea

155. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that marginalised women are not a target group of the new SICAP programme; in view of this, if he will provide reassurance to the national collective of community-based women's networks of which Limerick Women's Network is a member group that an alternative funding stream will be made available to continue this valuable work; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that NCCWN engaged with 35,580 marginalised women across 17 communities throughout Ireland in 2013 alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39466/14]

Hospital Services

Willie O'Dea

198. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the licence for disposing of hospital waste came up for renewal; if there will be a public tendering process for the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/14]

Irish Water Administration

Willie O'Dea

294. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the purpose of having to provide personal public service numbers when completing the Irish Water application form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38846/14]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

31. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at a reduced rate of €170 per week starts working one day per week and receives €93 and is reduced to €108 on jobseeker's payment, if this is correct; the way the calculation is done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38583/14]

Garda Data

Willie O'Dea

293. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the numbers of Garda personnel in the Limerick Garda division in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38052/14]

Languages Programme

Willie O'Dea

483. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many schools use their allocated learning support teacher to support both learning support pupils and English as an additional language; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that no matter how many EAL pupils are in a school, there are no extra resources for language support; her plans to enable more schools to qualify for a language support teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38049/14]

Languages Programme

Willie O'Dea

484. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to relax the requirements set out in circular 15/2009 to enable more schools to qualify for a language support teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38050/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Willie O'Dea

485. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department is putting the onus on teachers to gather information regarding the economic circumstances of parents for the educational resource centre questionnaire which forms part of the basis for the allocation of special educational needs teachers next year; the reason this information is not ascertained from the relevant Government bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38051/14]

Roads Maintenance

Willie O'Dea

581. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received estimates from Limerick County Council to repair bridges at Clonteen, Cappamore, and Croughlahan, Cappamore, County Limerick; if he will provide funds for the repairs; when he will make a decision regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38054/14]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments

Willie O'Dea

38. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the cost of restoring by 50% the funds cut to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance introduced since the Government came into office; the cost of fully restoring the cuts outline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36269/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

39. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding in the electricity and gas element of the household benefits package that has been introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36270/14]

Household Benefits Scheme

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding in the telephone allowance element of the household benefits package that have been introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36271/14]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Willie O'Dea

41. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the cost of restoring by 50% the cut in funding that has resulted in a reduction in training and materials grants for community employment scheme, back to education and jobs initiative schemes introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36272/14]

Child Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the cost of restoring, by 50%, the cut in funding provided for child benefit introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36273/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Willie O'Dea

229. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Limerick city is one of the only areas in the country that does not have any mainstream schools, primary or secondary, with autistic spectrum disorder units attached to educate autistic children; her plans to put same in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36261/14]

Community Employment Schemes Review

Willie O'Dea

83. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons participating on community employment schemes, who are in receipt of a second social welfare payment, can suspend their second payment until they have completed their time on the scheme and then receive the second payment again once the scheme has finished as an alternative to having to finish the scheme in December in order to keep their second payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35302/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

178. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the committee which is currently reviewing eligibility for medical cards will consider the question of eligibility for long-term illness cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34905/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

179. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his views on extending entitlement to a long-term illness card for people who are suffering from Huntington's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34906/14]

School Enrolments

Willie O'Dea

215. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provision that will be made for children in County Limerick who have not yet been placed in secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34904/14]

Homeless Persons Supports

Willie O'Dea

34. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken to address the homeless crisis here; the action he will take to ensure homelessness is ended within two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/14]

Human Rights Issues

Willie O'Dea

1177. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of organisations have identified 60 countries throughout the world where Christians are persecuted for their religious beliefs; his position on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33177/14]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

1424. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made pertaining to an application for home tuition 2014-15 (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34606/14]