Parliamentary questions

European Court of Justice Rulings

Éamon Ó Cuív

20. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the way she proposes to respond to the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union on 25 April 2013 which found that the State is liable for the shortfall in pension funds for the Waterford Crystal workers; the estimated cost to the State of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25834/13]

Property Tax Collection

Richard Boyd Barrett

21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection in the event of money being deducted from social welfare payments for the local property tax, as provided for in the Act, the maximum amount that could be deducted from each of the social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25867/13]

Invalidity Pension Application Numbers

Gerry Adams

22. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the numbers of persons who applied for invalidity pension in each county for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; the numbers of those who were refused and granted and, of those who were refused, the number that appealed the decision and the number that were successful and unsuccessful in those appeals; of those applications which were successful before and after appeal, the number of cases that were decided solely on the condition of being incapable of work for at least 12 months and likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25709/13]

Youth Guarantee

Willie O'Dea

23. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in implementing the youth guarantee scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25807/13]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Jonathan O'Brien

24. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of savings that would be made if salaries to personnel in her Department were capped at €100,000. [25727/13]

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Sandra McLellan

25. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she expects pesons who are forced to retire from the Civil Service at 65 years to claim jobseeker's benefit or allowance until they can receive the pension at 66 and 67 years. [25718/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

26. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding allocated to Citizens Information centres during each of the past five years; and the amount of this funding which was allocated to Money Advice and Budgeting Service in the same period. [25706/13]

Child Benefit Rates

Mary Lou McDonald

27. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has had any discussions with the Department of Education and Skills regarding potential changes to child benefit payments. [25717/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Gerry Adams

28. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the 16 additional temporary staff assigned to Money Advice and Budgeting Service is sufficient. [25708/13]

Child Benefit Rates

John Halligan

29. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has been involved in any discussions regarding the proposal announced by the Minister for Education and Skills on 8 May 2013 to use child benefit funds to pay for preschool education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25869/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Brian Stanley

30. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently receiving rent supplement; the length of time for which the rent supplement is intended to be supplied; the number of persons who have been in receipt of rent supplement for one year, two years, three years, four years and five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25710/13]

Gender Recognition

Seán Crowe

31. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce gender recognition legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25720/13]

Farm Assist Scheme Payments

Áine Collins

32. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the urgent need to review changes made in the budget to the farm assist payment due to the difficult weather conditions and fodder shortages experienced by farmers at present. [25635/13]

Ready to Work Programme

Thomas Pringle

33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that funding is continued for the ready for work programme supported by business in the community to enable them to continue their work in helping homeless persons into work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25863/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

34. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of clients that Money Advice and Budgeting Service has assisted during each of the past five years. [25707/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Brian Stanley

35. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update in relation to the proposal to transfer from rent supplement to housing assistance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25711/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Seán Crowe

36. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the actions she has taken to reduce waiting times for social welfare payments. [25721/13]

National Internship Scheme Administration

Dessie Ellis

37. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection her views of the abuse of JobBridge scheme by employers who are seeking interns to cover menial tasks; her views on whether interning and gaining practical experience in a take-away or an off-licence requires working 40 hours a week for nine months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25725/13]

Student Support Schemes

Joe McHugh

38. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider engagement with the Department of Education and Skills and with the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of supports for students domiciled in the Republic of Ireland who are engaged in part-time studies in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25636/13]

Social Welfare Code Review

Mick Wallace

39. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she is proceeding with plans to transfer lone parents to the new jobseeker's transition payment in view of the fact that a safe, affordable and accessible child care system similar to that found in Scandinavian countries is not yet in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25865/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Niall Collins

40. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service will be able to discharge its role under the new personal insolvency system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25820/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Dessie Ellis

41. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time for processing social welfare appeals broken down by division and type of appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25724/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Bernard Durkan

42. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases currently on appeal and awaiting decision in respect of the various social welfare payments; the extent to which the waiting time for determination of appeal continues to be reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25702/13]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Application Numbers

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

43. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for mortgage interest supplement for each of the past five years; the numbers in receipt of payment in the same period; and the total cost each year for mortgage interest supplement. [25729/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Bernard Durkan

44. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department continue to address the issue of youth unemployment, with particular reference to the setting of precise targets within a realistic timescale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25703/13]

Child Poverty

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

45. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reduce the number of children living in poverty or at risk of poverty. [25728/13]

Social Welfare Fraud Cost

Joe McHugh

46. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings that were made in fraud detection in 2012; the way this figure compares with 2011; the savings that were made through fraud detection in Q1 2013 and the way this figure compares with Q1 2012 and with Q1 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25637/13]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of information required to be provided for a claimant to satisfy the habitual residence condition; if decisions are made on a purely arbitrary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25864/13]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Application Numbers

Clare Daly

48. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will explain the changes in the mortgage relief scheme requiring homeowners to meet interest only payments for a year before they are eligible for relief, meaning those who cannot afford this arrangement lose out on the payment, potentially losing their home and ending up in private rented accommodation, costing the State more. [25638/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Mick Wallace

49. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will look at the case of a family (details supplied) in County Wexford which have been on the social housing list for a total of nine years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25866/13]

National Internship Scheme Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

50. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the remedial action that is taken when companies are found to be abusing the JobBridge scheme; and her plans to stop displacement in employment as a result of the JobBridge scheme. [25726/13]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Mary Lou McDonald

51. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct her Department to begin a public awareness campaign to highlight the availability of family income supplement. [25716/13]

Child Benefit Rates

Michael Colreavy

52. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will maintain child benefit at its current rate and as a universal payment in budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25722/13]

Job Initiatives

Jim Daly

53. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the paper entitled Ticket to Work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25641/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Pearse Doherty

54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that rent supplement is not payable directly to the landlord; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25712/13]

Pensions Reform

Thomas P. Broughan

55. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the apparent disproportionate impact on women following changes to eligibility criteria for pensions, particularly the increase in the age limits and the increase in the number of reckonable contributions required to qualify for a State contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25704/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Martin Ferris

56. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will run a public information campaign to highlight to landlords, whose tenants are in receipt of rent supplement, that it is illegal to demand an under the counter and or undeclared top-up payment. [25730/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Clare Daly

57. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the cap on rents, which is penalising those on social welfare, against the backdrop of rising rents. [25639/13]

Farm Assist Scheme Payments

Áine Collins

58. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider holding off changes in the assessment of farm assistance until at least July 2013; and if she will consider basing the assessment on the tax year 2012 instead of 2011 in view of the farming crisis. [25634/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Pearse Doherty

59. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of all transport services which are co-funded by her Department in respect of persons with disabilities for each of the past four years; and the amount of funding allocated to them and their locations. [25713/13]

European Court of Human Rights Judgments

John Deasy

60. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of decisions handed down by the European Court of Human Rights specifically referring to rulings of the Irish Supreme Court since joining the European Union; and the specific regulatory or legislative action taken by Ireland as a result of each decision. [26087/13]

International Fund for Ireland

Micheál Martin

61. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met with the Ulster based youth engagement Wider Horizons group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25978/13]

International Fund for Ireland

Micheál Martin

62. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has considered alternative funding arrangements for the Wider Horizons group in view of the winding down of International Fund for Ireland revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25979/13]

International Fund for Ireland

Micheál Martin

63. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the matter of Wider Horizons with the Departments of Education and Skills, Social Protection, and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25980/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Seamus Kirk

64. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the position of 17 teachers who are employed by the International School of Martyrs, Tripoli, Libya, at which students sit the Irish leaving certificate examination and where staff are owed an estimated €200,000 from school management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25990/13]

Passport Applications

Brian Walsh

65. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26058/13]

Diplomatic Representation

Andrew Doyle

66. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the legal status and legislative base of Corps Diplomatique or CD sign usage on Irish car registration plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26151/13]

Election Monitoring Missions

Andrew Doyle

67. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 May 2013 regarding election observer rosters and the appeals mechanism for application reviews where a final review is to be carried out by a senior official who has not been involved in the selection process, if he will specify the length of time this appeal takes from the moment an appeal is lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26155/13]

European Council Meetings

Éamon Ó Cuív

68. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Minister or Minister of State that represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26214/13]

Parliamentary Questions Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

69. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of parliamentary replies issued by him to this Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information requested; the date of the question in each case; the date on which the information was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26229/13]