Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

440. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by county. [37333/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of refusals for domiciliary care allowance in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by county. [37334/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

442. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of refusals for domiciliary care allowance for children with autistic spectrum disorder in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by county. [37335/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

443. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care applications refused on first application in each year since 2017, by county. [37336/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

444. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care applicants who were successful in their applications when their initial refusal was reviewed in each of the years since 2017, by county. [37337/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Peadar Tóibín

445. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage and number of successful domiciliary care applications who were successful after an oral review in each of the years since 2017, by county. [37338/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Rose Conway-Walsh

446. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if the parents of children with disabilities and in receipt of a disability payment are excluded from the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37380/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer’s allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) following appeal. [37401/21]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

448. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the issues will be addressed in relation to exchange rates in the case of a person (details supplied); if the person would earn more money each week on the State pension instead of their Polish pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37434/21]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

449. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed pension contributions made by a person (details supplied) from when they first entered the scheme to reaching pension age; if the contributions in this case are refundable; if additional contributions can be purchased at this stage with a view to qualification for State pension (contributory); if any or all PAYE contributions paid by them have been taken into account with a view to ascertaining whether a combination of both PAYE and self-employed contributions can be used to enhance their ability to qualify for the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37450/21]

Registration of Births

Brian Leddin

450. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to difficulties in the registration of births in the civil registration service due to the handwriting of birth notifications from some maternity hospitals following the cyber-attack on the HSE; the steps she is taking to facilitate the registration of births while manual systems are being operated in maternity hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37494/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

451. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 22 June 2021, if her Department has reviewed the recent ESRI report Covid-19 and the Irish Welfare System, particularly with regard to its estimated cost of increasing jobseeker’s rates from €112.70 to €203, an amount of €159 million to €169 million in comparison with the estimated figure of €64.8 million; the way her Department arrived at the calculation for the estimated figures provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37525/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

452. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated savings forthcoming rate changes to the pandemic unemployment payment will have with regard to moving the payment rates from a maximum of €350 per week to €300 per week in September 2021 to a maximum rate of €250 per week in November and then to a standard rate of €203 as of February 2022; the breakdown of the savings at each stage of rate change and for each rate in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37526/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

453. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1124 of 21 April 2021, if her Department has further considered extending short time work support jobseeker’s eligibility beyond 234 days for those with the required PRSI contributions in acknowledgement of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on employment which has required many workers to receive this payment for longer than nine months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37527/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

454. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1124 of 21 April 2021, the provision her Department plans to make for workers that have exhausted their short time work support or jobseeker's benefit eligibility as a result of pandemic related impact on their employment; the way those workers will be able to access income related supports such as maternity benefit and illness benefit moving forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37528/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

455. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the working family payment to those without children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37532/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

456. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that have been implemented by her Department with regard to enabling the safe return to work for workers that are currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37533/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

457. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that has been given to extending self-employed related income disregard of €120 per week in respect of the pandemic unemployment payment for PAYE workers to enable and encourage the safe return to work for workers that are currently in receipt of the payment; the estimated cost for such a proposal in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37534/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Matt Shanahan

458. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity in relation to the way her Department recognises cohabiting couples (details supplied); her views on whether this is a serious inconsistency in the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37550/21]

Registration of Births

Seán Sherlock

459. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when the birth of a child (details supplied) will be registered. [37573/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

460. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is discriminatory to place a ceiling on a minority of recipients of the deserted wives benefit 1992-1997; her further views on whether this allowance should be subject to inflationary rebalancing over the past 14 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37632/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Thomas Gould

461. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age currently on the pandemic unemployment payment in County Cork. [37772/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Thomas Gould

462. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the carer’s allowance in County Cork in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; and the number of these that were refused. [37773/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Thomas Gould

463. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance applications in County Cork in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 respectively; and the number of these that were refused. [37774/21]

Departmental Legal Cases

Peadar Tóibín

464. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of legal cases brought against her Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will provide details on the nature of these cases. [37817/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

465. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that will be made available to those working on short and freelance contracts in the arts and entertainment sector who cannot receive the pandemic unemployment payment as a result of being considered an employee and who cannot earn a sufficient income whilst their sector is so heavily affected by ongoing public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37831/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Robert Troy

466. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [37843/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Réada Cronin

467. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the password length for the MyGov ID is so short, that is, not longer than 16 characters (details supplied); if there is a plan to alter this length in order to improve user and systems’ safety particularly in the context of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37848/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kieran O'Donnell

468. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37857/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul McAuliffe

469. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address a matter (details supplied) regarding carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37876/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Cian O'Callaghan

470. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that child benefit for children over the age of 16 will not be available to some persons from July until September 2021 and that there was no prior warning given about this to parents and guardians; the steps she is taking to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37976/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Murphy

471. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to instances of delays in paying a social protection support (details supplied); the number of persons impacted by same; and her plans to resolve the situation as a matter of priority. [38030/21]

Social Welfare Rates

Róisín Shortall

472. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 1 July 2021, the expected spend in 2020 on the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities; and the additional funding needed in 2022 if the subsidy was raised to 55%, 60% and 65% of the national minimum wage, respectively. [38032/21]

Social Insurance

Gary Gannon

473. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yield from increasing employers' PRSI on the balance of incomes over €100,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38048/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

474. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance payment period by one week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38049/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

475. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of an additional €1 in the weekly fuel allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38050/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

476. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the qualified child increase for the over 12s by €1 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38051/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

477. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the qualified child increase for the under 12s by €1 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38052/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

478. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of one additional week of paternity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38053/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

479. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of one additional week of parent’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38054/21]

Departmental Reports

Gary Gannon

480. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider publishing an interim report compiled from a smaller portion of the replies from the full cost of disability report by a company (details supplied) in order to assist with making part of the research available prior to budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38061/21]

Common Travel Area

Patrick Costello

248. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department’s understanding of which social care benefits Irish citizens who move to Northern Ireland are entitled to under the Common Travel Area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36933/21]

School Meals Programme

Catherine Murphy

249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an enhanced school meals programme for 2022 and beyond; if she has consulted with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if she has requested additional funding for the school meals programme for future years. [36865/21]

School Meals Programme

Catherine Murphy

250. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allocate additional funding in respect of the school meals programme for 2022 and beyond. [36866/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Malcolm Noonan

251. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out a cost analysis of establishing the free travel scheme as a standalone directly applicable benefit; the estimated cost of such a measure; the projected staff resources required to establish the free travel scheme in such a way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36880/21]

Voluntary Sector

Maurice Quinlivan

252. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the requests for tenders for a public employment service; the way the request for tenders in phase 2 for regional employment services differ from those in phase 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36882/21]

Voluntary Sector

Maurice Quinlivan

253. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which organisations in the community and voluntary sector will be able to avail of the tender process for a public employment service given that the requirements and funding model in phase 2 of the request for tenders does not lend itself to the community and voluntary sector being able to participate in the tendering process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36883/21]

Voluntary Sector

Maurice Quinlivan

254. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the geography of the regions of the regional employment services; if there is a minimum number of referrals assured in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36884/21]

Voluntary Sector

Willie O'Dea

255. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the requests for tenders in phase 2 for the regional employment services differ from that of phase 1 given that the requirements and the funding model does not lend itself to the community and voluntary sector being in a position to participate in the tendering process and would be an obstacle to them engaging in it; and the way in which the national employment service will differ from the regional employment services. [36892/21]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which a person can access rent supplement and or HAP when they are not on a local authority housing list. [36927/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the application to transfer the carer’s allowance payment to a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [36950/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

258. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a child benefit and family benefit application dating back to 2014 which is now under appeal with a request for an oral hearing will be expedited and approved in the name of a person (details supplied). [36951/21]

Disability Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

259. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the pilot programme for deaf remote interpreting services on an on demand app (details supplied) has now ceased; and her plans to resume this service on a long-term basis given the very valuable benefit it provided to members of the deaf community, particularly given that another service is limited to 22 minute calls creating difficulties for lengthy calls to services and financial institutions and so on. [37018/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

260. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer's allowance now under appeal will be expedited and approved in the case of a person (details supplied). [37026/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kieran O'Donnell

261. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied). [37034/21]

State Pensions

Kieran O'Donnell

262. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37035/21]

State Pensions

Kieran O'Donnell

263. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if homemaker's credits will be added to the social insurance record of a person (details supplied); and if a higher rate of pension will be awarded to them. [37036/21]

State Pensions

Kieran O'Donnell

264. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if homemaker’s credits will be added to the record of a person (details supplied); and if they have an entitlement to the higher rate of pension. [37037/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Kehoe

265. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if assistance is available to a person (details supplied) to retain the additional benefits for a disabled person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37040/21]

State Pensions

Michael Healy-Rae

266. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if contributions between the 65th and 66th birthdays are treated as full contributions and not credits to the 520 full rate condition (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37051/21]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans on resuming availability of an application (details supplied) to support persons who are deaf with accessing key interpretation services in recognition of the accessibility the application offers and the commitment in the Programme for Government to equality-proof social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37065/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pauline Tully

83. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of increasing the funding to the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36627/21]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

84. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of increasing the funding to the disability awareness support scheme by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36628/21]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

85. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of increasing the funding to the employee retention grant scheme for employees who have acquired an illness, condition or impairment by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36629/21]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

86. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of increasing the funding to the reasonable accommodation fund by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36630/21]

Domestic Violence

Thomas Pringle

87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a grant is available to assist a domestic violence service that is helping victims of domestic abuse to purchase CCTV cameras in order that victims can be safe in their own homes (details supplied); if there is funding which could be made available; if an official from her office will make contact with the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36633/21]

Registration of Births

Richard Bruton

88. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the disruption which has occurred to the issuing of a certification of birth, PPS numbers and so on, for newly born children; the steps that are being taken to resolve the issues; and the provision that is being made in cases in which such certification is urgently needed. [36640/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Moynihan

89. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the provision of pensions to community employment supervisors; the timeline for the commencement of these pensions for supervisors who are approaching retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36663/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review will take place into the application for jobseeker’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36706/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Marian Harkin

91. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if rural social scheme supervisors will be included in the proposal for a once-off gratuity to be paid on retirement to community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36721/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

92. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the 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. [36723/21]

Youth Unemployment

Johnny Mythen

333. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is drafting plans to tackle youth unemployment in County Wexford with specific focus on those not in education, employment or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36404/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

334. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents who availed of the original two weeks of parent’s benefit and leave; the number who then availed of the additional three weeks as of April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35816/21]

Dental Services

Duncan Smith

335. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to receive treatment without incurring a charge payable to their treating dentist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35848/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

336. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of social protection payments made to a person (details supplied) to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35857/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

337. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 423 of 22 June 2021, the number of claims made for the blind pension in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of successful claims versus unsuccessful claims for each year; and the reason for same in tabular form. [35870/21]

Job Creation

Niall Collins

338. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of jobs clubs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35898/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Richard Bruton

339. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a delay in issuing PPSNs to new born babies as in a case of a child (details supplied); and if cases will be fast tracked in cases in which there is a need to obtain a passport for essential travel. [35905/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

340. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for a carer’s allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [35920/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

341. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for a carer’s allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [35923/21]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

342. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of interest her Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35940/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Ring

343. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 851 of 15 June 2021, the location of the monthly child benefit payments to the approximately 4,000 recipients who do not reside in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35990/21]

Birth Certificates

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

344. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a birth certificate application by a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36008/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

345. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families and children who received the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in 2020. [36013/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bernard Durkan

346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for the back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36020/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Louise O'Reilly

347. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the enterprise support grant for businesses impacted by Covid-19 is not available for those who closed their Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment on or after 1 May 2021 given many businesses reopened in May and are excluded from the scheme due to the 1 June 2021 date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36026/21]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

348. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to introduce new work placement experience programmes for the unemployed (details supplied); if so, when it will be launched; the outlines of the schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36028/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

349. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of occasions her Department has refused to process a request under freedom of information using section 15(1)(g) of the Freedom of Information Act 2014; and the number of persons that have applied since January 2014. [36033/21]

Departmental Schemes

James Lawless

350. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if the travel pass scheme can be extended to persons (details supplied) who have epilepsy and may not be able to drive due to the condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36041/21]

State Pensions

James Lawless

351. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a situation in relation to difficulties with the pension of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36042/21]

Employment Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

352. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is planned to look for tenders for a national employment service; the remit this service will have; the body providing the services at present that will be provided by the successful tenderer; if this tender will provide totally new services not being provided at present by the State, directly or indirectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36048/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Paul Murphy

353. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individual cases heard by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in the context of scope section appeals on an annual basis over the past ten years given that the Chief Appeals Officer has stated in the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands the appeals are heard with a number of cases attached to each one. [36092/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

354. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if she will update them as a matter of priority. [36131/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

355. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to her Department. [36149/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

356. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of freedom of information requests refused by her Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36167/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Haughey

357. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will facilitate employees of an airline (details supplied) to continue to receive jobseeker’s benefit when eligibility for this payment has been exhausted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36177/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Violet-Anne Wynne

358. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if provisions were made to accommodate distance learning throughout the pandemic for those in receipt of social welfare payments; and if so, the number of courses available and or number of persons who registered and availed of these courses by county in tabular form. [36242/21]

State Pensions

Réada Cronin

359. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who has worked all their adult life can be denied their old age pension with notification that arrears will not apply in their case due to a debt to the Revenue Commissioners of under €1,700 on which a repayment arrangement has been agreed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36322/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Réada Cronin

360. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social protection payments that have been denied due to debts to the Revenue Commissioners both with repayment arrangements and without arrangements in each of the past five years and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36323/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Thomas Pringle

361. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an application for carer’s allowance was submitted to her Department in respect of a person (details supplied); and when a decision will be made on the application. [36349/21]