Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

141. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to provide a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under subhead E4 of the revised estimates for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [23065/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

142. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024, to provide a breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations for each programme under subhead E5 of the revised estimates for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [23066/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

143. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to provide a detailed breakdown of subhead E4 by programme categories, as was provided for the E5 subhead programme breakdown in Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024 [23067/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

144. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 8 May 2024, to detail the outputs in 2023 under subhead E4 based on the revised estimates allocation and the final allocation for subhead E4 in 2023, including the number of IPAS beds funded and a breakdown of the same across State-owned accommodation and commercial accommodation. [23068/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

145. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 May 2024, to detail the outputs in 2023 under subhead E5 based on the financial allocation under the revised estimates and the final allocation for subhead E5 in 2023, including the number of temporary protection accommodation beds funded and the breakdown of the same across State-owned accommodation and commercial accommodation. [23069/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

379. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living for 2024 as detailed by an organisation (details supplied) in tabular form. [22436/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

380. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living for 2025 as detailed by an organisation (details supplied) in tabular form. [22437/24]

Departmental Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the funding allocation made available under the free travel scheme to all private transport operators. [22570/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

397. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of recipients for each social welfare scheme. [22796/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

398. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average, median, maximum and minimum number of recipients for each social welfare scheme in 2023. [22797/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

399. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, with regard to the jobseeker’s benefit pay related scheme, noting the revised estimates, what the full-year cost of the proposed scheme will be. [22798/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

400. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [22799/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22800/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

402. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [22801/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

403. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment. [22802/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

404. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the JobPath scheme for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [22803/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [22804/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

406. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant by €1. [22805/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

407. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending carer’s benefit to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22806/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

412. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of social welfare recipients, by social welfare type in 2023; and the projected number of social welfare recipients by social welfare type in 2024, disaggregated by social welfare type, in tabular form. [22908/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

413. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum weekly rates of social welfare payments, by social welfare type, in 2023 and to date in 2024; and the average payment received, by social welfare type in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22909/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

539. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any expressions of interest have been received for the purchase or leasing of turnkey properties in accordance with the comprehensive accommodation strategy; the number of submissions received; the average accommodation capacity; and the average cost per unit of properties contained in the EOIs received, in tabular form. [22994/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

540. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned reception centres currently in operation; the number of units delivered, by year; and the average capacity and the average capital cost of units delivered in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22995/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

541. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to specify the average per-night cost of accommodating an IP applicant in privately owned accommodation, providing a breakdown of the average per-night cost in private accommodation contracted in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22996/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

542. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average per-night cost of accommodating an IP applicant in State-owned accommodation, providing a breakdown of the average per-night cost in State-owned accommodation delivered in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22997/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

534. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 445 and 446 of 8 May 2024, the estimated breakdown of the 13,000 State-owned beds targeted by 2028 that would be specifically dedicated to reception and integration centres available to IP applicants for at least six months and accommodation centres available to IP applicants after six months until they exit the protection process, in tabular form. [21848/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

535. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated total capital cost of delivering the targeted 13,000 State-owned IPAS units under the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy; the breakdown of the estimated capital cost per unit and per centre for those under reception and integration centres and accommodation centres, in tabular form. [21849/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

536. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular units for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection that are currently in development; and the stage of development of each project and the estimated average cost per project and per unit, in tabular form. [21850/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

537. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of commercially owned modular units for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection that are currently in development; and the stage of development of each project and the estimated average cost per project and per unit, in tabular form.
[21851/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

538. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average completion deadline for State-owned modular units dedicated to accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the providing a breakdown of the average completion timelines for units procured in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the breakdown of the average completion timelines of units procured by county, in tabular form. [21852/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

539. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average completion deadline for commercially-owned modular units dedicated to accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the average completion timelines for units procured in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the breakdown of the average completion timelines of units procured by county, in tabular form. [21853/24]

Control of Dogs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

6. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are being made by her Department to ensure that local authorities are enforcing the legislation in relation to collecting fines under dog control regulations. [20942/24]

Departmental Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

18. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on her Department’s plans to address dereliction and vacancy in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20943/24]

Library Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

30. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are underway to increase library membership and participation; and to provide an update on membership numbers at local authority libraries each year over the past five years. [20944/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

359. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have been returned to Britain by the Government in each of the past ten years, itemised by the manner in which they were returned. [20276/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

435. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E4 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [20391/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

436. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E5 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [20392/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

437. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to international protection accommodation in each of the years 2024 to 2026, in tabular form. [20393/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

438. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to temporary protection accommodation in each of the years 2024 to 2026, in tabular form. [20394/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

439. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the number of offers that his Department has received by private landowners and developers to build modular homes for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the estimated number of planned units contained within such offers; and the average cost per unit across the offers put forward, in tabular form. [20395/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular homes overseen by the Office of Public Works that have been delivered; the average cost per unit in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital costs of land and site servicing and costs of building and materials respectively, in tabular form. [20396/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

441. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular units that are currently in development; to specify the stage of development of each project; and the estimated average capital cost per project and per unit, in tabular form. [20397/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

442. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the six reception centres targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many further are in development; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the reception centres delivered to date and those in development, respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital cost to build or acquire these centres, and the annual current cost to operate the centres, in tabular form. [20398/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

443. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the 75 urban renewal units targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many more are in development; to provide a breakdown of those built and those purchased; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the units delivered and in development respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital and current cost to construct these units. [20399/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

444. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many applicants of international protection have been accommodated under the hosting in the community accommodation strand, as outlined under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision. [20400/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

445. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the 13,000 State-owned IPAS units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ that will be dedicated to reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively; and the estimated number of centres needed to accommodate the targeted unit capacity for reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively, in tabular form. [20401/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

446. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of how many of the 11,000 commercially owned contingency accommodation units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ are estimated to be delivered through the acquisition of new IPAS centres; and how many through upgrades of existing IPAS centres. [20402/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

447. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale of his Department’s targeted IPAS capacity of 35,000 by 2028 for arrivals of 13,000-16,000 per annum under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ – specifying, in tabular form, the estimated duration of accommodation between phase 1, phase 2 and post-status approval respectively, with a breakdown of the duration estimated for standard and accelerated procedures; and to outline the level of flexibility and flow-through within these estimates. [20403/24]

School Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

310. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education what protections are in place for teachers who suffer an injury at work and their ‘assault leave’ has expired, but they still remain certified as unfit to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19045/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

460. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed jobseeker’s benefit pay related scheme; when in particular it is expected to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19247/24]

Residency Permits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

532. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the action she intends to take to resolve the lengthy delays of 90 days for appointments for IRP renewal in Cork city; if she will consider following the model in place in Dublin and providing online service; if not, if she will ensure that applicants for the Cork city office can attend other offices in County Cork where the backlog may be less. [19446/24]

Education Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

594. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether children based in designated accommodation centres will receive education while based there; and if so, where they will receive this education. [19422/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in light of her not proceeding further with the consultation on the Green Paper on disability payments, she intends to examine a cost-of-disability payment; and whether she intends to introduce different reforms to the disability payments. [18467/24]

Citizens Information Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

3. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she and her Department are taking to ensure workers in citizens information companies are provided with a pay increase, given the length of time since their last pay increase; and if she will provide the funding to ensure this happens [18468/24]

EU Directives

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

5. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify whether she intends to taper benefits received by beneficiaries of temporary protection in advance of the ending of the temporary protection directive in 2025. [18469/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

23. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on her examination of the issues facing kinship carers who receive nominal contributions from birth parents and who may then be prevented from receiving guardianship allowance. [18470/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

33. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she is aware of the substantial discrepancies that exist between initial applications for domiciliary care and the level of success of appeals with regard to same; and what she intends to do to address this. [18473/24]

Employment Support Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

35. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the tender for EmployAbility which was due to be published in April 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18471/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what steps she intends to take regarding the extent of the backlog in processing disability allowance claims. [18474/24]

Sentencing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

16. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice if she has received from the Judicial Council the sentencing guidelines committee's three-year work plan for sentencing guidelines, as committed to in the Judicial Council's 2022 annual report. [15783/24]

Sentencing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

27. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice if she has received from the Judicial Council, the sentencing guidelines committee's procedure for developing sentencing guidelines, as committed to in the Judicial Council's 2022 annual report. [15782/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

62. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to discuss the differing pension entitlements that exist for members of An Garda Síochána based on joining the force pre- or-post 1995. [7917/24]

Widow's Pension

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

75. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms of the widows' or widower's pension, particularly in respect of non-married or co-habiting couples and the judgment of the Supreme Court on 22 January 2024; the expected timeline in terms of the legislative changes that are required in respect of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16782/24]

School Facilities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

326. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education to address the need to provide additional funding for sports halls in schools. [16451/24]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

327. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education to address the recent changes to the allocation model for special education. [16452/24]

Housing Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

38. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, homes planned for Cork City and County Council and on the targets he has set for same. [15707/24]

Regeneration Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

90. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of the regeneration of the Noonan Road and surrounding streets regeneration. [15706/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

155. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15916/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

156. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [15917/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

157. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment. [15918/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

158. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending child benefit to 18-year-olds still in secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15919/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

159. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the JobPath scheme. [15920/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

160. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [15921/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

161. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant by €1. [15922/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

162. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [15923/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

163. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending carer’s benefit to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15924/24]

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

758. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection when the earnings disregard for disability allowance was last increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14263/24]

Social Welfare Code

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

759. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection when the capital disregard for disability allowance was last increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14264/24]

Departmental Contracts

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

760. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what the remaining length of time is in respect of the Department's contract for JobPath and when the contractual obligations with Seetec and Turas Nua expire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14265/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1078. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of places that have been provided in designated accommodation centres for the purposes of the temporary protection directive. [13895/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1079. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it remains the policy of his Department that those in 'designated accommodation centres' for the purposes of the temporary protection directive and the Social Welfare Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024, shall only be newly arrived beneficiaries of the directive, and that no persons will be accommodated in these centres who arrived prior to the enactment of the Act. [13896/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1080. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any intention to open further designated accommodation centres; and how many places he intends to provide in this category of accommodation. [13897/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1081. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there were any persons residing in the designated accommodations centres prior to their designation; if they are going to remain there; and if not, where they will be accommodated subsequently. [13898/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1082. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the duration that such designated accommodation centres are expected to serve a person, by location if the dates in question are different. [13899/24]

Primary Care Centres

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1575. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on whether a primary health care centre is planned for the Douglas area in Cork. [15138/24]

Energy Prices

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

124. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to address the challenges that rural communities are facing in relation to increased costs with household energy and fuel. [10553/24]

Housing Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

42. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on her Department’s plans to address dereliction and vacancy in rural towns and villages. [10548/24]

Island Communities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

46. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has engaged with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann since the publication of its report on the housing needs of Ireland’s offshore islands in November 2023, and if her Department discussed its recommendations with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. [10552/24]

Control of Dogs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are being made by her Department to ensure that local authorities are enforcing the legislation to collect fines under dog control regulations. [10551/24]

Legislative Process

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

54. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023. [10550/24]

Transport Costs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

55. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to address the challenges that rural communities are facing in relation to increased costs with transport. [10553/24]

Library Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

62. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are underway to increase library membership and participation; and to provide an update on membership numbers at local authority libraries each year over the last five years. [10549/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection what the average wait time for an additional needs payment application is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10206/24]

Sentencing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

506. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of correspondence or reports she has received from the Judicial Council regarding its responsibility for sentencing guidelines within the past two years. [10834/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

808. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any consideration has been given to supports to people transitioning from full-time jobs, who may have costs such as mortgages, to allow them to take up apprenticeships, but are concerned they could not meet their financial obligations. [10835/24]

Youth Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

115. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and his Department have mapped the existence of youth-focused community projects and staff across the state; if he is aware of gaps in coverage or large and populous areas without or with inadequately resourced projects and how do they intend to resolve this. [4038/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

85. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the discussions between her Department and the Irish Dental Council in relation to the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9721/24]

Health Services Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

599. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health whether the recent decision in the parity claim of medical scientists with biochemists, which has put both categories on the same payscales from January 2024, will also apply to recent retiree medical scientists; and whether their pensions will also be brought to parity, particularly given the attempts to secure parity have been ongoing since 2002. [9212/24]

EU Directives

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify what the beneficiaries of the temporary protection directive will be entitled to upon the elapsing of the directive, and what preparations her Department is undertaking for this date. [8088/24]

Children in Care

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

52. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the fact that standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments do not apply in the means testing of the guardians payment, non-contributory. [8089/24]