Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

91. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means tests that applied to determine eligibility for social housing schemes; and if he recognises a gap between this income level and the threshold of income that would be needed to participate in the various other purchase schemes which might justify a rise in the social housing income thresholds. [29164/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

92. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans issuing guidelines on the eligible income thresholds and other national criteria for affordable purchase and for cost rental schemes in respect of which many councils have already set the other criteria for prioritising applicants. [29165/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to make changes in the limits on the price of the house on which an affordable loan can be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29167/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the present rate of interest which is charged on an affordable loan; what this represents in monthly payments per €1,000 borrowed on a 25 and 30 year mortgage; if there are additional charges added for insurance and so on; and if he anticipates the potential for the reduction in these charges in the coming months. [29168/20]

Planning Guidelines

Richard Bruton

95. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he plans to implement to speed up the planning delays affecting the development of onshore and offshore renewable energy; and if a clear schedule for specific changes to regulations concerning solar, wind and offshore development will be provided. [29184/20]

Brexit Preparations

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the schedule for decision making on Brexit over the coming weeks. [29185/20]

Low Pay Commission

Richard Bruton

151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission in respect of increases which should apply from January 2021. [29174/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms under which self-employed persons can claim a payment to assist with restarting their business which has been affected by Covid-19. [29162/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

165. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many student nurses who were supporting themselves through part-time health assistant work have been told that combining such work with their standard placements would pose a Covid-19 risk and as a consequence her Department has deemed such persons not available for work and, therefore, ineligible for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if relief can be provided in such cases. [29163/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates for extension of paid parental leave and of unpaid parental leave over the next fifteen months. [29173/20]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

167. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to bring forward an auto-enrolment pension during the course of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29178/20]

Illness Benefit

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the short-term illness benefit can be claimed by the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29179/20]

Working Family Payment

Richard Bruton

169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the higher rate of child dependent allowance for children of 12 years of age and over will be reflected in the rates for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29180/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Richard Bruton

170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the back to education allowance can be claimed without a waiting time for all traditional welfare payments and for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if the exact relaxation in rules which have been permitted relating to duration on welfare payments will be clarified. [29181/20]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Richard Bruton

171. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new claimants of rent supplement which have come into payment since the Covid-19 pandemic commenced; and her plans to relax the stringent rules for withdrawal of the payment for persons considering returning to work by comparison with those that have been put on a housing assistance payment. [29182/20]

Work Placement Programmes

Richard Bruton

173. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms and conditions which will apply to the Work Experience Programme which was announced as part of the July Stimulus; the revised terms of the JobsPlus scheme outlined under the July Stimulus; and if a time limit has been set for the scheme. [29196/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Richard Bruton

174. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes in the criteria for the back to education allowance under the July stimulus; and the duration for which the revised criteria will apply. [29197/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

181. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children for whom the basic €20 per week is paid; and the number for whom enhanced payments are made. [29169/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

182. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the distribution of payments under childcare schemes according to the age of the child and the hours claimed. [29170/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the distribution of payments under childcare schemes according to the reckonable earnings of the parents. [29171/20]