Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

20. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered any options to improve the speed with which applications for disability allowance or similar means-tested payments are processed thus eliminating hardship for people who may be vulnerable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18337/24]

Pension Provisions

Bernard Durkan

41. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants who have been refused insurance-based private pensions on the basis of insufficiency of contributions over their working lives or part thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18338/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts are being made to manage grasslands and tillage lands, given the sharp increase in rainfall; if consideration will be given to adequate drainage as opposed to allowing widespread flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18340/24]

Food Industry

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent, if any, to which he has noticed an increased level of dairy produce into this country notwithstanding the fact that we still continue to export more than is produced here; if any reason is given as to why there should be a diminution of dairy produce displayed in supermarkets here; if consideration is being given to where this might end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/24]

Tax Code

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance to indicate the correct tax-free allowances in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18705/24]

Banking Sector

Bernard Durkan

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which any banking regulation currently applies or should apply to mortgage and finance companies offering mortgages and who then sell the mortgages on to third parties without the consultation of the mortgagee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18706/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the options available for a first-time job applicant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18701/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the living alone allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18683/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18686/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a case will be urgently reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18687/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Bernard Durkan

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a PPS number might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18699/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family payment or other allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18700/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available for a first-time job applicant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18702/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the carer's allowance has been improved in recent times to meet requirements of more persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18707/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the return of the funeral bereavement grant may be envisaged other than by way of an exceptional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18708/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision continues to be made for those retiring at 65 years of age; the extent of any recent progress in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18709/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals currently in hand in respect of means-tested social welfare payments and non-means-tested payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18710/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to examine the situation whereby women who left full-time employment to care for a relative or family member and returned to the workforce with insufficient time to enable them to make the necessary contributions can meet the necessary contributions to qualify for a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18711/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for a decision in respect of applications for various social welfare payments has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18712/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the waiting time for determination of appeals has been shortened; the average length of time for processing appeals at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18713/24]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of pension applications for contributory-related State pension received in each of the past five years to date; the number granted, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18714/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which her Department has in place an appropriate method for determination of eligibility for domiciliary care allowance, given the number of children who are now deemed eligible on the basis of special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18715/24]

Departmental Priorities

Bernard Durkan

240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which she and her office continue to ensure the making of a basic payment to applicants of social welfare payments while the primary application is being processed in order to alleviate hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18716/24]

Citizenship Applications

Bernard Durkan

254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in relation to the application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18685/24]

Citizenship Applications

Bernard Durkan

255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the process to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18689/24]

Family Law Cases

Bernard Durkan

256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce the necessary changes to Irish family law to prevent the use of parental alienation pursuant to the appropriate provisions of family and child law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18692/24]

Family Law Cases

Bernard Durkan

257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice her proposed timescale for the introduction of legislation to discontinue the use of parental alienation in Irish family law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18693/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which it might be possible to update a stamp 3 status to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18694/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which it might be possible to upgrade a stamp 3 residency status to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18695/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to indicate in the case of a person (details supplied) whether she can update and upgrade their residency status to stamp 4 given that they are both legally employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18696/24]

Residency Permits

Bernard Durkan

261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when residency status can be updated and rectified in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18697/24]

Residency Permits

Bernard Durkan

262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if and when appropriate residency status might be granted in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18698/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of the beef herd at present; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18717/24]

Tillage Sector

Bernard Durkan

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which cereal growing continues to be attractive in Ireland; if its viability is coming under pressure from other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor production costs in the poultry sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure a stable cost base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18719/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor and safeguard the interest of the agrifood sector given the sharp increase in price of inputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts continue to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions in the agrifood sector without reducing production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts ongoing by his Department to address issues relating to farmer mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18722/24]

Agriculture Supports

Bernard Durkan

272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the beneficial effect to the small- and medium-sized farming community of recent supportive measures; the impact on individual farmers under 50 acres and between 50 and 100 acres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18723/24]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment has fluctuated in the agri-food and fishing sectors in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18724/24]

Fishing Industry

Bernard Durkan

274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to ensure the viability of the fishing industry for the benefit of families dependent on the industry; the extent to which further action is required in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18725/24]

Animal Diseases

Bernard Durkan

275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18726/24]

Forestry Sector

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which it is expected to reach published targets on forestry; when the plan commenced; when it is expected to achieve the proposed targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18727/24]

Farm Costs

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the costs of farm inputs, including fuel and fertilisers, with a view to identifying the best way to meet the challenges of issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18728/24]

Dairy Sector

Bernard Durkan

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imported dairy products appear to be replacing Irish dairy items in shops and supermarkets; whether this is indicative of a phasing out of the dairy sector in this country, which would have a disastrous effect on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the beef industry here is being phased out or scaled down to accommodate importation of similar products from overseas who do not have to comply or are willing to comply with climate change reduction measures; the anticipated extent of the effects this is likely to have on the agricultural economy in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18730/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department are aware of the likely damage to the tillage sector in allowing or encouraging flooding or rewetting of the countryside which is likely to lead to a national food shortage in the not too distant future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18731/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card review application can be urgently reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18684/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the over-70s full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18688/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

347. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18690/24]