Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Textbooks

Willie O'Dea

388. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount it would cost in 2019 if the budget for the school books grant increased by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/19]

Garda Transport Data

Willie O'Dea

487. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district in the Limerick division as of 31 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1647/19]

Garda Training

Willie O'Dea

488. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who took the Garda heavy goods vehicle, HGV, course in 2018; the duration of the course; the frequency with which the course is held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/19]

Public Inquiries

Willie O'Dea

489. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the request for a statutory inquiry as requested by the family of a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/19]

Emergency Departments

Willie O'Dea

547. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when persons attend emergency departments with mental health problems, including suicide ideation, there is no help available for them, they are simply sent back out into the streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54074/18]

Back to Education Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

1039. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a back-to-education allowance for a person (details supplied) has been suspended since 4 December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54048/18]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

1053. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears in respect of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54184/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

1054. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) in the past two weeks of December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54188/18]

Working Family Payment Applications

Willie O'Dea

1078. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for a working family payment by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1046/19]

Disability Allowance Payments

Willie O'Dea

1081. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1063/19]

Departmental Staff Training

Willie O'Dea

1086. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all Intreo staff have received disability awareness training; the cost of training staff that have not undergone such training to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1164/19]

Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities

Willie O'Dea

1087. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports and activation schemes available to support persons with a disability into employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1165/19]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

1088. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the partial capacity benefit to those in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme; the estimated full year cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1166/19]

Disability Support Services Funding

Willie O'Dea

1089. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure on the reasonable accommodation fund in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1167/19]

Disability Allowance

Willie O'Dea

1097. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing disability allowance, disability benefit, blind pension, invalidity pension, carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 respectively taking into account increases already committed to in Budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1266/19]

Illness Benefit Reform

Willie O'Dea

40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in regard to the issue of medical certificates for illness benefit; the number of doctors who have accepted the new forms; the number still using the old certificates; if doctors who continue to operate with the old certificate since the changes were introduced have been compensated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53328/18]

Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service

Willie O'Dea

42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision has been made for a dedicated mortgage advice system for MABS; the number of mortgage advisers this will include; when they are due to take up contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53329/18]

Budget 2019

Willie O'Dea

51. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a recent ESRI report which found that as a result of budget 2019, lower income households will face proportionately greater losses than higher income households that benefit more from cuts to the universal social charge and an increase in the higher rate threshold for income tax; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53321/18]

Pensions Legislation

Willie O'Dea

57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to introduce an auto-enrolment pension system; the expected date the system will come into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53324/18]

Social Welfare Overpayments

Willie O'Dea

63. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the recovery of overpayments for social welfare; the amount outstanding for persons that are unemployed; the amount outstanding for persons in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53323/18]

Brexit Issues

Willie O'Dea

70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to expedite the analysis being conducted by her Department on the impact of Brexit and reciprocal arrangements in view of the increased uncertainty regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53325/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Willie O'Dea

83. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed persons that have qualified for the invalidity pension; the date on which jobseeker's benefit will be extended to the self-employed; the estimated cost of extending the benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53322/18]

Child Poverty

Willie O'Dea

545. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current data on child poverty here; the likelihood of achieving the child poverty target; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53696/18]

Departmental Consultations

Willie O'Dea

546. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of consultations undertaken by her Department since 16 May 2016 to date in 2018; the subject matter and or title of the consultation; the cost of the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53697/18]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

547. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rates of poverty for persons with a disability here; the way in which this compares to the European average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53698/18]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Willie O'Dea

548. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of working-age persons with a disability in employment here; the way in which this compares to the European average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53699/18]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

549. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parents here; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53700/18]

Poverty Data

Willie O'Dea

550. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the data on in-work poverty here; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53701/18]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

551. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households that have had rent supplement increased above the prescribed limits for their area in each of the years 2016 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53702/18]

Voluntary Sector Remuneration

Willie O'Dea

420. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the pay anomalies for section 39 staff at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53133/18]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Willie O'Dea

609. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals lodged in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the percentage of appeals which were successful; the average waiting time in these years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52717/18]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Willie O'Dea

610. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of money spent on external consultancy reports between May 2016 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52718/18]

Departmental Funding

Willie O'Dea

611. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the allocation to Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, FEAD, Ireland in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the distribution of this funding; if funding to FEAD Ireland has increased as a result of the homeless crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52719/18]

Food Poverty

Willie O'Dea

612. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of persons here considered to be in food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52720/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Willie O'Dea

631. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an illness benefit payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) for six weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53140/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

211. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position on illness benefit certificates; if the majority of general practitioners are using the new forms; if general practitioners that used old forms and photocopies have received payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52514/18]

Healthcare Policy

Willie O'Dea

327. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the health services of the Askeaton protocol (details supplied); if the Askeaton protocol is still used for investigations of potential emissions from industrial facilities that can cause damage to human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51626/18]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Willie O'Dea

335. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the pause in the use of transvaginal mesh (details supplied) will be conditional upon the science proving the device is safe for use. [51656/18]

Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

340. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the treatment abroad scheme is available for transvaginal mesh survivors; if not, his views on whether it should be available in view of the fact that the cost of having private surgery in the UK is significant and the HSE is perceived to be ill-equipped to deal with complications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51663/18]

Healthcare Policy

Willie O'Dea

357. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the health services of the Askeaton protocol, which was a major part of the Askeaton investigation in the late 1990s, following the dossier he received from a person, which was complied by a person (details supplied) into their family in Askeaton; if the Askeaton protocol is still being used for investigations of potential emissions from industrial facilities that can cause damage to human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51769/18]

Commencement of Legislation

Willie O'Dea

515. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in the commencement of Part 9 of the Children and Families Relationship Act 2015; the steps she has taken to date to address the issue; when this section of the Act will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51524/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

524. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she has or is taking to address issues faced by returning emigrants in terms of information on and access to social welfare entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51752/18]

Departmental Reports

Willie O'Dea

525. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the research being undertaken by her Department; the expected publication date on each subject matter in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51753/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

526. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has examined the habitual residence clause in view of the increasing number of emigrants returning here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51754/18]

Unemployment Data

Willie O'Dea

548. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the issue of underemployment here; if she will provide the available data relating to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52023/18]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Willie O'Dea

549. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in each county participating in each of the employment and activation programmes in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52024/18]

Hospital Overcrowding

Willie O'Dea

74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the initiatives being taken to alleviate overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50713/18]

State Pensions

Willie O'Dea

651. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a State pension by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50268/18]

Jobseeker's Payments

Willie O'Dea

652. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a jobseeker's payment by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50269/18]

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Willie O'Dea

653. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have received an exceptional needs payment from 1 January 2018 to date in 2018 by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50270/18]