Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Land Development Agency

Willie O'Dea

646. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to use lands from old institutions for housing, both social and private, in view of the fact the moneys made from the sale of these lands were promised to be used to develop mental health services and that this is a commitment under A Vision For Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41753/18]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Willie O'Dea

194. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the investigation into the operation of the mother and baby homes; the date by which this investigation will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41675/18]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Willie O'Dea

195. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department or another Department will provide financial compensation to former residents of the mother and baby homes. [41676/18]

Health Services Funding

Willie O'Dea

100. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if funding for an additional community based diabetes podiatrist in County Limerick will be made available in budget 2019; the reason for the sudden increase of foot ulceration treatment and lower limb amputation in County Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41306/18]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments

Willie O'Dea

237. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there were long delays with issuing the payment of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in 2018; if provisions were put in place for families awaiting the payment; if she will consider putting mechanisms in place to ensure delays with issuing the payment do not occur in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41331/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Willie O'Dea

141. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount it would cost to recruit an extra 500 special needs assistants for the 2019/2020 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41186/18]

EU Meetings

Willie O'Dea

415. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the bilateral meetings he has had with his EU counterparts over the past six months regarding Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41196/18]

Back to Education Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

475. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a back to education allowance application by a person (details supplied) has been refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40635/18]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

477. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is still her plan to issue payments under the new calculation method for the contributory pension in the first quarter of 2019; the legislative steps that still need to be taken to ensure that this comes into effect on schedule; if all persons potentially affected by this have been contacted; the number that have been contacted to date; the number outstanding that remain to be contacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40726/18]

Regeneration Projects

Willie O'Dea

512. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is his policy that complex regeneration projects will ensure that 60% of the development on public owned land will be for private sale at market prices; his views on the regeneration project in Inchicore, Dublin 8; if the project falls into the category of complex regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40583/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Willie O'Dea

513. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households that were dropped from the housing list due to exceeding the income limits to qualify for social housing in the period pertaining to the statistics (details supplied); his plans to raise the qualifying income limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40587/18]

Housing Assistance Payment

Willie O'Dea

514. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if HAP and similar rental assistance payments for 2018 and for 2019 will be estimated in terms of State spending; his policy in terms of maximum expenditure in these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40591/18]

Housing Assistance Payment

Willie O'Dea

515. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether HAP and similar payments provide no return for the State in that they are not adding to supply that is to either the national housing stock or State owned housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40593/18]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Willie O'Dea

244. 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, in tabular form; the percentage of appeals which were successful; the average waiting time in these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40511/18]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Willie O'Dea

245. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on appeal for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis in cases in which there is no oral hearing and in cases in which there is an oral hearing in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40512/18]

Consultancy Contracts Data

Willie O'Dea

246. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since she came into office, in tabular form; the cost per report; the company involved; the title of the report; the publication date or estimated publication date if not already published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40513/18]

Land Development Agency

Willie O'Dea

258. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the focus of the Land Development Agency is not to provide social and affordable housing on public land on a scale to stem the tide of homelessness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40527/18]

Land Development Agency

Willie O'Dea

259. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will continue to pursue a policy of providing social housing through the HAP and other schemes in preference to using all of the Land Development Agency-acquired public land initially to provide social and affordable housing to stem the flow into homelessness, to house those in hubs and hotels and to reduce the waiting time on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40558/18]

Land Development Agency

Willie O'Dea

260. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the primary purpose of the Land Development Agency is to use prime publicly owned land to generate housing in the private market to meet demand in a growing economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40577/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

192. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to approve automatically a medical card to persons who suffer from spinal injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40224/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Willie O'Dea

55. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale for the changes to the illness benefit form; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties and disruption this is causing for general practitioners and applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38895/18]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consultation that has taken place on the proposed changes to the qualifying criteria for the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38896/18]

Invalidity Pension Applications Data

Willie O'Dea

70. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons to date who have applied for invalidity pension since self-employed persons with sufficient contributions have become entitled to it; the number of persons that have successfully applied for this payment to date; the number of persons that have been refused this payment to date; her plans for changes to the qualifying rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38771/18]

Pensions Reform

Willie O'Dea

84. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consultations that have taken place on the proposed auto enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38769/18]

Local Employment Service

Willie O'Dea

89. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the report on the future of local employment services is due to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38770/18]

Budget Submissions

Willie O'Dea

99. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has received a pre-budget submission from an organisation (details supplied) outlining its various proposals and recommendations; if so, her views on these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38772/18]

Land Development Agency

Willie O'Dea

515. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which housing waiting lists are to be met in the context of the Land Development Agency operating a 10% ceiling on public owned building land to be used for social housing purposes; his views on whether the waiting list figures indicate a housing boom would be required to meet the demand; if local authorities will be required to acquire building land via the land development agency for the purpose of meeting social housing needs; if acquisitions and rezoning will take place independently of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38319/18]

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

Willie O'Dea

164. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who is pursuing a course under the VTOS scheme is not being paid an appropriate allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/18]

Motorised Transport Grant

Willie O'Dea

365. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate the motorised transport grant for new applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36995/18]

Dental Services Data

Willie O'Dea

397. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time HSE dentists and orthodontists who have private practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37067/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

716. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the impact that changes to the illness benefit form are having on persons' entitlement to illness benefit; the steps she has taken to resolve this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37043/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

717. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that due to the ongoing dispute relating to illness benefit forms that persons are being denied their entitlement to illness benefit which is based on their contributions and are instead being means tested for supplementary welfare allowance which is based on their means and are subsequently denied this payment thereby denying them financial support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37044/18]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Willie O'Dea

741. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37346/18]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

773. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in relation to a disability allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37850/18]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Willie O'Dea

1407. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a shortfall in the funding allocated to Limerick City and County Council for the purpose of making adjustments to council owned houses for disabled persons; if an extra allocation will be allowed in 2018 to help reduce the backlog that has built up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36754/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Willie O'Dea

2437. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied); when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32490/18]

Disability Allowance Applications

Willie O'Dea

2454. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears will issue in respect of a disability allowance claim by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32891/18]

Disability Statistics

Willie O'Dea

116. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the number of persons classified as having a disability and in employment; and the way in which this compares to the EU average. [31147/18]

Disability Support Services

Willie O'Dea

305. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore or replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport schemes, both of which were closed to new applicants in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31086/18]

Pensions Reform

Willie O'Dea

537. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason behind the delay in addressing issues in relation to defined benefit pensions and in particular the delay in progressing the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31139/18]

Income Data

Willie O'Dea

538. 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. [31140/18]

Consultancy Contracts Data

Willie O'Dea

539. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since the Executive came to office; the cost of each in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31141/18]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Willie O'Dea

540. 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 from 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the percentage of appeals which were successful; the average waiting time in these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31142/18]

Child Poverty

Willie O'Dea

541. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the targets for child poverty; the dates by which these targets are to be achieved; if it is possible for these targets to be met in the target timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31143/18]

Social Welfare Appeals Data

Willie O'Dea

542. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on appeals for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis, in cases in which there is no oral hearing and in cases in which there is an oral hearing, respectively, in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31144/18]

Public Services Card

Willie O'Dea

543. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is expected to conclude its investigation into the public services card; if all activity on the roll-out of this card has been suspended until the investigation has concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31145/18]

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Willie O'Dea

544. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the campaigns being run by her Department, such as the self-employed benefits awareness campaign; the cost of each campaign, including media and advertising, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31146/18]

Income Data

Willie O'Dea

545. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation here; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31148/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Willie O'Dea

244. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction of a new secondary school at Mungret, County Limerick will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30621/18]

Cancer Services Provision

Willie O'Dea

376. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was advised that the waiting list for a CT scan was 12 months; if a national plan is in place to address the matter; his plans to ensure that all cancer patients are catered for as a matter of urgency; when the shortage of qualified radiographers, new equipment and resources will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29248/18]