Results 2,221-2,240 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (9 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 165. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to raise the income limit for a medical card for persons over 70 years of age to €1,000 per week for a married couple in view of the fact that the limit for a single person is €500 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20243/18]

Topical Issue Debate: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (8 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not have any problem with the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, I regret that the Minister for Social Protection herself is not here. That said, what we want to bear in mind here is that the workers in Irish Life, or GWL, as it is now called, are watching this debate because they face the prospect of huge cuts to their pensions. What the Minister of State says is not...

Topical Issue Debate: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (8 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I raise this issue to highlight the plight of 1,200 workers formerly employed by Irish Life, which was sold to a Canadian company, Great-West Lifeco, GWL. The net effect of what is proposed is that, on 30 June, the defined benefit scheme will be changed to a defined contribution scheme. This means that there will be an immediate loss of more than one third of the pensions the people...

Topical Issue Debate: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (8 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: This is the new politics. Instead of Government saying that it will vote something down, it simply says that it will get back to it. That is the difference. The Social Welfare Bill 2017 introduced by the current Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, originally included some provisions relating to defined benefit pension schemes. These were removed on the basis that they would be put back in...

Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise for the absence of my colleague, Deputy Curran. As the Acting Chairman knows, Deputy Curran is Chairman of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, which is sitting now, at the same time as questions on social protection in the Dáil. Why the two have clashed, I do not know. The question is self-explanatory.

Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister will be aware, among the volunteers, people at the coalface or the people providing the service there is still widespread opposition to this change. People are in constant contact with us about it. The Minister will also be aware that the Dáil voted by a majority of two to one against this. The Joint Committee on Social Protection, which includes a number of Members on...

Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister says there have not been any job losses. Has there been any loss of volunteers? Is she happy that, under the new structure, both schemes will attract the same number of volunteers as heretofore? All the information coming to me suggests the precise opposite. Could the Minister confirm the cost structure of the new organisation? Will it enable the State to provide the same...

Other Questions: Citizens Information Services (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It will cost more to provide the same service.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Food Poverty (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The school meals programme is an example of targeting in this area. Will the Government consider its extension? It deals with lack of food and ensures that the food provided to children is nutritious and healthy. Is the Minister aware of the recent study undertaken by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice which focused on the higher cost of having a teenager? The Minister will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for her comments. I am not claiming all of the credit but merely adverting to the fact that we published a Bill. The terms of our Bill did not envisage people being forced to participate in two schemes at the same time, although I can see arguments for and against. What worries me slightly in the Minister's response is her aspiration that there will be flexibility and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Food Poverty (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 3. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the fact that one in three calls to an organisation (details supplied) are about food poverty; her plans to address poverty and social exclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19263/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Food Poverty (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: There is a lot of evidence, both anecdotal and official, that food poverty is still widespread in the community. I want to ascertain whether the Government has given any thought to targeting this problem in the forthcoming budgetary measures.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Food Poverty (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I am, of course, aware of the FEAD programme. Let us be realistic, however, and acknowledge that it is a drop in the ocean. I am also, of course, aware of the school meals programme. Nevertheless, in a recent analysis the Society of St. Vincent de Paul indicated that the number of calls it was receiving had risen since last year and that one in three was related to food poverty. For people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the recently announced changes to the JobPath scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19262/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister is aware, I recently published legislation proposing the change she is introducing; naturally, therefore, I welcome it. I tabled the question to allow her the opportunity to flesh out the details of how it will operate in practice.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for her response. Did I understand her to say that if somebody was in the JobPath system, a vacancy occurred on a Tús or community employment scheme and he or she took up the place, he or she would have to continue with the JobPath service until the expiration of the 12 month period if he or she had already started? The Minister made reference to rearranging...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: We had published a Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Qualified Child Increase Payments (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 22. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce a higher rate of a qualified child increase for children of 12 years of age and over in view of research by an organisation (details supplied) which shows the additional costs associated with adolescence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19176/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reform the operation of the exceptional needs payment in view of concerns that have been raised regarding access to the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19175/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (3 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 40. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is satisfied with the restructuring process for Money Advice and Budgeting Services and Citizens Information Services; her views on the manner in which the process is being handled and the significant opposition to the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19178/18]