Results 2,981-3,000 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Other Questions: Employment Support Services (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Minister's point but has analysis been done or is any planned regarding the impact of those reforms? Is there any independent evidence as yet that they represent the best outcomes for the State and the individual?

Other Questions: Social Insurance (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: First, will the Minister reiterate the figures? It is €1.5 million this year for the introduction of invalidity pension for the self-employed in December. I think he mentioned €23 million next year and then €28 million. He might clarify that. I appreciate the fact that, for the first time, the self-employed will benefit by way of getting invalidity pension without a...

Other Questions: Social Insurance (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Will the Minister consider extending eligibility to self-employed people who will be in receipt of illness benefit on a short-term basis, perhaps after December 2017? Many of them are not permanently incapacitated and therefore would not qualify for invalidity pension on those grounds. However, they are temporarily incapacitated and if such a person's spouse happens to be working, he or she...

Other Questions: Social Insurance (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the social insurance measures that are to be introduced in December 2017 for the self employed; the type of benefits that will be included; the amount which has been allocated for this extension; the estimated full year cost of the measures that are due to come into effect in December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17858/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Activation Measures (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been subject to sanctions and penalties for non-engagement with employment and activation schemes or measures from 2014 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18240/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Activation Measures (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The question is self-explanatory. I am concerned about the connection between the activation systems that are in place and compulsion. Rather than having a link between both, they appear to be two sides of the same coin. That is the reason I asked for the figures.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Activation Measures (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The figures available to me indicate that in 2011, 359 people were subject to sanctions and penalties for non-engagement with employment and activation schemes. That trebled to 1,519 in 2012, it reached almost 3,400 in 2013, 5,325 in 2014, 6,743 in 2015 and from January to December 2016 it rose to 10,428. That is an increase of 2,300% in five years. All of this has happened while...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Activation Measures (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: It might only be a small percentage of the overall number of jobseekers, but the numbers have still increased quite dramatically. It is a sword of Damocles that hangs over the head of every jobseeker in the country. Has the Minister carried out an assessment of the impact the sanctions have on compliance and employment? Has he assessed the quality and sustainability of the type of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Citizen Information Services (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Minister. We do not need a board in every parish in the country. We do not need 93 separate boards. Both organisations have told me that. They have stated that publicly. We are all on the one page in that regard. The Minister states he is establishing a restructuring implementation committee. On the decision on 15 February last to go ahead with this restructuring,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Citizen Information Services (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 36. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the future of the Money Advice & Budgeting Service and the Citizens Information service in view of a motion in Dáil Éireann requesting the restructuring of these services be halted to allow for meaningful engagement on this issue from all relevant stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18239/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Citizen Information Services (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister will be aware, we debated a motion in the Dáil recently on the question of citizens information centres and MABS. I just want to ascertain what the position is now.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Citizen Information Services (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for his response. His reply bore an uncanny resemblance to the reply to the Private Members' motion we submitted a few weeks ago. We have had the debate. People on all sides of the House expressed their opinions. The vast majority in the House believed the restructuring should not go ahead or at least should be halted pending further consultation and input from the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Expenditure (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 73. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the budget allocated for supplementary welfare allowance from 2014 to date; his views on whether the budget is sufficient to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17859/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 82. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress made by his Department to address the situation whereby those that are on contracts which stipulate that they have to retire at 65 years of age are then forced to sign onto jobseeker's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17861/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 84. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those that are offered a place on a community employment, CE, scheme and then subsequently referred to JobPath are being denied the opportunity to participate in the CE scheme even if that is their preference; if his attention has been further drawn to the difficulties this is creating for CE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new community school in the Mungret area; the current stage it is at; when he expects the school to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17568/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (11 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 341. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of households that have been taken off rent supplement as a result of being placed in emergency accommodation in 2016, by local authority, in tabular form; the savings made by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17506/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (6 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the legislation which states that married women cannot sign for credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17185/17]

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The cystic fibrosis association has been campaigning for some time for legislation to regulate organ donation and it is now quite urgent. There is a commitment on page 57 of the programme for Government to introduce such legislation. Can the Taoiseach tell us when we might expect to see it?

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Apr 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Does the Taoiseach accept the urgency of the matter?