Results 3,401-3,420 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 7. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the fact that only 2% of applications for the domiciliary care allowance were awarded within the standard timeframe in 2015 and that only 32% of applications for the carer's allowance were awarded within the standard timeframe in 2015; his views on the processing and appeals times for social protection payments in general; and if he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: In recent years, the waiting times for the processing of applications for basic social welfare benefits have been gradually reduced. This trend seems to have halted and, in some cases, reversed. I want the Minister of State to address this.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: Did the Minister of State say there had been an increase of 33% in applications for DCA and 25% for carer's allowance?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I see. Based on figures supplied by the Department, for a person who applies for carer's allowance and is refused and must attend an oral hearing, the total time from beginning to end is 41.1 weeks, which is a long time. For an invalidity pension application, the total time is 58.9 weeks, longer than a year. For a jobseeker's allowance application, where there is a question about a means...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for his response. There have recently been reports that the system for monitoring the equivalent of disability allowance in the United Kingdom is going to be introduced here. Will the Minister of State give me a firm assurance that it will not happen and that it is not the intention of the Government?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Anti-Poverty Strategy (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: The latest figures available to us indicate that consistent poverty among the population at large is still 8%, among children it is 11.2%, which is more than one in ten, and among lone parents it is 22.1%, which is more than one in five. With regard to levels of deprivation, on the other hand, whereby people do not have all they need to live a decent, humane lifestyle, as measured...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Anti-Poverty Strategy (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I do not disagree with that. The Minister stated in his reply that the Government target is to reduce consistent poverty to 2% by 2020. Back in 2014 the Government set a target for reducing consistent poverty, which was then at 8%, to 4% by 2016. However, it is still at 8%, so the figure has not moved at all. In addition, a target was set in 2014 to take 70,000 children out of consistent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Anti-Poverty Strategy (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 3. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to tackle poverty in view of the anti-poverty targets that have been missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18819/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Anti-Poverty Strategy (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: This question was prompted by a recent report from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that it is getting in excess of 2,300 calls per week from families in need. What are the current levels of consistent poverty and otherwise? Where does the Minister intend to focus in his budget to start making inroads into those?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the assurances that can be provided that jobseekers who have been selected for the JobPath activation scheme will not be forced into unsuitable and inappropriate jobs given that participation on JobPath is mandatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18818/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: In tabling the question I wish to emphasise that we do not oppose the provision of programmes to help people to get back into work, but we are very concerned about any question or element of coercion into inappropriate or unsuitable employment, in particular now that the service has been privatised and there is a profit motive at the end of it. There are a number of problems with JobPath...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: Out of all the queries, e-mails and personal visits I received on JobPath, I wish to read the Minister an excerpt from one e-mail which comes from someone in the Minister's constituency. I will be careful not to identify the person. The person said they will be 60 in a few weeks' time and they have been in full-time employment from 1976 until 2007 in a very responsible position.Currently I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: That is pretty serious. Could I just make one very quick point? In my area in Limerick I have heard constant complaints from people who have been asked the most demeaning and inappropriate questions-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: -----in the presence of other people. There is no privacy. People are sitting cheek by jowl with other people from the same city who are being asked the same questions and they can all hear the replies.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: JobPath Implementation (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: The scheme is being operated by two companies. One of them is Turas Nua, which is a consortium of a recruitment company in Roscrea and a company called Working Links from the United Kingdom. Is the Minister aware that very serious allegations have been made about Working Links? For example, in an investigation by a parliamentary committee recently in connection with another company, A4e, a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 21. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the adequacy of social protection rates given that a recent report by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice which found that in 2016 social protection did not provide an adequate income for 183 of the 214 urban household cases examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18692/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status issue of determination orders which were not catered for in the jobseeker's transition legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18693/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (30 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 39. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has increased the contribution to the community services programme in line with the increase in the national minimum wage; if the programmes have as of yet received this funding; if he can provide assurances that the contribution to the community service programmes will be increased in line with any future increases in the national minimum...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (29 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: There is a very firm commitment in the programme for Government to establish a special court to deal with mortgage arrears cases. Many people are anxiously awaiting the establishment of that court. When will it be set up?

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (29 Jun 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 215. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will re-examine regulations recently introduced by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency which will compel child minders to complete Fetac level 5; if she is aware that this change in regulations may compel many persons who are providing child minding services in their own homes to discontinue this practice; if she is further aware...