Results 4,941-4,960 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unemployment Data (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Now they are making tea and photocopying.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unemployment Data (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 105. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to outline the progress made through the Pathways to Work strategy; the current long-term unemployment statistics; the current rate of youth unemployment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3956/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unemployment Data (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: We are trying to ascertain the progress that has been made on the Pathways to Work scheme, which is central to the Government's labour activation policy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unemployment Data (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I will start on a positive note by congratulating the Minister on her appointment as director of elections for the Labour Party for the European and local elections, if that information is correct. I hope she will have sufficient time to give to her official duties despite these onerous responsibilities. All I can say is that if she can attract the same positive public relations for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 387. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who secure full employment after engaging in the JobBridge scheme; the number of these employees who remain with the original hosting company under the scheme when the internship period is over; if she has any concerns with the potential abuse of employees under the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Data Protection (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 386. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department’s policy in relation to data protection; the actions that have been taken to deal with fraud and illegal sharing of information from her Department to third parties; the current whistle blower protections in operation for staff in the her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3853/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 388. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of potential double insolvency pension schemes foreseen in the coming year by her Department; when guidelines will be issued to trustees of defined benefit schemes outlining how best to utilise the new legislative provisions as contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No 2) Bill 2013; if there are any defined benefit pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 389. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline any consultancy costs associated with the establishment of the Intreo services; if she will outline any other costs associated with the establishment of Intreo including office refurbishment, branding costs and website costs; if she is satisfied with the current operation of the service; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare (28 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 390. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to implement any further policy changes arising out of the report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare; if she will provide an indication of when the social impact assessment of budget 2014 will be published by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3857/14]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I asked about the telephone rental allowance scheme.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is not new; that payment has been in place all the time.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: In the context of the change to the illness benefit provisions, whereby instead of not being paid for the first three days people must now wait six days, has the Department carried out an analysis of the percentage of employees who are covered by proper sick pay schemes in their places of work? People may be able to survive for three days without payment but if they are obliged to do so for...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but the budget for exceptional needs payments is being reduced this year, even though demand is going to increase. People who hitherto would have qualified for a payment of €800 will not now qualify. The latter is a small sum, particularly if a funeral costs €7,000, €8,000 or €10,000. How does the Minister propose to square that circle? In light of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That was done in conjunction with payment of the bereavement grant up to now.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: This programme contains provisions to assist people to come off the live register into employment. I refer to a figure of €13.5 million allocated for JobsPlus and €82.3 million allocated for JobBridge this year. How many people will benefit from these schemes? I have a question about JobBridge. The voluntary internship scheme provides experience but participants work for...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: We have been dealing with pensions and now we are dealing with the measures through which the State supports people of working age who do not have an income of their own or whose income is so inadequate that they need State support. Looking at the overall figures here, the provisional outturn for 2013 for expenditure in this area was €5.5 billion while the projected outturn for the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The Department's document asserts that the changes in the lone-parent allowance were designed to eliminate financial disincentives to return to work. The most significant change in that regard is the reduction in the income disregard which means, in plain English, that if a lone parent goes out to work, that work, which is often part-time, will be less valuable and he or she will get less...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Not enough? I agree but I ask the Minister to provide the figures.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome the Minister and her officials and thank the Minister for her presentation. I add my congratulations to the hardworking staff in the Department on the work they have been doing, particularly in respect of backlogs. There is still some work to be completed but much good work has been done and I acknowledge that. There has been much discussion about the potential burden that...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Can the Minister refer to what the forthcoming pensions legislation will contain?