Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,119 for speaker:Jack Wall

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: The Curragh Camp is the jewel in the crown of the Defence Forces, as I and many Members of this House and the Upper House have said many times. The first thing anyone who drives through the Curragh Camp will notice is dereliction and the closed premises on the main street. The news that the fire station is to close has been greeted with disbelief by people who live in the Curragh because it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I welcome that the Tánaiste will visit the Curragh Camp. That is very important. I will take him up on his request that I accompany him on that visit because it will be important that we meet local representatives who are getting this on the ground from those who live in the Curragh and who have previously, as the Tánaiste said, served on the Curragh. The State needs to use the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Widow's Pension (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 83. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when he intends to bring forward the Bill to support cohabiting couples by providing pensions for bereaved partners; the number of applications received for such a payment since the O’Meara case; if supplementary payments will issue to those qualified applicants in advance of the legislation passing; and if he will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Widow's Pension (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister and wish him well. As Labour Party spokesperson on social protection, I look forward to working with him over the lifetime of this Dáil. My question is very similar to the previous one. In addition, I ask for the number of applications received for the payment since the O'Meara case and whether the Minister will consider supplementary payments to qualified...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Widow's Pension (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister for acknowledging the work that Deputy Alan Kelly did in relation to this. I also thank the O'Meara family for the work they did to ensure that those who are entitled to a payment can have one. It was a long road for them. They stood steadfast and got a result for many people. As mentioned, this issue may affect over 150,000 couples. The Minister informed us that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Widow's Pension (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: There is an expectation out there, as the Minister indicated. Those who have applied are waiting on the results of the O'Meara case. I am dealing with a number of people whose partners passed away before January 2024. The Minister mentioned not building up expectations. Is the Department considering making a payment to those people? Will the Minister give a commitment today that he will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Offices (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 88. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current number of appeal officers working in the appeals office; the number for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8583/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Offices (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: How many appeals officers are working in the social welfare appeals office and how many have been working there over the past three years, and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Offices (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister. I welcome that there are 20 additional appeals officers but, unfortunately, as far as I am concerned, appeals times are still growing. I am dealing with a large number of carer's appeals that have been in train for 12 or 14 months and invalidity pension appeals that have been live for more than six months. The problem is that it is very difficult to explain to a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Offices (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I welcome the independence of the appeals office. It is a great system whereby we get a second opinion, and it is something I have used during my time as a public representative. I have always found the appeals officers to be very helpful. With regard to the new appeals procedures, does the Minister have any indication of what the timelines for appeals will be or what he is working...

Housing Commission Report: Statements (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: I wish the three Ministers well in their new portfolios. In our Private Members’ business of a week ago, I described what is happening with housing as an emergency. Indeed, the Housing Commission report calls for a radical reset of housing policy in Ireland. While every possible solution should be investigated, my party and I are of the opinion that the solutions should and must be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to improve the community welfare service; if he intends to hire more community welfare officers across the State, given the increased workload with recent storms and other increased calls on the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8581/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 141. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average current waiting time for a social welfare appeal in the State; how waiting times for a decision vary across different payments; whether waiting times have increased over the past 12 months; what action he is taking to reduce the time it takes to process an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for an appeal for a carer's allowance; the average time for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8582/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the projected cost of increasing the domiciliary care allowance to 18 years of age from the current age limit of 16; the number that would be eligible based on current recipients; what consideration has been given to such a policy change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8580/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (27 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to reform the application form for domiciliary care allowance; if he is aware of the concerns of support groups, questioning the detail required and complex nature of the form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8578/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Prison Service (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has had consultations and correspondence on a project (details supplied); the number and dates of such correspondence; the times of such correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 106. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State-owned and or leased premises, offices and land in a town in County Kildare (details supplied); the number in use; the number under construction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8301/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State-owned and or leased premises, offices and land in a town in County Kildare (details supplied); the number in use; the number under construction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (26 Feb 2025)

Mark Wall: 108. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State-owned and or leased premises, offices and land in a town in County Kildare (details supplied); the number in use; the number under construction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8303/25]