Results 9,261-9,280 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate what the Minister said. One makes a choice as to which system suits one better. However, if one makes the choice of jobseeker's transition payment as opposed to FIS, it means that one is going back from work into welfare dependency, which is the exact opposite of what the policy is supposed to be about. The Minister is aware that single parents in receipt of rent supplement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: It is true; it is less in Northern Ireland.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: When Sinn Féin has power it does nothing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: It is easier to talk when-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: It is easier to spend money when-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 3. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reduce child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29010/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I will not take 30 seconds. The question is self-explanatory.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister is right, the latest figures come from 2014 and show 11.2% of children in consistent poverty. The Minister says that things will have changed by now because we have not taken into account developments since 2014. What disturbs me somewhat is that the figure moved from 11.7% down to 11.2% over the period referred to during which there was substantial improvement in the economy....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: One of the systems the Government has announced a few times in this area is the new working family payment. It will be one of the tools the Government will use to combat child poverty. Can we expect that to be announced in the budget?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: Only some of them.

Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 12. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he plans to address the issue of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28747/16]

Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister said earlier in response to Deputy Joan Collins that he had met a number of organisations representing the elderly in the run-up to the budget. They will no doubt have made him aware that fuel poverty has become a huge issue, particularly among the elderly. What plan does the Minister have for his Department to deal with this issue? I know that other Departments are involved...

Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: We have all had representations from organisations representing the elderly. They have conducted surveys and have come across people who do not light a fire until the afternoon and who go to bed early in the winter to save fuel. Other people resort to taking public transport or taking shelter in public libraries and other public buildings because they simply cannot afford to heat their...

Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: While I welcome last year's increase in the fuel allowance, it was only a partial reversal of a previous cut. I recognise that fuel prices are dropping, but research published recently in the Journal of Environmental Healthrelating to the island of Ireland, that is, the Thirty-two Counties, concluded that Ireland has the highest rate of excess winter mortality in Europe, with an estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Payments (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 21. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the legislation in relation to liable relatives who have moved from the one parent family payment to jobseeker's transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28749/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the national pensions framework, which commits to sustain the value of the State pension at 35% of average weekly earnings to prevent poverty among older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28746/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Review (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 44. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to replace the JobBridge scheme; the procedures in place to ensure the mistakes made with respect to the JobBridge scheme will not be repeated and that participants are not forced into unsuitable and inappropriate employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28745/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Lone Parents: Department of Social Protection (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the witness for her presentation. I am conscious of the fact that her job is to administer the scheme as it stands. Policy is a matter for the Government and administration is a matter for the public service. I have a question for the Minister on lone parents later on this afternoon so I will have a chance to discuss the policy there. The witness stated that there was regular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Lone Parents: Department of Social Protection (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: I would like a specific answer to that question. SPARK and other organisations will advise people who are in receipt of maintenance as well as FIS to revert from FIS to the JST next year and have supplied figures showing that they would be better off. Is that not deactivation rather than an activation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Lone Parents: Department of Social Protection (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: As we are up against the clock I will make some brief points. First, I was interested to hear that the Department did not commission the Millar report. I am at a loss to know what difference that makes but the fact is that the Millar report is very critical of the system as it currently operates and states specifically that it requires revision. Second, I believe it was Mr. Egan, in...