Results 9,501-9,520 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Priority Questions: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Leaving the politics aside, is it not disappointing that the poverty figures are reducing so marginally? I obviously welcome any improvement, but is it not a major disappointment that they are reducing at such a slow rate? The Minister mentioned that deprivation and at-risk-of-poverty rates for lone parents had fallen. Those figures have only fallen marginally - by 0.1% or 0.2%, that...

Priority Questions: Labour Activation Projects (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify recent media reports which suggested that a number of activation programmes will close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8533/17]

Priority Questions: Labour Activation Projects (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I tabled this question because of recent media reports that certain labour market activation programmes were due to close down. First, I want to ascertain if this is true. Second, what are the programmes in question? Third, has there been an evaluation carried out in advance of this decision?

Priority Questions: Labour Activation Projects (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I understand the Minister is saying that this is not the same as when similar types of programmes were terminated in the past for the purpose of reducing expenditure and that this is a matter of getting the best result possible for the money being expended. I basically agree with that approach. If some of the programmes are to be discontinued, I suggest that the money saved should be...

Priority Questions: Labour Activation Projects (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Is it still the Minister's intention to replace the JobBridge scheme with a different type of JobBridge scheme, as he has announced? Will he agree that from here on the element of compulsion will have to be examined regarding labour market schemes in that a labour market scheme should be viewed as a stepping stone to decent and sustainable employment rather than an extension of the social...

Other Questions: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: We have not been in government for the past six years.

Other Questions: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Like what?

Other Questions: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: If we followed the Deputy's policies we would be bankrupt.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to make any changes to the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8361/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to recognise the additional costs faced by those persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8358/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 59. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8357/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (21 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 72. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the recently published SILC, survey on income and living conditions, data which showed that the at risk of poverty rate, the deprivation rate and the consistent poverty rate actually increased for those persons not at work due to illness or disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8359/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Administration (22 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SOLAS has granted a cleaning contract for its Limerick offices to a company (details supplied) and that this company is in violation of the terms of their contract with staff that they are not paying on a regular basis; if he will instruct SOLAS to withdraw the contract in these circumstances;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 304. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made by the HSE in making the drug Orkambi available to cystic fibrosis sufferers through having it included on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9197/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 305. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide for the libre testing device (details supplied) for sufferers of diabetes on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9200/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank both groups for their presentations. At the outset, I note that both my party and I are concerned about these proposals and what I have heard today does nothing to allay my concerns. One thing that jumps out at me from the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, presentation is that in 2009, when the then Department of Social and Family Affairs was running the show instead...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise because I must leave for the Chamber after this. I neglected to make a point in my initial contribution about citizens information centres. A similar argument applies. I want to make it clear, despite insinuations to the contrary, that I am not suggesting for one moment that there is any bad faith on the part of anybody or that it is the intention of anybody, on the board of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: She implied it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I heard what Ms Mangan said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I am sorry to be accused of having made a ridiculous analogy. Specifically, how many people are now dealing with MABS in the CIB?