Results 13,721-13,740 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Funding (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 135. To ask the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided in order to ensure maximum utilisation of capacity at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19273/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of recent discussions he had with the European Agriculture and Trade Commissioners on the need to protect the agrifood sector here in negotiations on a possible Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of discussions to date he has had with his British counterpart on legislation in the British Parliament regarding the certification of hauliers' licences and vehicles and its implications for the haulage industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19256/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Administration (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to launch the 2018 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/18]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Leader Programmes Funding (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 158. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated for the Leader programme in 2017; the expenditure at the end of 2017; the funding allocated for and the expenditure to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19253/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Parliament Elections (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 201. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the stage at which negotiations at European Union level on the reallocation of seats in the European Parliament following Britain's decision to leave the European Union are at; if the reallocation of seats will be applicable for the 2019 European elections; if so, if additional seats will be allocated to Ireland; and if he...

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of participants on Tús and the rural social scheme in 2017; the number of places on both schemes for which a financial provision has been made in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19279/18]

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister knows, there are many positive dimensions to both Tús and the rural social scheme in that they provide worthwhile employment opportunities for many who, unfortunately, are not in a position to get a job in the labour market. Furthermore, they provide a great service to local communities by providing new facilities and enhancing and maintaining existing facilities. I...

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the fact there is an increase in the number to ensure that everybody who is eligible to participate may do so. The six-year participation limit for the rural social scheme also needs to be looked at in the future. Some people are coming to an age, or are at an age, at which they will not get a job in the labour market. I suggest that they should be eligible for another year or...

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her reply. She might look again at the idea of adding a training element to the scheme. Perhaps that can be enhanced or made a specific requirement.

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: Yes, I think so.

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: I give the Minister an example. In my own county there is a scheme whose supervisor is John Beglan, who is an extremely hardworking and committed man. In other communities local facilities have been enhanced. In my own county, some of the smaller churches had their grounds, boundary walls, etc., enhanced. There was an element of building instruction training.

Other Questions: Labour Activation Programmes (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: Yes, I think that would enhance the scheme. It would also give the participants better opportunities to get jobs locally when they finish on the scheme, if they wish to seek another employment opportunity, perhaps in the construction sector. I think it is important to look at the training element, if possible.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 46. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to amend legislation regarding the State pension (contributory) with particular reference to persons whose insurance contribution records were interrupted due to periods in receipt of farm assist; if the periods that persons were on farm assist can be credited for insurance purposes; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Border Crossings (3 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of official Border crossings with Northern Ireland; the location of such crossings; the classification of the roads leading to such crossing points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19538/18]

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 31. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/18]

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: For a number of years I have been raising, with the Minister, his predecessor and the Minister of State, the urgent need to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing. In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, we are in the lowest zone in the country whereby the income limit for a single person is €25,000 and for a couple is €30,000. It is a 40% differential between...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: It is most disappointing this review is taking so long. I have told the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State himself in this Chamber that were the departmental officials to ring around to a few good housing officers in the local authorities, the review could be done within an hour. Any of us who make representations meet people on a weekly basis who...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: I previously raised the fact that the family income supplement payment is factored into a person's income. By definition, if a person is eligible for family income supplement, it means that his or her income is not sufficient to sustain a family. That supplemental money was being factored in and meant that people were no longer eligible to stay on the social housing list. As Deputy Boyd...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: In my own constituency, there is a good mix.