Results 2,481-2,500 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: On a point of order, I asked when Members can expect to see the legislation promised in the programme for Government.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school places in mainstream schools that have been made available to accommodate children with special needs nationally and for the school years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017/-8, by county, in tabular form; the adequacy of the provisions of these additional school places for children with special needs in relation to demand both...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Income Data (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parent households here as measured by EUROSTAT in tabular form; the way in which this rate compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53408/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 252. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for children here as measured by EUROSTAT in tabular form; the way in which this compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 253. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing time for all social welfare payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53410/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 254. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on appeal for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis in cases in which there is no oral hearing and in cases in which there is an oral hearing in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53411/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure on external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since 6 May 2016 to date; the report and expenditure on each report in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53412/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Question Heading for question(s) 256 (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the welfare cheats cheat us all campaign since its commencement to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53413/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 257. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation here; the way in which this rate compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53414/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (13 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 258. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rates of poverty and deprivation for those not at work due to an illness or a disability in tabular form; the way in which these figures compared to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53415/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Dr. O'Sullivan for coming before the joint committee and her presentation which was most interesting. A lot of what she said resonated strongly with me. The committee has discussed these matters occasionally and I note the points she is making. It is not just a question of providing access to education. I take her point about the difficulty in receiving SUSI grants, jobseeker's...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 5:In page 13, after line 38, to insert the following:"17.The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall review the impact of removing income generated from rent-a-room relief from the means test for those in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment and shall bring forward a report on the same within 6 months of this Bill being enacted.". This amendment...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 6:In page 13, after line 38, to insert the following:“Review of Bereavement Grant 17.The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within 6 months after the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas reviewing the abolition of the Bereavement Grant and setting out the options for restoring those...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister of State mentioned Cabinet confidentiality but Cabinet confidentiality has nothing to do with this. We are looking for a report which went to Government to be published after the Government has considered it. We are looking to bring about something the Minister promised and I tried to draft the amendment to reflect exactly what the Minister said in committee. I do not distrust...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: It is unfortunate that it was deliberate. If something is specifically written into the legislation it cannot be avoided and I am just trying to write into the legislation what the Minister specifically promised in committee. I cannot see any real difficulty with that.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 4:In page 13, after line 38, to insert the following:“17.The Minister will publish the report on the effects of the 2012 pension bands and rates changes immediately after it has been considered by the Cabinet.”. This amendment reflects the problem that was created by the changes introduced by the former Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, back in...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I do not understand the logic of the Minister of State's reply. He has told me that the amounts will be raised. We know this from the Budget Statement. He has also told me that there will be an information campaign. We can have an information campaign at any time. We are saying each and every member of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection has ideas because of...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“Renaming of Family Income Supplement 9. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall review the operation of the Working Family Payment, including the requirement that you must be working 19 hours per week, 38 hours per fortnight, to qualify for the payment, and shall bring forward a...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister has stated in his reply that negotiations are ongoing but the truth is that negotiations are going nowhere. I do not know how people in this House would react if we were faced with a proposal to freeze our pensions until 2023 and, in addition, that further restrictions would be introduced. I will put some specific questions to the Minister and I would like specific answers....

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important topic which affects all 10,000 active CIÉ pensioners and all potential pensioners. In 1993 there were five pension schemes in operation in CIÉ, of which three were in deficit and two in surplus. After protracted negotiations, an agreement was reached in 1994 with all CIÉ employees and the company to...