Results 3,301-3,320 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 256. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application by a person (details supplied) has not been decided in view of the fact that the application has been submitted since 16 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29354/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 257. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a review of a decision to refuse carer's allowance to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29358/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 276. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made pertaining to a partial capacity benefit claim by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29800/16]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Review (11 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 309. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chairperson of the community high-level forum, which was set up in November 2015, has had only one meeting since and that the chairperson has since stepped down to take up a new position with the Workplace Relations Commission; when it will reconvene; and if he will make a statement...

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...

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.

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

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for his reply. We are dealing with a cohort of people, 11% of whom are living in consistent poverty. The figure for the population as a whole is 8%. We are dealing, therefore, with a particularly poor section of the electorate. The Minister will be aware of the views of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, to which I referred in the question. He will also be aware of...

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: One-Parent Family Payment (6 Oct 2016)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the assertion by an organisation (details supplied) that the main impacts of the reform of the one-parent family payment have been to reduce the income of lone parents in employment and to reduce the likelihood of lone parents who are not in employment, education or training take up work or education in the near future; and if he will...