Results 21-40 of 1,035,978 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Rory O'Hanlon OR speaker:Barry Cowen OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke) in 'Committee meetings'

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I invite an Teachta Flaherty to discuss the future of the orthoptist service at St. Joseph's care campus, Longford.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Ophthalmology.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Ophthalmology. There is a mistake here. I had not seen the word "orthoptist" before.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State for taking the question. Parents across County Longford are becoming increasingly anxious and frustrated about the situation regarding the ophthalmology service at St. Joseph's care campus in Longford. Over many years, parents have always found the local service to be very efficient. It was a comfort and support to know it was on hand locally. There is a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for his question. When I first saw the matter he was raising, I was wondering whether "orthoptist" was a spelling mistake. Apparently, it is not. An orthoptist is a health and social care professional who specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of squints or eye turns, eye movement disorders and childhood visual problems such as what we know as lazy eye....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (24 Sep 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate her undertaking on that. What is most disappointing is that the Department or agency has not come back with any indication or commitment on whether the children attending the service at St. Joseph's can now access the same service in Mullingar or Roscommon, which at most will be 20 or 30 miles away. It is also extremely troubling that while a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister. Has the decision by the chief appeals officer to review that decision been conveyed to the applicant, Mr. McGranaghan? I was not aware of that fact. Is it a recent development? In principle, it is vitally important that the Minister of the day is not setting aside appeals that are grounded in a process. It is important due process happens and so on. There is an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As I understand it, the person received a decision in November 2020 in which it was determined the person had been working as an employee. The employer then appealed that decision and that appeal was successful. Following that, the person sent further information to the appeals office. Based on that additional information and the outcome of the Karshan judgment, the chief appeals officer...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I may have to return to this matter. When was that decision to review arrived at? When did the review begin? This is the first I am aware of it. Where there are procedures, it is important the Minister cannot be deciding on 2 million or 20 million or however many cases or applications-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I do not decide on any of them.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Exactly. It is important the processes work and if they are not working that there is some mechanism to ensure they work. Obviously, when an appeal is found on facts which turn out not to be facts or to be fabricated, misrepresented or whatever, the decision of such an appeal has a questionable basis and it is important we have a mechanism to address that. I will have to consider the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the appeals office is independent of the Minister. The chief appeals officer has the power under section 318 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to revise a decision where it appears to him or her that the original appeal decision was incorrect. Given the decision of the Supreme Court in respect of the Karshan judgment, the chief appeals officer has now...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: We move to Question No. 4 in the name of Deputy Ó Laoghaire. He will not have the full time.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Are there only a few minutes remaining?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: There are less than three minutes left in total.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Very well. I will skip to Question No. 4. I may return to Question No. 3 another day.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 4. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department or the Social Welfare Appeals Office make use of test or sample cases when making decisions on individual applications or appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37677/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Does the Department of Social Protection use, or has it used in the past, test or sample cases when making decisions on individual applications or appeals?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Social Welfare Appeals (24 Sep 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The social welfare appeals office is an office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. The office is administered by the chief appeals officer. The chief appeals officer and her team of appeals officers are independent in their...