Results 4,581-4,600 of 18,319 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Review (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (8 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 473. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to reduce the 10% requirement for the new local authority house loan in view of the difficulties facing potential applicants that have been paying high rents and find it difficult to accumulate the required deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/18]

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.

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...

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: Cross-Border Co-operation (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 26. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the discussions his Department has with its counterpart in Northern Ireland on the development of cross-Border projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19074/18]

Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 28. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the discussions he or his Department has with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the European Commission on the funding of cross-Border projects after 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19075/18]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Indian authorities and/or at the European Foreign Affairs Council the recent report by an organisation (details supplied) of the persecution of Christians in India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19179/18]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in implementing legislative measures as required under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19181/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 104. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in implementing legislative measures as required under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19180/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Staff (2 May 2018)

Brendan Smith: 106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the working groups and processes in place within his Department and within the statutory agencies under his remit in preparation for Britain's exit from the European Union; if such planning is coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; if personnel within his Department and within the statutory agencies at...

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]