Results 5,541-5,560 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Grants (1 May 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 62. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends making any money available from the Dormant Accounts Fund for small projects in RAPID areas this year and also for flagship projects nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20471/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Registration Issues (1 May 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 144. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason there has been a delay in registering humanists as solemnisers for wedding ceremonies here; the reason, despite the passing of the legislation last December by all party agreement, there has only been one registration and there are some 11 other humanists awaiting registration leaving couples in limbo; and if she will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (30 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 306. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in relation to the Pathways to Work, in particular point 42 where her Department is examining the potential of contracting with the private sector as a means of complementing its own resources where required to deliver services and build up/access new skills and competencies in areas such as case management of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (30 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 367. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made on the completion of a fuel poverty strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18962/13]

Other Questions: Arts Centres (25 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 11. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he has taken to address financial planning and oversight difficulties in Arts centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19265/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (25 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 20. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the events that will be held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Irish Volunteers this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19260/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that FÁS has commenced a tendering process for vocational training services for persons with disabilities; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that most European countries have excluded these services from the public procurement process in order to meet the support needs of...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The report makes certain recommendations about public sector pensions. It is stated a single scheme should be devised for both public servants and those who would otherwise have private pensions. Does the Minister agree with this? The report states the incentives for people to save are not properly aligned with the notion of maximising the retirement benefit for low and middle income...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister has been in office for two years. What are her proposals?

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue arising from the report on pensions the Government commissioned from the OECD. The OECD report reveals a very serious situation - a looming time bomb. As somebody said, the time bomb has been ticking for some time but the ticking is getting ever louder. I raise this issue to ascertain the Government's position...

Other Questions: Rent Support Schemes (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: In respect of the question of transferring rent supplement to the local authorities, the Minister may or may not be aware that her own Department supplied a document to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection late last year to say that this would happen on 1 January 2013. Now we are told that extensive and intensive negotiations are taking place. Is this another...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: There are very strong commitments to the disabled in the manifestos of both Government parties to the disabled. There are also strong commitments in the programme for Government. However, since the Government has taken office, we have seen the disability awareness initiative reduced by 72% and the Department of Education and Skills has reduced funding for students with disabilities by 20%....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I am.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The reasoning underlying the report's primary suggestion is that the receipt of disability allowance at the age of 16 would encourage people to leave school and become full-time participants of the social welfare system. There is not a shred of evidence to support that. All the anecdotal evidence available to me points in the opposite direction. What sort of committee would come up with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: We never proposed a change in this regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: How will this proposal bring that about? That has nothing to do with my question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I am talking on behalf of parents.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: How does the Minister's proposal do that? She cannot give any reassurance in that regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disability Allowance Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of the domiciliary care allowance and the disability allowance in view of the Advisory Group on social welfare and taxation;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19153/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Exceptional Needs Payments (24 Apr 2013)

Willie O'Dea: A situation in which the Minister was more than willing to take over.