Results 13,021-13,040 of 19,409 for speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: This is a strange situation because if the qualified adult dependent claimed in his or her own right, the State would probably incur greater costs in the longer term. I am trying to get recognition for qualified adult dependents. The number of people who would avail of opportunities for retraining or community employment is not large. I ask the Minister to investigate whether it is...

Departmental Offices (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 25: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is any planned changes to the locations of local social welfare offices; if she has satisfied herself that considerations of ease of access by local persons have been prioritised and the steps she will take in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5999/11]

Departmental Offices (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The Minister mentioned that the Department sought to acquire such buildings through the OPW. Will some of these be rented from companies such as Treasury Holdings, which owe the State a great deal of money through NAMA and so on, or will they be purchased outright by the Department? The Minister made the point that the Department is aware of some of the changes needed. Currently, some...

Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I note what the Minister has stated. The value-for-money review of the disability allowance scheme is quite a detailed report which was produced by the Department only in November 2010. The recommendations have far-reaching consequences, and while some of the proposals are positive, others are potentially negative, including the one highlighted in the question, which would affect many...

Child Support (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Is the Minister aware that the cost of child benefit payments to non-resident children in 2010 came just to €15 million, 0.1% of the Department's overall €20 billion budget? With the downturn in the economy and the subsequent return of many EU nationals to their home states, this figure will continue to decrease. The programme for Government commits to seeking a change on this benefit...

Social Welfare Appeals (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Domiciliary care allowance is listed in the table. Before the election, I was told the appeals took an average of 49 weeks, almost a year. My office contacted the Department the week before last and was told that appeals submitted 17 months ago are now being assessed. A period of 17 months is unacceptable. Domiciliary care allowance is a small payment but for many people, especially when...

Employment Rights (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I hope the Minister will be in contact with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation because there is potential, based on the figures, to recoup up to €2 billion in payments. That is a quick estimate based on the amount of claims disposed of. There were 200 claims in the past year for which figures are available. In the period between the claim being registered and the outcome I...

Habitual Residency Regulations (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 20: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the changes she will make to the operation of the habitual residency rule which is acting as a barrier for many returning emigrants, and family carers in particular, from accessing social welfare and the reason there was no mention of this issue in the Programme for Government. [6136/11]

Habitual Residency Regulations (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Comhghairdeas don Aire as an post a fuair sí. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go maith linn ar an ghnó rí-thábhachtach seo. More than 650 Irish citizens were refused social welfare payments last year on the grounds of the habitual residency condition. That figure was only for part of the year. In the Labour Party election manifesto, promises were made that the habitual residency...

Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 23: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cut of 4% to the so called working age social welfare rates and the cut to child benefit introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so when [6137/11]

Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I do not know whether the Minister remembers the comments made by her colleague, the current Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in the wake of last year's budget. As her party's then spokesperson on social protection, she said the cuts to social welfare rates, including child benefit, were "a blatant and unjustified attack" on the weakest people in society.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Ba mhaith liom an Dáil a chur ar athló faoi Bhuan Ordú 32 chun an cheist rí-thábhachtach seo a phlé, the urgent need for the Minister for Education and Skills to recognise that the previous Government's decision to retrospectively increase the pupil-teacher ratio in gaelscoileanna was contrary to the stated objective in its programme for Government to reduce class sizes; for this...

Cabinet Sub-Committees (30 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The Taoiseach suggested that he would take suggestions as to the committees that should be established. Would he consider establishing a Cabinet sub-committee on drugs as there is no longer a Minister or Minister of State with sole responsibility for it? Some of the responsibility now lies with the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. At the very least there should...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to revert to the Ireland's previous stance in the EU on GM crops and foods. [5847/11]

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will produce a step by step plan including a timeframe for each action demonstrating the way he will deliver on the promise to close unsuitable psychiatric institutions, improve access to modern mental health services in the community and implement A Vision for Change; and if so, when. [5824/11]

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans to revert to Ireland's previous stance in the EU on genetically modified, GM, crops and foods. [5848/11]

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The Deputy is still misleading the Dáil.

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The reference was to €400 million over and above the existing levies.

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: If the Deputy had read the motion, he might understand.

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: We have said that all along.