Results 121-140 of 4,782 for speaker:Olwyn Enright

Social Welfare Appeals (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Whoever wrote that answer should leave the Civil Service and get a job as a spin doctor. I asked a question on the average processing time. The Minister then said if one takes out the most protracted cases it is not as bad as it looks. The Minister gave us the figure for the overall average processing time, which is the issue. The protracted cases are part of the problem. The Minister...

Social Welfare Appeals (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: I referred to payment types, such as carers payments or jobseekers-----

Pension Provisions (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has confidence in the ability of the Irish pensions industry to provide value for money, to minimise costs and to provide good returns for people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/10]

Pension Provisions (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: I tabled this question because I was alarmed - as was the Minister, I am sure - by the comments last week by the chief executive of the Pensions Board. The Minister will be aware it was announced that 75% of defined benefit schemes continue to be in deficit. When one combines all of these, the shortfall is €25 billion, as I hope the Minister is aware. The Minister has enacted some...

Pension Provisions (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: The Minister's answer is fair enough, but it is dealing with a scenario when things go wrong. That is not my question. In spite of the fact that 75% of pension schemes will not deliver what people expect of them, what will the Minister do about the fact that according to the chief executive of the Pensions Board, the schemes are still operating in substantially the same way and that the...

Pension Provisions (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: What worries me is that they have told us there is a problem, but they have not told us what they will do to solve the problem.

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 34: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons claiming rent supplement for more than 18 months for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28454/10]

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: The Minister said at the beginning of his reply that the rent supplement scheme was intended to a short-term support, and it is a very necessary one. I cannot envisage a situation in the near future where rent supplement will not be needed. Given that in excess of more than one third of recipients are in receipt of it for more than 18 months, my concern is that it is not achieving what it...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Has the Minister had discussions with the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran on this matter? The Department of Social Protection has done what it can, regardless of whether we agree with it, in terms of cuts in the rent supplement. The Minister has made it as unattractive as he possibly can and while that might not have been the intention, that is what he has done. There is some merit in...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 35: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the promised vouched fuel allowance scheme has not been developed to offset the increases for low income families at risk of fuel poverty in view of the introduction of the carbon tax on 1 May 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28455/10]

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: I am pleased to be permitted finally to ask this question. There was much toing and froing in regard to it yesterday, with two separate letters being issued to me. The first indicated that the question could not be taken as a priority question, and the second indicated the question was not in order. It was only when I pointed out that my colleagues and I have already posed the same...

Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: It is a matter for the Private Residential Tenancies Board to ensure rental accommodation is adequate. I have not lost focus on the other side of this issue, as the Minister claims. The warmer home scheme is fantastic if one can manage to avail of it. The problem is one of accessibility. While the various penalties have all been introduced, action to introduce measures to assist people in...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details on the review of the mortgage interest supplement scheme; the changes that are envisaged under this review; if he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28456/10]

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: As I understand it, the Cooney group was due to report to the Minister by tomorrow. On behalf of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, the Minister's colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I met with the Cooney group to discuss this issue. I have a concern in that whatever decisions the group reaches, the Minister's Department is solely responsible for the operation of the mortgage...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: I appreciate that the reports must be brought to Cabinet, but what type of timeframe are we looking at in terms of getting a response for struggling home owners? They are now worried about the possibility of having to pay a property tax in addition to everything else, especially those who are in negative equity. A report in one of today's newspapers indicated that a decision would be made...

Mortgage Interest Supplement (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: The community welfare officers are not allowed to take a total view at the moment.

Social Welfare Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: My first question concerned the collection of figures on the numbers applying for mortgage interest supplement. In the past, there have been difficulties getting figures for those who apply and those who have been refused. I am concerned about the different ways this is operated. The Minister says guidelines have been sent out, and perhaps they have, but I am still getting different...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 42: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of advisers in his Department; the number of high level appointees to committees annually since 2007; the amount each receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26678/10]

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (22 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 73: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of her plans to free up 1,000 public beds through the co-location plan, building work has begun at any of the eight co-location sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25800/10]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (22 Jun 2010)

Olwyn Enright: Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has been assessed by staff of the Dún Laoghaire rehabilitation hospital, County Dublin; when this person can expect to be given a date for admission; if she will provide an update on this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26274/10]