Results 41-60 of 884 for speaker:Frank O'Rourke

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Threshold (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Jordan for all his help with various tenants down through the years. I have a number of points and questions on which I would like him to comment. We know one of the main reasons for homelessness is that there is no activity in construction in either the private or public sector. That is the real problem. Without prejudging the outcome of the proceedings of this committee, one...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Department of Social Protection (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: I than Ms Faughnan for her presentation. I acknowledge her staff and compliment them on the great work done by the rents unit under extreme pressure and in difficult times, with everyone shouting at them from time to time to hurry up. In terms of engagement, my office is very complimentary of the staff of the rents unit and I would like to put that on the record. Following on from that, I...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Department of Social Protection (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: Kildare North is definitely one area where there is an issue with housing supply and homelessness. I assume the directive to which Ms Faughnan referred has been issued to all community welfare officers.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Department of Social Protection (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: While we can discuss the issue in more detail after the meeting, these payments are not being made in Kildare North.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Department of Social Protection (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: I raised the issue of over-accommodation, citing the example of two and one bedroom properties. Is there flexibility in the HAP scheme to assist families in such circumstances given that they must contribute a major top-up to their rent if they are to emerge from homelessness? Can that issue be addressed?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Department of Social Protection (24 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: It is definitely one and two bedroom accommodation.

Other Questions: Child Benefit Eligibility (25 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to review the age criteria under the child benefit scheme and link this payment to children who are still in full-time education which in some cases can be children over 17 years of age up to 19 years of age; in the case of third level education, if he will link this payment to students who qualify on means for the Student Universal Support...

Other Questions: Child Benefit Eligibility (25 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: Like my other colleagues, I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I understand the sentiment in his reply. The reason I tabled this question is because of a number of people who came to my clinics over the past number of weeks and possibly months. They were isolated cases who would have had 19 year old children doing the leaving certificate and as a result, they would be above that...

Other Questions: Child Benefit Eligibility (25 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for what seems like a positive response, namely, that he will, at the very minimum, examine it. This would be important because while quite a number of families have children aged up to 18 doing the leaving certificate, there is a reduced number with 19 year old children doing the leaving certificate. As the Minister can appreciate, it is extremely difficult and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Appeals (25 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 62. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to change the process of reviewing payments under the exceptional needs payment, even though they are not a primary payment, to the same appeal process as other social protection payments, where it goes to an appeal and an oral hearing can be provided, given that some serious cases are being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Other Questions: Programme for Government (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to publish a costing of items in the programme for Government as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/16]

Mental Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: I extend warm congratulations to the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, and wish her all the best in her new role. She will be a good Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services and older people. It is ten years since A Vision for Change, the report of the expert group on mental health policy, established by the then Minister of State with responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Data (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students aged 18-20 who sat the leaving certificate for the first time in 2015; the number expected to sit the leaving certificate for the first time in 2016 in the same age category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13569/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 370. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the remedies available to local authorities or other State agencies to ensure that property owners of derelict or inhabited buildings in need of repair, both from a structural and an aesthetic perspective, have them restored to an acceptable standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 444. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to review the duration of the Tús schemes, which are currently 12 months and extend them up to 18 to 24 months, to give consistency and continuity for the community groups and the persons placed on these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12789/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 518. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if data are available on the number of students aged 18 to 20 in full-time second level education who are not eligible for child benefit; the cost of extending child benefit to students aged 18 to 20 in full-time second level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13567/16]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 553. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief scheme for the Morrell River, County Kildare, will be brought to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12790/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Transport Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 675. To ask the Minister for Health to review the recent cuts to the hospital patient transport scheme and reverse these cuts to assist patients on social protection payments who are suffering from different illnesses and cannot afford to pay the taxi cost as a result of been unable to access public transport due to their condition to attend hospital appointments; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (31 May 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 893. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed in foreign direct investment companies here in the years 2005, 2010 and 2015; the policies the Government and its agencies are pursuing to maintain and strengthen the links that these companies have here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12787/16]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Regulations (1 Jun 2016)

Frank O'Rourke: 209. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislation governing the making of pay-parking by-laws by local authorities; the statutory instrument stating that modifications by local authority executives to by-laws must entail a full review; if he will change this statutory instrument to make the changing of these by-laws by local authorities more flexible. [13846/16]