Written answers
Thursday, 30 May 2019
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- State Pension (Contributory)
6. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases due for review under the new total contribution system for assessing pensioners for contributory State...
- Data Protection
7. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she or officials from her Department discussed the issue of the publication of the full final report of the investigation by...
- Child Poverty
10. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the statistic that 132,000 children here are growing up in consistent poverty; her further views on whether this...
- Farm Assist Scheme Administration
16. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the level of bureaucracy involved in the annual forms that applicants for farm assist are required to fill out and return...
- Pensions Reform
17. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to introduce an auto-enrolment pension system; the progress made to date in this regard, in...
- Departmental Programmes
18. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the new national action plan for social inclusion has not been published; the definitive date for its publication;...
- Social Welfare Appeals
19. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will take the necessary steps to ensure a speedy processing of appeals in respect of various payments administered by...
- Carer's Allowance Review
20. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the last review of carer's allowance took place; if she will consider reviewing the criteria in place particularly in...
- Treatment Benefit Scheme
21. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the hearing aid grant available under the treatment benefit fund in view of the health inequality when it...
- Disability Allowance Eligibility
22. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has examined the negative social effects of the method of assessing capital for means testing purposes for those in...
- Labour Activation Measures
23. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to further tackle long-term unemployment; her views on the recent CSO labour force survey report; and...
- Employment Rights
24. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when discussions will commence with the relevant bodies to bring in a sectoral employment order to ensure that tips in cash...
- Social Welfare Benefits Reviews
25. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will make specific provision in order to ensure that persons whose welfare payments come under periodic review do not...
- Local Employment Service
26. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans in relation to the future of the local employment service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23003/19]
- State Pension (Contributory)
27. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to re-examine the situation for women who lost out on a full State pension (contributory) due to...
- Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
29. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the processing times for carer's allowance and carer's benefit applications; the reason for the backlog of applications; her...
- State Pension (Contributory)
30. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pensioners in counties Longford and Westmeath that will be positively affected by the change in pension rules...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
32. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the file of a person (details supplied) has not yet been received from the carer's allowance section two months...
- School Meals Programme
34. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the hot school meals scheme pilot project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23046/19]
- Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
35. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the delays in processing reviews for social welfare payments, including carer's allowance, disability...
- JobPath Programme
36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has had an engagement with JobPath providers in relation to extending referrals beyond 2019; and if she will make a...
- Parental Leave
37. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the new parental leave scheme due to commence in November 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- State Pension (Contributory)
38. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) does not meet the qualifying criteria for a full rate of pension. [22791/19]
- Youth Unemployment Data
39. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on youth unemployment figures remaining in double digits despite a number of initiatives and schemes to support...
- Pension Provisions
41. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure representative organisations of retired workers can have access to forums that will decide or discuss...
- Paternity Benefit
43. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that availed of paternity benefit both nationally and in County Limerick since its introduction in...
- Back to Education Allowance
44. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding issues arising with the back to education allowance in relation to adult education...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Personnel Data
45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of applications for discharge from the Defence Forces that took in excess of four months to be completed in 2018; the number on hand...
- Department of Finance
- Insurance Coverage
46. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the creation of a national community insurance bond, possibly funded by local authorities, to provide insurance cover for...
- Mortgage Debt
47. To ask the Minister for Finance if guidance has been issued by the Central Bank or if there is an industry-wide approach being adopted by banks in cases in which a couple has separated and...
- Corporation Tax Regime
48. To ask the Minister for Finance the anticipated full year impact on corporation tax receipts of implementing the OECD pillar 1 proposals as they are currently drafted; the details of the set...
- Tax Appeals Commission
51. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of outstanding appeals at the Tax Appeals Commission; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23142/19]
- Brexit Staff
52. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of Revenue Commissioners and customs officials that have been hired in order to deal with Brexit; the number operational; the number in training;...
- Legislative Programme
53. To ask the Minister for Finance when he will introduce legislation on limited partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23144/19]
- Tax Credits
54. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the research and development tax credit for the previous five years; the number of companies that availed of the scheme in each of these...
- Tax Reliefs Costs
56. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the entrepreneurial relief for each year since its establishment; the number of companies that availed of the scheme in each of these years...
- Small and Medium Enterprises Supports
59. To ask the Minister for Finance the take-up of the key employee engagement programme in each month since its establishment; the number of companies that availed of the scheme in each of these...
- Employment Investment Incentive Scheme Data
60. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the employment and investment incentive scheme for each year since it commenced; the number of companies that availed of the scheme in each...
- Tax Reliefs Data
61. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the start-up refunds for entrepreneurs for the previous five years; the number of companies that availed of the scheme in each of these...
- Insurance Coverage
62. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons in 2019 that availed of the declined insurance arrangement of a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Sector Staff Retirements
63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person who was placed on an interim measure after reaching the age of retirement in 2018 can continue working in the Civil Service;...
- Department of Education and Skills
- State Examinations
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if 2019 is the first year that junior certificate students can only take their written final examination in no more than ten subjects or eleven...
- School Enrolments
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the current section 29 appeal system for schools; the number of appeals recorded as successful under the process of...
- State Examinations Data
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students sitting the junior certificate in 2018 that took more written final exams than ten or eleven subjects in circumstances in...
- Educational Disadvantage
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the analysis on educational disadvantage and resource allocation will be complete in the context of extending the DEIS programme to further...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Garda Resources
69. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vacancies in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23070/19]
- Residency Permits
70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an extension of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if...
- Immigration Status
71. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Naturalisation Applications
73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration for naturalisation can proceed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Immigration Status
75. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if permission to remain or an extended residency renewed work permit is applicable in the case of a person (details supplied);...
- Naturalisation Applications
76. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected position in regard to the determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person...
- Direct Provision Data
79. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding paid to catering contractors for each direct provision centre, temporary or permanent, in each of the...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Trade Agreements
80. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Mercosur trade talks; if beef will not form a part of a final agreement; if the European Commission has indicated it...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Appointments Delays
81. To ask the Minister for Health if an appointment will be provided to a person (details supplied). [23054/19]
- Occupational Therapy Provision
82. To ask the Minister for Health if occupational therapy services will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23056/19]
- Occupational Therapy
83. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding occupational therapy in Roscommon town, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23057/19]
- HSE Funding
84. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23064/19]
- Primary Medical Certificates Applications
85. To ask the Minister for Health if there are designated persons dealing with applications for primary medical certificates in County Roscommon; the number dealing with such applications; the...
- Speech and Language Therapy Staff
86. To ask the Minister for Health when the recruited speech therapist is due to commence further to the vacancies in the mid-Kildare NDT; and his plans to address a backlog in referrals which...
- Audiology Services Provision
87. To ask the Minister for Health when the audiologist position in the eye and ear department at the Midland Regional Hospital will be filled (details supplied). [23068/19]
- Services for People with Disabilities
88. To ask the Minister for Health the reason payments have ceased to residents of a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23076/19]
- Hospital Procedures
89. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23082/19]
- Medicinal Products Availability
90. To ask the Minister for Health the position in relation to the availability of Versatis patches for persons on a medical card or long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Child Abuse
91. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take further to the report investigating the abuse of a number of children in a foster home in the west of Ireland; the way in which persons...
- Hospital Appointments Status
92. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23098/19]
- Medical Card Reviews
93. To ask the Minister for Health when a medical review of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) will be finalised; if this will be processed as soon as possible in view of...
- Medical Card Eligibility
94. To ask the Minister for Health the reason further financial evidence is being sought in the case of a person (details supplied) for a medical card eligibility when the review was sought on...
- Medical Card Applications
95. To ask the Minister for Health if a decision will be made on a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in view of the complex medical need involved in same; the reason further...
- HSE Funding
96. To ask the Minister for Health the detail of 40% budget cuts to an organisation (details supplied) from 1 July 2019; the background to such large cuts; if this decision will be urgently...
- Medical Card Eligibility
97. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23115/19]
- Orthodontic Services Provision
98. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can obtain orthodontic treatment on their medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23122/19]
- Health Services Provision
99. To ask the Minister for Health the status of treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23135/19]
- Orthodontic Services
100. To ask the Minister for Health the steps which can be taken by a person (details supplied) in relation to orthodontic treatment [23136/19]
- Medical Card Eligibility
101. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take in the course of budgetary negotiations to review the cap imposed in respect of means testing for medical cards for persons over 70...
- Health Services Provision
102. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be called for an assessment as soon as possible. [23155/19]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Afforestation Programme
103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent forestry proposal put forward by the European Commission and the one hectare initiative in the next CAP....
- Animal Disease Controls
104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency plans he has deployed in terms of monitoring and biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of African swine fever...
- Brexit Staff
105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of SPS and fisheries control officials that are operational out of the planned recruitment of 116 staff for SPS and...
- State Aid
106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the recent confirmation by the European Commission of a €50 million beef compensation aid package for Ireland;...
- Trade Agreements
109. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Mercosur talks; if beef will not form part of a final agreement; if the European Commission has indicated it will...
- Beef Data and Genomics Programme
110. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the beef data genomics scheme. [23165/19]
- Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations
111. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of discussions at the most recent Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting regarding CAP proposals post-2020 and...
- Food Prices
112. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a proposed European Commission draft regulation (details supplied) regarding greater transparency in the way in which...
- Beef Exports
113. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on obtaining access for Irish meat product, such as, beef, lamb and pig meat to China; the remaining stages in the...
- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
116. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation to Ireland under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund operational programme 2014-2020 in each year over the...
- GLAS Payments
117. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average payment for GLAS nationally and by county based on current participation levels in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- Common Agricultural Policy Reform
118. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has examined the possibility of introducing a whole farm scheme such as REPS here for the next CAP reform; and if it is...
- LEADER Programmes
119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the EU and national Exchequer co-financing rates that existed under the 2007-2013 LEADER programme. [23174/19]
- Basic Payment Scheme Data
120. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual breakdown of actual expenditure incurred in each of the years 2014 to 2018, and to date in 2019, on the pillar 1 payments...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Air Quality
121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the recent vote by Wexford County Council to make County Wexford a smoke free zone...
- Telecommunications Infrastructure
122. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date for each of the 41 action points made in the mobile phone and broadband taskforce report published...
- Electric Vehicles
123. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork in relation to...
- Broadband Service Provision
124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband service will be available under the National Broadband Plan at the home of a person (details supplied)....
- National Broadband Plan Data
126. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role of a company (details supplied) in the national broadband plan during periods; and if he will make a statement...
- National Broadband Plan
128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the potential sale of the holding company or a company (details supplied) in the context of the...
- National Broadband Plan Data
133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the meetings which have taken place between his Department and representatives of companies (details supplied) since...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Mobile Telephony Services
135. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date for each of the 41 action points made in the mobile phone and broadband taskforce report published in December 2016...
- Road Projects
136. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will respond to a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/19]
- Ferry Services
137. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the domestic and EU wide obligations placed on ferry companies in the event of a cancellation; if there is an obligation to pay...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Child Abuse
139. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take further to the report investigating the abuse of a number of children in a foster home in the west of Ireland; the...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Departmental Expenditure
140. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital spend to date in 2019 including the capital carry-over from 2018, by subhead; the provision under each subhead including...
- Mobile Telephony Services
141. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date for each of the 41 action points made in the mobile phone and broadband taskforce report published in December...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Invalidity Pension Applications
143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Household Benefits Scheme
144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the reintroduction of the household benefits package for carers who do not live with the person they care for which ceased...
- Public Sector Staff Recruitment
145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when temporary clerical officer interviews will be scheduled for County Longford; and if a panel will be set up for summer...
- Carer's Allowance Review
146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a means review will be carried out in relation to carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact...
- Illness Benefit Eligibility
147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an illness benefit or disability allowance will become payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she...
- Jobseeker's Payments
148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the situation in which a person (details supplied) works 20 hours per week, if the balance of their income derived from...
- Disability Allowance Applications
149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in regard to a claim for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Carer's Allowance Eligibility
150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in respect of a carer’s allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
- State Pension (Contributory)
151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which women or men who are previously deemed to have insufficient contributions to meet requirements for...
- Carer's Allowance Waiting Times
152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the degree to which she can expedite the process of applications for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Appeals Delays
153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she can expedite appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23126/19]
- Exceptional Needs Payment Data
154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of exceptional need requests submitted in each of the past 12 months; the extent to which all have been...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which rent support payments are under review at a given time; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Social Welfare Overpayments
157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which recovery of overpayments is set at a level within the ability of the applicant to meet same; and if she...
- Jobseeker's Allowance Data
158. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of long-term jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23131/19]
- Youth Unemployment Data
159. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the level of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23132/19]
- Social Welfare Appeals Data
160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare appeal hearings facilitated in each of the past three years to date; and if she will make a...
- State Pension (Contributory)
161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine an anomaly in the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to the new total contribution approach;...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Issues
162. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to put in place provision for persons currently in a house with an approved housing body which is not suitable for...
- Private Rented Accommodation
163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans in relation to the possible introduction of lifelong tenancies which are being evaluated at present; the details of...
