Parliamentary questions

Employment Support Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

90. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities, in particular the fact that the subsidy an employer is paid has not kept pace with the increases in the minimum wage. [54238/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

92. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the pay claim submitted by the rural social scheme and Tús supervisors to the Department for pay parity with community employment supervisors. [54239/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

109. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the fact that, standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments, do not apply in the means testing of the Guardians payment non-contributory. [54244/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

117. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the tender for EmployAbility which was due to be published in April 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54242/23]

Legislative Measures

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

154. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the proposed legislation on child maintenance system changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54241/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

155. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the Guardians payment, specifically where a relative is approved for child benefit, that this would then lead to the automatic signposting to the Guardians payment for the relative. [54240/23]

Departmental Consultations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

156. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the consultation of the ‘working age payment’ model mentioned in the Green Paper on Disability Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54243/23]

Offshore Islands

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

165. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the strategic objectives underpinning the provision of subsidies for the transportation of freight to the offshore islands. [52724/23]

Offshore Islands

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

166. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to explain the metric on which the maximum pricing for the transportation of freight to the offshore island set by her Department is based; if the maximum pricing applies to all islands equally regardless of distance from the mainland; and if so, the reason for this. [52725/23]

Offshore Islands

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

167. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the ongoing monitoring mechanisms that are in place to oversee that the service provided by subsidised offshore island freight operators is working in the best interests of island residents. [52726/23]

Offshore Islands

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

168. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are minimum equipment requirements specified for subsidised freight operators on the various routes and for the island piers; and to outline how this is monitored. [52727/23]

Offshore Islands

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

169. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is any PSO element in the freight contracts between her Department and the various operators; and if not, the reason for same. [52728/23]

Housing Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

290. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there is a national policy which requires adults moving into a local authority home to have been on the housing list before being accepted on to the rent book. [50637/23]

Library Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

3. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development about the need to provide capital funding for new library buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50005/23]

Community Development Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

4. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be a round of community halls funding; when this will be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50006/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

9. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will advise of the recent engagement her Department had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on remote working to support rural workers and communities, in view of the recent passing of legislation that will provide the legal right to request remote working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49719/23]

Departmental Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

14. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be another round of the Community Recognition Fund in 2024. [49717/23]

Regeneration Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

15. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the Towns First policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49715/23]

Rural Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

32. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department will work with local authorities to encourage them to apply for new funding for the town and village renewal scheme; if there will be a minimum submission requirement for each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49718/23]

Childcare Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

41. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action he intends to take to address the severe shortage of childcare places in Cork city. [48399/23]

Childcare Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

56. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department facilitates childcare providers staying open when there is a change in management. [48400/23]

Road Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

273. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the L2455 road improvement scheme, Lehenaghmore, Cork; and whether funding remains in place. [48483/23]

National Lottery

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

348. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on the Independent Review of the Distribution and Utilisation of National Lottery spending; if he will confirm the timeline for delivery of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47570/23]

National Lottery

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

349. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount of funding that has been contributed from the national lottery; the breakdown of expenditure over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47571/23]

Flood Risk Management

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

359. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has considered any proposals for flood relief works at Ballinhassig, Cork; and, if not, whether he will now consider same. [47779/23]

Local Authorities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

633. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what guidance has been given to local authorities regarding variable rate mortgages provided by the local authorities and whether the Department agrees with local authorities passing on said rate increases to the mortgage holders. [47784/23]

Tax Reliefs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

634. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the mortgage interest relief scheme proposed by his Government will also include those on local authority mortgages that are affected. [47785/23]

Local Authorities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

635. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered providing funding to local authorities to absorb the increased cost of mortgage interest applying to mortgage policies they have provided. [47786/23]

Youth Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1073. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and his Department have mapped the existence of youth focused community projects and staff across the State; if his Department is aware of gaps in coverage or large and populous areas without or with inadequately resourced projects and how the Department will resolve this. [41412/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1176. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the current number of children and adolescents on the waiting-lists of the south Lee primary care services and the north Lee primary care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47780/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1177. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the current number of children and adolescents on the waiting-lists of the south Lee primary care services and the north Lee primary care services in excess of one, two, three, four or more years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47781/23]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1178. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of in-person client sessions offered by each grade of psychologist - assistant psychologists, staff grade psychologists, senior psychologists and principal psychologists in the south Lee child and adolescent primary care services and the north Lee child and adolescent primary care services for each month to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47782/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1179. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children removed from the assessment of need waiting list in each of the Cork and Kerry primary care psychology services for each month from 1 October 2022, in tabular form; the length of time the child was waiting for an AON in each case and the process of clinical decision-making involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47783/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

125. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of her Department’s plans for a permanent so-called voucher scheme for the Deaf community under section 9 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, in 2024; and to confirm if funding has been allocated to provide this scheme on a permanent basis from 1 January 2024. [46875/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

49. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the next steps in the consultation on the Green Paper on disability allowance. [46769/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

51. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the review of means tests for carer's allowance; and whether, in light of increased thresholds in 2024, flexibility can be demonstrated to those being means-tested currently. [46770/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

277. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an applicant to get a decision on a partial capacity benefit application. [43315/23]

Departmental Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

334. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health how he intends to ensure that people on lower incomes who are not entitled to a medical card are in a position to purchase emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

425. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average rate of payment towards funeral costs received through the additional needs payment to date in 2023. [42778/23]

Legislative Measures

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

426. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Amendment of Section 22 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, specifically in relation to the section dealing with the 'father's name on the birth certificate", as the Act was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2014, however part 2 of the Act: Amendment of section 22 of principal Act, 6. (1), has not commenced. [42779/23]

Psychological Assessments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

663. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the registration of psychologists under CORU; and what remedy exists for any persons who have been provided with psychological services, such as educational assessments, by persons unqualified for same. [42657/23]

Health Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

664. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the registration of psychologists under CORU; and what remedy exists for any persons who have been provided with psychological services, such as educational assessments, by persons unqualified for same. [42657/23]

Rural Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

46. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department will work with local authorities to encourage them to apply for new funding for the town and village renewal scheme; if there will be a minimum submission requirement for each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41426/23]

Departmental Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

54. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be another round of the community recognition fund in 2024. [41410/23]

Rural Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

59. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding drawn down from the rural regeneration and development fund in each month since she took office. [41414/23]

Departmental Policies

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

81. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the towns First policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41411/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

85. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will advise the recent engagement her Department had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on remote working to support rural workers and communities, in view of the recent passing of legislation that will provide the legal right to request remote working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41413/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

376. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection how much it would cost to increase the rate of jobseeker's benefit by €80 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41376/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

377. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection how much of an extra cost to the Exchequer would have been incurred if each claimant of jobseeker's benefit in 2022 and to date in 2023 received an increase of €80 per week for the duration of their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41377/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

378. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current total number of recipients of child benefit payments. [41378/23]