Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising these issues. I will try to respond to as many as I can within the time available to me. In regard to the future of the PUP, the Deputy will be aware that earlier this month I secured Government approval for the retention of the current rates of payment until 31 March next. With the extension of the current restrictions until 5 March, it is clear to everybody that we now need to look beyond the end of March in this regard. I will consult with my Government colleagues over the coming weeks on where we are in terms of the trajectory of the virus, the roll-out of the vaccine and where we are at in terms of reopening the economy. I want to assure the Deputy that the Government will not be found wanting and has not been found wanting in terms of supporting people who have found themselves in this very difficult situation.

With regard to the community employment, CE, schemes, I will defer that question to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien. On the fuel allowance, it is payable up to 9 April. We continue to keep the situation under review and will look at it again at the end of March in the context of the circumstances prevailing at that time. The Deputy will be aware that the fuel allowance was increased as recently as the beginning of January 2021. An increase of under €1 was recommended by the Vincentians. We did better than that and increased it by €3.50. The current rate is now €28 per week. As I said, I keep these matters under review. Any person or family that is having genuine difficulty heating their home can apply to a community welfare officer for the exceptional needs payment in respect of heating costs.

With regard to the 15-month rule mentioned by the Deputy, this has been the norm for some time now but I will discuss it with my officials. The Deputy's proposal would have a budgetary consequence. With regard to parental leave, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is preparing that legislation, which I expect is a little more complex than just changing a figure in the existing legislation. Government and the Minister want to get it through as quickly as possible. We are readying our IT systems such that payments can be made as soon as possible after enactment of the legislation. I will defer to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Brien, to respond to the question on the CE scheme.

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