Results 2,121-2,140 of 4,407 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I move amendment No. 12: In page 8, after line 32, to insert the following: “Report on extending the provision of Disability Allowance to agents in the case of the bereavement of a child 16.The Minister shall review the rule regarding the continuation of Disability Allowance payment where a person is the collecting agent for their child who passes away and prepare a report on...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “Report on extending availability of full Parent’s Benefit to Lone Parents 9. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on extending the availability of the full duration of Parent’s Benefit to lone parents to examine the effect that enabling...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that the report is being done. I understand the issues around having both parents and equality and all of that. It is not fair on children who have just one parent, however. A child with two parents will have 14 weeks whereas a child with one parent will have only seven weeks. It is not fair on a child who for whatever reason has one parent, even...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I welcome that the Minister has agreed to look at this. It is very important. A number of Members in the Opposition have raised concerns, as have Government backbenchers, about community welfare officers and accessing them. As well as those of us in the Opposition, organisations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have raised concerns about accessing community welfare officers. We...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I want to ask the Taoiseach about Garda presence in our rural communities. We know from recent data released by my colleague, Deputy Martin Kenny, that Garda membership across the State has fallen since 2009 while the population has grown by over 11% in that time. Since 2009, Garda numbers in Galway have increased by just 19. The wider division of Mayo, Roscommon and Longford has got 17...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (30 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide clarification regarding eligibility and receipt of the one-off payments announced in budget 2023; if a person can be in receipt of several lump sum payments, for example, if one person receives the lump sum payment for disability-related supports and the lump sum payment for carers or the lump sum fuel...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cost of Living Issues (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: It is important that there be engagement with those organisations on the ground and the report has disabled people to the fore. Can the Minister give us any additional information on the straw man proposal and on whether there is a timeline for that? It is so important. The cost of disability report was published nearly a year ago. It is not the first report to say that a cost of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cost of Living Issues (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: When the Minister says “reform of disability payments”, what payments is she including in that? Does it include, for example, the blind pension or the invalidity pension? The publication of the straw man proposal is welcome and important. She said it would happen "shortly." I love the word "shortly". Does that mean this side of 2023 or are we talking about the new year? ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 65. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on intended reforms to the child maintenance system; when it is expected that required primary legislation will be brought forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59449/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Will the Minister provide an update on the intended reforms that I understand will be brought forward via legislation, I hope in the new year, in respect of the recommendations made by the child maintenance review group in its recently published report? Can the Minister give us a rough timeline for that legislation? Lone parents have waited a long time. These are really important reforms...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I too welcome the publication of the report and commend everybody involved in the group. It is a really important piece of work. However, the cost of removing child maintenance payments from the means test will be €10 million, which is small money, considering the budget of the Department of Social Protection. It is so regrettable we needed this group and this report in the first...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: That is welcome. As I said before, I do not believe that courts are the place for this to be sorted out and determined. We need to keep a really close eye on whatever reforms in respect of the courts come in the new year and into 2023 to make sure they improve the situation. It has been a nightmare and, in some cases, an absolute ordeal for a great many lone parents for many years now, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Exactly. These are the two Departments that really need to move on this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cost of Living Issues (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59450/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cost of Living Issues (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I seek an update on the cost of disability. I understand that the straw man work is under way. Will the Minister give us an update on that?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: It is important that the online provision is put up as quickly as possible. I had asked the Minister about it just before the summer recess. Perhaps she will also give us an update on that. It will be helpful for those people who can apply online. At least then they can give all of the information before they submit the application at all. That should help to move things along in a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the processing of additional needs’ payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59448/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Will the Minister provide an update on the processing of applications for additional needs payments? They are obviously critical in the winter period for those families and workers who will need support so it is really important that this payments system is working efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner. Will the Minister please give us an update in that regard?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister for her response. It is always welcome to see the number of applications approved and being paid out rising. That means that people are seeking support and getting it, which is important. Can the Minister give us any information on the number of applications refused? I had asked that in a parliamentary question but all I got back was the number approved. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 76. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on engagement that she has had with community employment supervisors regarding their employment-related concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59208/22]