Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,407 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: The figures speak for themselves. In 2020, the consistent poverty rate for those aged over 65 was 1%. It is now 2.5%. Deprivation and at risk of poverty have increased. For those unable to work - I presume many of them are people with disabilities - deprivation is up to 39.6% and consistent poverty is at 19.2%. All those rates are up. There are no improvements or reductions. That is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 73. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way she plans to ensure social protection payments meet a minimum essential standard of living, in review of the recently published results of the survey on income and living conditions 2021 and findings of persistent levels of poverty and deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24491/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I have asked the Minister about the minimal essential standard of living, MESL, and about linking social welfare payments to it. I want to ask the Minister about that again, given the latest data from the survey on income and living conditions, SILC, which was recently published by the CSO.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: The Minister pointed to a number of improvements outlined by the SILC data. The SILC data have once again shown consistent poverty among lone-parent families, which are four times more likely to be in poverty than households that are headed by two adults. In some cases, there were across-the-board increases. For people aged over 65, there were increases in those at risk of poverty,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 71. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she will publish her response to the report of the Commission on Pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24490/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: The question is to ask the Minister when she will publish her response to the report by the Commission on Pensions, which published its report last November and her response was due by the end of March. She might please advise when the response will be published.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I love the term "in the coming weeks" because it really narrows it down. In fairness, I appreciate the work that was done. I understand that it is a massive report and the area of pensions is hugely complex with many different aspects to it. As the Minister outlined, the report is more than 250 pages long. However, it has been published for almost eight months and we need a response from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I recognise the work of the Department on the refugees and the level of support they have needed, both in regard to PPS numbers and emergency income supports. I am sure the staff have worked long hours in that regard, which must be acknowledged. I wish to mention one cohort in particular in regard to pensions, namely, family carers. For a long time they have been promised a solution in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Support Services (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: This report has been long-awaited by many Members of the House, who had asked for many years for child maintenance to be examined. The establishment of this review group was very welcome, and I am glad it has reported and that the report is with the Minister. With regard to bringing the report to Cabinet when the Minister has gone through it, and I appreciate that she will have to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Support Services (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I welcome that this report has been published and I acknowledge the hard work of everyone who took part in that work. It will be extremely important for the future. We have put forward proposals on many occasions for a statutory child maintenance service. That is what we would like to have, and to see it taken off the shoulders of lone parents who end up having to go to court in some cases...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Support Services (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 69. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she will publish her response to the recommendations of the child maintenance review group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24489/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Support Services (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I want to ask the Minister about the report that has, I hope, been finalised by the child maintenance review group. I understand she was to receive that report at Easter. Will she outline when she will publish it?

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way that she plans to address the cost of disability within social welfare supports considering her Department’s report from December 2021 found there is a significant additional cost for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24493/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she intends to carry out a review of the JobPath scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24496/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current process in place for a child with additional needs whose school applies for a device (details supplied) for that student for their learning; the length of time that applications take to be processed and the device to be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24862/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 476. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process to be followed when the device (details supplied) of a child is damaged and must be replaced in cases in which the child has additional needs; the length of time that it takes to replace same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24863/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 477. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a new school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24880/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 500. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way that her Department will ensure that the recipients of the proposed payment of €400 to households who offer accommodation to Ukrainian refugees will not affect the means testing of income for social assistance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24573/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 506. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consideration that has been given to the provision of pension and maternity leave benefits for women farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24636/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 May 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 521. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if in-person medical assessments have resumed for the disablement benefit; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24865/22]