Results 861-880 of 4,407 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: Ahead of the budget, which is not too far away, I wish to ask the Minister about the core social welfare payments. Will she consider increasing them in budget 2022 to start the process of getting to the minimum essential standard of living, which is so important? Any social welfare system should at the very least protect those who rely on it from poverty.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: While the minimum essential standard of living is met by the State pension in certain circumstances, that is just one tiny cohort of people when we consider the range of social welfare supports provided. I acknowledge that social welfare rates play a role in lifting and keeping people out of poverty. However, many of today's rates are set below the poverty line and are nowhere near the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: The survey on income and living, SILC, data for 2019 are the latest data available on poverty. The Minister did not mention that deprivation increased in 2019, which is alarming given that was all pre-Covid. I appreciate the previous budget contained targeted measures, but we need to start looking at core social welfare rates that have not moved in the past two budgets. A few weeks ago,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered extending the fuel allowance payment period for 2021 particularly in relation to the serious financial difficulties many households are experiencing regarding making utility payments during this winter season and in view of the allowance being extended in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: Last year, the Minister extended the fuel allowance. That did not happen this year though I understand it was to be considered. Did the Minister consider extending it and, if so, why did she decide not to?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I understand all of that. Last year, because of Covid, the duration of the payment period for the fuel allowance was extended. When I questioned the Minister on the issue last year, including in the committee, I understood consideration would again be given to a possible extension this year. Many older people who had been cocooning for the best part of a year got no supports whatsoever,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I acknowledged that support, which was vital for people, but I am really talking about older people who did not have any supports. I appreciate the budget increases and changes that were made last year and came in this year. That is fine, but I take it from the Minister's response that consideration was not given to extending the fuel allowance in the same way as last year. While the PUP...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending maternity benefit eligibility to women who have not built up the required PRSI contributions prior to the birth of their baby and the possibility of providing a partial rate maternity benefit in these cases; the financial support that can be made available to women returning to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: This question concerns maternity benefit. A number of women have got in touch with me who have returned to Ireland, specifically from Canada and America, who do not have the required number of PRSI contributions. Having returned, they have had or are having a baby and they cannot access maternity benefit. Has any consideration been given to partial maternity benefit payments or any similar...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: It is great to see those who have emigrated coming home to start a family and take up work here after being abroad for a number of years. It is especially welcome to see young people, who had left, returning. When they do come home, if they do not have the required number of PRSI contributions if they have been in a country outside the EU, I accept the supplementary welfare allowance is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a commitment will be given to keep emergency access to rent supplement in place for victims of domestic violence permanently and beyond the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26177/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reviews (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the child maintenance review group will report on child maintenance matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26175/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Programme for Government (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the programme for Government commitment on the cost of disability; the steps being taken to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26178/21]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 177. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to delays in processing payments for the small business assistance scheme for Covid to businesses that have been approved for the scheme, in particular, with regard to delays of payments through specific administering councils (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26172/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 199. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the companies National Broadband Ireland is using to roll-out broadband; the amount of the work that is being outsourced; if National Broadband Ireland is actively seeking companies to roll-out broadband that are based in Ireland to ensure jobs are protected here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25734/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 530. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if voluntary contributions can be included as part of eligibility criteria for the benefit made available to persons retiring at age 65; if there is consideration of the need to include a wider scope of PRSI contributions for this payment in recognition of the varied circumstances that persons have worked throughout their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of expressions of interests received for the hot school meals programme; the way in which schools were selected to be included in the programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26311/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 560. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for short-term work support payments currently allow for flexibility with regard to normal employment and unusual circumstances which many employees are experiencing with work patterns; if her Department is reviewing discrepancies in decisions around normal employment relying on the discretion of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (19 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 121. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to change the maximum grant limits of the housing adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26824/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (19 May 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending short-time work support jobseeker’s benefit for those that are currently in receipt of this payment and are due to be taken off the scheme given the fact that many that are in receipt of this payment work in industries which cannot return to full-time work due to ongoing...