Results 1,221-1,240 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in delivering new school accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13476/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of her Department’s work to provide adequate SNA support in primary schools; and the position in relation to the request for an exceptional review for additional SNA support by a school (details supplied). [13477/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 323. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payments that prevent a person under the means test threshold from receiving the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13626/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (10 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 413. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a company (details supplied) that is in receipt of funding under the social enterprise small capital grants scheme 2021 will receive its designated funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13636/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank our witnesses for their detailed and useful opening statements and for these conversations, from which we always gain so much. In terms of the URDF, I welcome the investment in my own area. Tandy's Lane Park opened in the summer and it is a direct result of the URDF funding stream. Airlie Park in Adamstown is under construction at the moment. We are all eagerly awaiting it being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: Does Mr. O'Brien believe, from his perspective, in extending but also expanding it to include areas that need further rejuvenation? Would that be a good idea? Would that be something he would be willing to continue to work with the committee on to make that case to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Graham. If I have time in the next round, I might learn a little more about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for their responses to my earlier contribution. I ask Ms Graham to outline the reforms she referred to earlier with regard to the Derelict Sites Act, which needs to be modernised and reformed. It sounds like she is doing a body of work in investigating what changes could be made to make it a more useful tool, which could become the catalyst for some change in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: Is there any timeframe? What is the plan in terms of how quickly any changes could be made either to an existing Act or through the introduction of a new Act?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: Yes, I thank the witnesses because that is a key part of this when it comes to tackling vacancy and dereliction. Making sure we have the legislative tools we need to take action and to do it as quickly as possible is key. I really welcome all the progress they are making on this and the fact that they are doing so much work analysing what research and development exists and how it could be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am taking this question and Question No. 8 on behalf of Deputy Phelan. I would like to ask the Minister about the amount made available this year for the working family payment scheme, which, as we know, supports parents who are at work, and the additional funding that will be allocated as part of cost-of-living measures.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for her response. The working family payment is a huge asset to many families. Many families on low incomes in my constituency find that the payment goes a long way in helping them to meet the shortfall between their income and expenditure. I welcome the increase in the payment the Minister outlined and the additional €4 million her Department has allocated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: It is encouraging to hear the Minister refer to an average payment of €140 per week for those families who qualify for this payment. It is important that we encourage any family who believe they may be eligible for the working family payment and are not currently in receipt of it to look into the matter and apply for the payment. Does the Minister have any idea of the number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 7. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, illness benefit, enhanced illness benefit, occupational injuries benefit, maternity benefit or disablement benefit are automatically excluded from the fuel allowance regardless of their income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14660/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: This question relates to the reason people who receive jobseeker's benefit, illness benefit, enhanced illness benefit, occupational injuries benefit, maternity benefit or disablement benefit are automatically excluded from the fuel allowance, regardless of their income.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for the explanation that the fuel allowance is targeted at people who are long-term financially dependent on the State and means-tested for the benefits they receive. This issue was brought to my attention by a number of my constituents over the past months. It seems unfair that a person who is in need of fuel allowance does not qualify because he or she receives one...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome that review. A constituent contacted me who is in receipt of disability allowance and the occupational injuries benefit because of an accident they had in the 1990s. Their spouse is also in receipt of the invalidity payment. Even though they as a couple are below the assessable income threshold, they cannot receive the fuel allowance because of those two benefits. The reviews...