Results 181-200 of 12,562 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: Certain groups of people, including seasonal workers and school caretakers, in particular, are excluded from pay-related jobseeker's benefits and allowances. Seasonal workers are every bit as unemployed when they are not working; it is just that they are unemployed for a specific period. Will the Minister give some consideration to including those people, who we rely on and lean on in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: On a point of order, there was a lot of consternation and an awful lot of Dáil time was given over to Deputies in the Lowry group who insisted on having recognition. They got it and now they have a question on the Order Paper but they have not turned up to take it. I want that to be recorded because there was a lot of chat and consternation in the House, as the Minister knows. At the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: There are 190,000 children in Ireland today classified as at risk of poverty. Child maintenance is essential. I find it incongruous that although child maintenance is absolutely essential, it is included in assessments for some necessary supports. I welcome the Minister’s words. I hope he will work with me across party lines on this matter. No one will disagree with the idea...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: We will consider this as part of the work programme if I have anything to do with it. The Minister rightly highlighted that it is confusing when different methods of assessment are used. While he said there are sometimes valid reasons for this, there are actually no valid reasons for including child maintenance in assessments. The louder we say that and the more people we say that to, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 83. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that there is a disparity in the assessment of child maintenance across different forms of supports; if he will give consideration to standardising this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21758/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: While I am aware the Department does not use child maintenance as a criterion by which to assess, it is alone in that regard. It is incredibly hit and miss across local authorities. Some count it whereas others do not. Does the Minister agree that child maintenance is for children and should not be considered as part of means tests for essential supports for adults and families? I hope...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 2 o’clock I thank the Minister for his response. The reason I raised this issue is I have a concern about the nutritional quality. Parents cannot control the quality of the food, although they can select from the menu of options. Concerns have been raised about the traceability of food and labelling such as "pasta sauce". At the end of the day, the companies that are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: On Tuesday this week, I attended a presentation on the meals on wheels network. There was a representative from the Minister's office there as well. The network is absolutely fantastic. Day in and day out, the volunteers do a really good job. It is not just a food delivery service but they are really conscious about the quality of the food. They have a more hands-on approach. They are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 81. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of concerns raised about the nutritional value of school meals; if he has considered utilising non-profit groups like an organisation (details supplied) for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21757/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: My question is fairly straightforward. I am aware the Minister is doing a review. I have corresponded with him with regard to taking the profit motive out of school meal provision to the greatest extent possible. Has the Minister examined that or is he open to further discussion or consideration of it? My question cites the Meals on Wheels service but there are obviously others that would...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that qualified surviving cohabitants bereaved before January 22nd 2024 are not entitled to receive retrospective bereaved partner’s pension payments from before that date; if the Minister is aware of the number of qualified surviving cohabitants in this situation; if he is aware of the hardship endured...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will give an update on the pension auto-enrolment scheme; when it will be rolled out; the cause for recent delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21762/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of the hardship endured by adults aged 18-24 who are denied access to the full rate of jobseeker’s allowance; if he is aware of the impact this has on poverty rates among youth jobseeker’s allowance recipients; if he will consider abolishing the reduced rate for people aged 18-24 in light of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (1 May 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made for disability allowance, between 2020 and the first quarter of 2025, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful; the number of applications rejected; the number of rejected applications appealed; the number of appeals granted; the average length of time from application...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (30 Apr 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when people in Skerries will be able to access a scheme for remediation and compensation for homes built with defective blocks; if he is aware that they have been waiting a considerable number of years for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21463/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (30 Apr 2025)

Louise O'Reilly: 269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that anyone applying for the SUSI over the age of 23, still residing with their parents is automatically classed as a mature dependent student and means-tested according to the household income; if he is aware that the assumption of family support for adults living in their parental home who are not, themselves, legal dependents...