Results 2,221-2,240 of 3,479 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the need to provide a post-primary special educational needs unit for children from Newcastle, Rathcoole and Saggart, County Dublin; her plans to provide such a unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15659/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assign a representative to meet with a teacher (details supplied) in relation to their application for ill health retirement. [15663/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 333. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount it would cost to provide each student with a disability with assistive technology to complete their studies. [15651/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 373. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the roll-out of a specific vaccine campaign in the Ukrainian language aimed at offering Covid-19 vaccines to new residents that are being welcomed here for a better, safer life. [15536/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister and her Department for everything it did to support people during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially people with disabilities and their families. There were particular efforts with the PUP to steer people through that really difficult time. I also thank the Minister for her really encouraging contribution today. She is clearly really passionate and committed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for addressing all the questions. That number of people who will be eligible for the carer's allowance, at 8,000, is huge. It is up to all of us as advocates for people with disabilities and their carers to try to get word out there and encourage people to resubmit their applications. The Minister's comments on the workplace equipment adaptation grant are very...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate this Bill today. It has been a long time coming for an awful lot of families. I will begin by acknowledging the service that Ukrainian surrogates have provided for many Irish families. An estimated 400 Ukrainian women have given birth to Irish surrogate children, with 46 Irish surrogate babies born in Ukraine in the past year alone. At...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: As we know, people around Ireland have shown a huge amount of empathy and generosity when it comes to embracing and supporting the Ukrainians fleeing from Russia's war. More than 20,000 offers of accommodation have already been made through the Irish Red Cross. I understand that 4,000 of those are for own-door facilities. I have received many questions from people who are eager to help....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy O'Dowd. Is the Department of Social Protection monitoring the impact of recent cost-of-living measures with a view to their effectiveness, given both inflation and the recent increases in energy prices?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for her response and I welcome the steps she, the Department and the Government have taken so far to help with the rising costs of living. That includes, as the Minister pointed out, the 60% increase in fuel allowance, the rise in social welfare payments and that €200 electricity rebate. I know the Government cannot completely cushion or shelter everyone from the...

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...

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 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.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 74. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the services being provided by her Department to individuals and families arriving in Ireland that are fleeing the war in Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14661/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Aer Rianta International, as a subsidiary of the Dublin Airport Authority, currently operates or oversees retail spaces in Russian airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14463/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: 280. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the decision by the Mayor of London to introduce menopause leave for staff at London’s City Hall; if a similar provision will be introduced in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14736/22]