Results 2,841-2,860 of 4,403 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (8 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 451. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider providing pensioners on a partial rate with the full rate increase with regard to the €5 weekly payment rate increase for the State pension (contributory) given that the aim of ensuring State pension protects all pensioners from poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5823/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 468. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that recipients of social protection supports for persons with a disability will be able to participate in the forthcoming basic income scheme for artists with regard to the means testing income thresholds which are part of disability support requirements and which are below the income levels set out in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I very much welcome the fact that steps will be taken in respect of the crisis with the rising cost of living. We have raised this many times. It is almost a year since I brought forward a motion on household utility debt. Just before the most recent budget, I proposed a discretionary fund because while I welcome the €100, we need to consider a targeted measure for households that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 21. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if referrals to JobPath ceased at the end of 2021 as planned; if the scheme will be reviewed; if the numbers who gained employment as a result of the scheme will be collated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5331/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Did referrals to JobPath cease at the end of 2021, as planned? Will the Minister advise if she plans to review the scheme from when it was first piloted in 2015 right through to its end? Will she put together those results and publish a review on the success or not of the scheme?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: It is fine to reply in writing.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I hope the report, because it is long-awaited, will be published as soon as possible after the Minister receives it. As she knows, there are considerable difficulties. I have never believed the court was the right place for child maintenance to be agreed. We know that where a court order is made for maintenance, it does not necessarily mean payments are made. It falls on the lone parent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Let me outline one step the Minister could take regarding child maintenance; I ask her to consider it. In the small number of cases where child maintenance is fully paid, we should really consider removing it from the means test. It should not be seen as household means. Child maintenance, when paid, is for the benefit of the child; it is not household means. One thing the Minister could...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress in relation to the child maintenance review group report in view of the fact the report was due to be published by the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5729/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: What progress has been made on the report that was due at the end of the year from the child maintenance review group? It is an important piece of work. We know the issues that lone parents experience in accessing and receiving maintenance. The establishment of the group was welcome. Will the Minister please update the House on how the report stands?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 3. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of those involved in the rural social scheme with regard to the six-year rule; if she will consider extending recent changes to the community employment scheme to rural social scheme participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5728/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: This is to ask the Minister about the six-year rule. It is an issue I have raised previously in respect of the rural social scheme, RSS. A number of welcome changes to community employment were announced before Christmas. They have been extended to the scheme, which is welcome as well. None of them addresses the issue that has been brought up by so many of those on the ground in respect...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I met with a number of RSS and Tús supervisors and co-ordinators from seven counties on Monday. The first thing I was struck by is that they really do not feel listened to, particularly the Tús staff. I appreciate that this is not in the question this morning but I wanted to convey that message back to the Minister of State. They really feel like the poor relation and very last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Referrals are an issue. I appreciate what was announced just before Christmas was that the Department would look at a significant ramping up of referrals. That is really important. Even if it was relaxed during Covid, it makes no sense to sanction where the participants are just not getting the referrals. They want the referrals. As the Minister of State said, the work done in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns from trade unions representing employment service staff in relation to their engagement with a company which was awarded a contract as part of tender phase 1 and with regard also to the recent Workplace Relations Commission recommendation on this issue; and if she will make a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: The Minister will be well aware of the situation in Laois-Offaly with the local employment job services and job clubs following the first tender process. She will also be aware that staff protesting there suspended their industrial action just before Christmas to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The Minister’s Department has refused to engage in that process,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: Regarding the talks proposed by the WRC, I am sure it understands and is aware of the situation and the relationship the Department has with the job clubs and local employment services, LES. It is not a case of the Department being the direct employer, and especially not now when we know a private company has stepped into that role. The WRC has invited representatives of the Department to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I know the Department is not the employer of the staff. I am sure the WRC knows that as well, but it has still invited representatives of the Department to attend the exploratory talks. It is disappointing that Turas Nua, which has won this contract, is failing to grant recognition. It may have had meetings and discussions but it is not willing to recognise SIPTU for collective bargaining...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made regarding the introduction of the parental bereavement benefit and leave given the availability of this scheme in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5327/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: 87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider addressing the issue of recipients of widow and widower’s pension not being eligible to receive payments such as the Covid-19 illness benefit payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5329/22]