Results 3,141-3,160 of 4,403 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (12 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 521. To ask the Minister for Health the number and locations of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, units that accept admissions during out of hours periods in tabular form. [49372/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (12 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 548. To ask the Minister for Health if staffing in the psychiatric unit at Roscommon University Hospital is at full capacity; and the number of vacancies in the unit since January 2021 to date, by month, in tabular form. [49482/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (12 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 549. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the number of neurology nurse specialists in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49485/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (12 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 663. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if salmon farm licences that have ceased to operate at sites for a continuous period of more than two years will be revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49502/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to establishing a discretionary fund to assist households with utility costs and debt given rising energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48970/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: My question is similar to that of Deputy Healy Rae. Will the Minister consider establishing a discretionary fund to support and assist households with mounting utility costs and bills? Some will face utility debt in the coming weeks and months, if they are not facing it already. Will the Minister consider this, given that many are locked out of the fuel allowance in the first instance?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: It is fairly clear that there will be moves in regard to the fuel allowance in the budget next week. The fuel allowance is a great payment and is most welcome at the rate at which it is paid because it is extremely important for households. However, it is only extremely important for the households who actually receive it in the first place. There are issues, some of which were outlined by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I agree that we cannot have a situation whereby the fuel allowance continues to be increased and extended for ever and ever. We need to make sure people's homes are warmer, which can be done through the retrofit programme highlighted by the Minister. It makes sure that people are warm in their homes in the first instance, which is really important. My issue with leaving this to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I welcome the Minister's comments. I am sure she has read the proposals I have made in respect of social protection in our alternative budget. One such proposal is that parental bereavement leave and benefit be introduced. This would be a two-week payment and would come at a very small cost. I looked at the number of stillbirths recorded by the HSE, which estimates that there are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 3. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider introducing a new payment scheme for bereaved parents following the death of a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48969/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: It is important, when we look at our social protection system, that we also look at potential gaps in it. I feel there is a gap around the statutory entitlement to paid leave for parents when they lose a child. That is probably the most horrific time in any parent's life. There is discretion to allow leave and it is up to the employer in all cases. Will the Minister consider this issue?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister for her reply. With respect to the continuation of payments for six weeks where a qualifying child payment is made, that applies when the people concerned, both the person who has, sadly, passed away and the parents, are already on social welfare and in the system. I am asking for a bereavement leave and benefit scheme to allow for the parents to take time off work, in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the tendering process for employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48968/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I ask the Minister for an update on the tendering process for employment services. As I understand the first phase is now complete, I seek an update on where that is at as we move to phase 2.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: The Minister said that part of the reason for the first phase of the tendering process was to expand the service significantly for those who are furthest away from the labour market. Does she agree that the ending of the walk-in service, which I understand will not be provided in the new model, will not do that? I do not understand how she will reach those furthest away from the labour...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I am not arguing with that. As I said, I take the Minister at her word on the legal advice but there is no EU law on procurement or anything else that requires the Department to change the model. The Minister said there was extensive consultation. That is fine but I assume staff in local employment services and jobs clubs did not seek these changes. I am trying to understand where the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 94. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there will be a review of the rates of payment for the parent’s leave and benefit scheme to ensure that parents can afford taking up the leave including with regard to situations in which employers previously topped-up salaries of parents availing of this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 100. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to extend the parent’s leave and benefit to all parents of children born after November 2019 given that the current legislation excludes parents of children born by surrogacy; if he will ensure that lone-parents can avail of the full ten-weeks of the benefit and leave; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will allow any flexibility for rural schools when it comes to retaining a teacher in which student numbers have reduced given the continued complexities of Covid-19 in school communities and the impact of the loss of a teacher to a school, its students and the wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48910/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 264. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is any flexibility in cases in which a person (details supplied) has the required number of PRSI contributions but not at the necessary class for the invalidity pension given that through no fault of the person's own, the person had paid a WOPS stamp during their early years at work; and if she will make a...