Results 3,481-3,500 of 4,559 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pensions Council and Citizens Information Board: Chairpersons Designate (7 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I thank Ms Burke and Ms Heaney for their presentations and for being here. I wish them both all the very best as they set out in their new roles. I am sure it is an exciting and very proud time for both of them, so I offer them my congratulations and best wishes. I have just a couple of brief comments and questions about the work of the Pensions Council. The point about the work it is...

Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I will use my time to talk about rents outside of the rent pressure zones. I refer to places in my constituency such as Roscommon town and Ballinasloe, County Galway. Rents in County Roscommon have increased by more than 9% in the last year alone, with the average rent now €783 per month and continuing to rise. The average rent in Ballinasloe is €743, which is an increase of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority employees who availed of two weeks of parent’s benefit and leave which was topped up by employers; the number of employees who availed of the additional three weeks benefit and leave as of April 2021; if local authorities plan on topping up the benefit payment for employees for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 334. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of parents who availed of the original two weeks of parent’s benefit and leave; the number who then availed of the additional three weeks as of April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35816/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 337. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 423 of 22 June 2021, the number of claims made for the blind pension in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of successful claims versus unsuccessful claims for each year; and the reason for same in tabular form. [35870/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 505. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to extend the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes beyond the current timeframe of June 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29699/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 612. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to share a draft copy of the new islands policy with those representing island communities to ensure a high level of consultation as part of the new policy; the stage the policy is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35858/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (6 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 613. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department plans to review the public participation network and local authority participation structures as part of the review set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35868/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Poverty Impact Assessment (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I appreciate that where young people take up a course or training, they get the full amount. That is more difficult now and has been during Covid. The majority of young people receiving jobseeker's payments are on reduced rates. It is not just due to age. Many of these people live at home and the whole household income is taken into account with regard to means, which can see them get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Poverty Impact Assessment (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: They will say that we need to end the age-related payments, because it is not right to base a payment on age. It should never have been the case. It has caused poverty in many cases. I look forward to seeing that report. I hope that it will be published before the summer recess and well before the budget, because as the Minister said, the programme for Government contains a commitment to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Poverty Impact Assessment (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she plans to publish the poverty impact assessment of the reduced rates of jobseeker's payments for young persons in consideration of the serious inadequacy of these rates and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35179/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Poverty Impact Assessment (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: When will the Minister publish the property impact assessment report that was carried out in regard to young jobseekers?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I appreciate that Covid has played a role. The jobs website indicates the number of CE vacancies today is 2,406. It is a great shame that we have disability services with 26 posts they cannot fill. They can fill only 18. They tell me it is because they are not getting the referrals. Alarm bells should be ringing when this is happening. They should be ringing over the fact that we have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to issues communities and organisations are facing in filling community employment places; if so, if she will consider removing limitations on the length of time those aged over 55 years can spend on a community employment scheme, especially in cases in which there is no one there to replace...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: My question is on people aged over 55 who are on community employment, CE, schemes. Is the Minister of State aware of the difficulties that arise when these people have to leave the community employment schemes because their time is up? Services and organisations are under pressure to replace the people leaving the schemes and in some cases, services can be lost. Will the Minister of State...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the engagement he has had with CE schemes. I imagine that the matters raised in that engagement included the issues concerning the over 55s, specifically people leaving schemes and services not receiving the referrals they need to fill places. It is probably a good few months since I last checked but as of now, there are 2,406...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason she is proposing a move away from the not-for-profit model which currently exists for contracted employment services, local employment services and job clubs to a payment-by-results model as per the recent tender launched by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35200/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: Why has the Minister decided to move away from the not-for-profit model of local employment services and job clubs to a payment-by-results model in the recently launched tender? Was that based on the conclusions of the external report carried out on job activation and contracted services within the Department of Social Protection?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I understand the expansion is into areas where there are no local employment services and, of course, it is welcome but only if it is to remain in its current model. The Minister can say it as many times as she wants, but it is a fact that the current model is not for profit. Money is not a factor when a person comes through the door of the services for referral, but it is moving to a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I am not arguing that point. How much money will an LES or job club need in order to bid for the tender? What I am hearing is that it is a significant tender and the organisations will need some kind of tendering consultant to try to match it and put in an application in the first place. I am really concerned about this. It is fine to say they are well positioned to apply for it but it...