Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,403 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (24 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 581. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will make changes to the qualifying periods for back to education courses such as back to education allowance and the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, to encourage and support persons affected by Covid-19 or returning from abroad to return to education giving them a greater chance at finding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (24 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 915. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a service (details supplied) which opened in 2020; the status of the building; if staff have been recruited; if so, the number; the amount spent on the building before it was reopened earlier in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 1001. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when and the way in which community groups can apply for funding under the outdoor recreation scheme; if they can do so in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38785/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response Final Report: Motion (19 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: From a social protection perspective, Covid-19 has done two things in recent months. It has put a spotlight on the adequacy and effectiveness of our social welfare rates. It has shown how, very quickly, one Department can make major changes. As soon as Covid hit, two things became clear. People who had lost their jobs could not live on €203 per week. We could not expect a person...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: As many businesses hope to reopen in December, a number of workers who are concerned about whether they will be able to access the pandemic unemployment payment should they lose work again next year have been in touch with me. An extension was granted to keep the pandemic unemployment payment open to new applicants until the end of the year. Will the Government extend that further to ensure...

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I welcome the opportunity to speak during these statements. The primary objective of those of us who grew up and live in rural areas is to see those communities thrive. We must protect and sustain the rural life that so many people enjoy so they can live, work and raise their families there. We must ensure that future generations can live and work in our rural towns and villages. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: It will be seven weeks tomorrow until 1 January 2021 when, according to current legislation, the pension age is due to increase to 67 years. Promised legislation to defer the measure is nowhere to be seen. The membership of the pensions commission was established last week and as the Tánaiste is aware, issues have been raised by a number of organisations, particularly those which...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (12 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans for the LocalLink service to be expanded in areas in which the need is there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34165/20]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister for her presentation. She spoke about expenditure on the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, pre-August. Given that the PUP was considered to be an urgent needs payment before August, I assume that people who were in receipt of that payment will not be liable for tax before that time, that is, from March to August. I know that the payment reference period is being...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I appreciate that tax is a matter for Revenue but to be clear, when the PUP was introduced in March, it was introduced under section 202 of the 2005 Act. It is very clear from Revenue that anything listed under urgent needs is not taxable so I am trying to ascertain given that was in situin the legislation. It feels like there is going to be a bit of back tracking here and people will be...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I ask the Minister about the work placement and experience programme included in No. 5. Can she give us more detail on that? Will the work placement be like the youth employment support scheme, YESS, where employers come forward and it works that way? Will there be an increase in payment for people who take part in that? I have been contacted by a number of people over the age of 66 who...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: The Minister stated that she had considered extending the PUP to over-66s. That would encompass the enterprise support grant being payable to them. Does she have a rough idea of how many people aged 66 years or older would be at work, either as self-employed or otherwise? I assume that her Department has examined the cost. Does she have the figures? It took us two years to find out the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Of the 280,000 people who have been referred, how many did the Minister say have got a job?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Have those 64,000 people got employment that has been sustained for more than a year?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: On the exceptional needs payment, I note from the Estimates that the payment was reduced in 2020 as compared with 2019. That is quite unusual, given the circumstances we are in with Covid. The payment very much varies depending on the community welfare officer. There is a job of work to be done in terms of how the payment works. Some officers will give it but some will not, so we could...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (10 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grants are available for a new roof and energy efficient works for persons refurbishing an old house in a rural area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35030/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 234. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when persons in an area (details supplied) can expect to access fibre broadband as part of the national broadband plan; the specific steps he plans to take to honour the commitment in the programme for Government to accelerate the roll-out of broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (10 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 385. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when payments under the turf cutting compensation scheme will be made for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35018/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pension Provisions (10 Nov 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 391. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of a representation by an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35378/20]