Results 421-440 of 4,403 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (3 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 30. To ask the Minister for Health when the full roster of advanced paramedics will be restored on the rapid response vehicle at Roscommon hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39316/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (3 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 32. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a commitment for 24-7 advanced paramedics made to the people of Roscommon following the closure of the accident and emergency service has been reneged on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39317/24]

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: It is quite incredible to believe that, after this budget, we again add to the growing list of wasting when it comes to taxpayers' money. It is quite incredible to believe the Government has suggested, is putting forward and has budgeted €9 million for mobile phone pouches for national schools. Many schools, particularly in rural areas across Roscommon and Galway, are struggling to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 13. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the anomaly that exists within parent's leave and benefit for one-parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38973/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I want to ask the Minister about the anomaly that exists in the nine-week payment for parent's leave and benefit for one-parent families and the fact that if someone has a baby and is part of a two-parent family there will be two nine-weeks of paid parent's leave whereas if it is a one-parent family there be just nine weeks. That is an anomaly that should be corrected.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I welcome that parent's leave has increased from two to nine weeks and it is a great support for parents, particularly when maternity leave is only 26 weeks and paternity leave at the moment is only two weeks. Despite all of that, regarding the one-parent family, if a baby is born into a one-parent family and the other parent is deceased, for example, there will be nine additional weeks; but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: Perhaps that might be something the Minister may examine because it would be a very small number of parents. With regard to parent's leave and benefit, the child should get the same level of time with their parent, whether it is one parent or two. That is an anomaly that would be worth looking at. It would be a small number of people but it is important.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I had engaged with Social Enterprise Ireland ahead of Sinn Féin's policy and it had spoken about a pilot of €20,000 that would allow it to do a feasibility study which would identify community centres and community enterprise centres across Ireland. For €20,000, it is not a lot. I think doing that job of work of identifying spaces where childcare could be incorporated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I ask the Minister to consider looking at that proposal from Social Enterprise Ireland. It is €20,000. It will do the job of work of identifying those buildings where there is existing capacity and where childcare could be brought into those buildings. In some cases they are not used at all. I think that would be a worthwhile job of work and would be a way in which we could build...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 6. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine opportunities to use the social enterprise model when it comes to the roll-out of additional childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38971/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: This is to ask the Minister about the possibility of examining opportunities to use the social enterprise model. This is something we had put forward in our childcare plan and which should be looked at as a way to quickly build the capacity that is badly needed in the childcare sector.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. He has acknowledged the delays and such is the nature of applications. There are sometimes delays where additional information is needed or the applications need to be looked at again. How many people are dealing with the processing and issuing of these payments? I was recently contacted by a survivor who had received a letter to state they would be given the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 3. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of payments that have been made under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; if he is concerned at the time it is taking to process applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38967/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: What is the specific number of payments, not the number being processed, that have been made to survivors of the mother and baby homes under the payment scheme?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: It is welcome that just under 1,800 payments are in the process of being made or have been made. However, the fact that 34,000 survivors are eligible to apply for the scheme shows the need for the public awareness campaign. People who are entitled to this payment and can apply for it clearly have not done so, for whatever reason. We need to make sure the process is as easy and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 1. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to build capacity in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38966/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: My question is about capacity in the childcare sector. There are major deficiencies, with thousands of children without a childcare place. What actions does the Minister intend to take to build capacity urgently in the sector?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. The first point he made relates to capital expenditure and the provision of extensions and new builds under the building blocks scheme. However, the 33,000 children who need a childcare place today cannot wait for the capital projects and extensions, which, in many cases, I presume, will require planning permission. Some providers have the physical space needed but...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I acknowledge that. However, the last pay increase that was achieved was 65 cent. It took 14 months to negotiate it. It could not be done around the table, with workers having to seek assistance from the Labour Court. If they wait another 14 months and get about 60 cent, we will lose the early years educators we desperately need from the sector. There are childcare places that would be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 14. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to raising the pay of early years educators by €1.50 per hour, as sought by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38970/24]