Results 1-20 of 65 for carer's speaker:Catherine Connolly

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (9 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 995.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the pre-Budget 2025 submission to her Department by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, and in particular to supplementary recommendation 41, which calls for each care-related credited contribution awarded while in receipt...

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Regarding that last comment, quite a number of our carers are non-Irish. It is important to acknowledge that. I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion. It builds on what Sinn Féin, Deputy Canney, others and I have done. We are doing this not to embarrass the Government. Well, perhaps we are doing it to embarrass the Government into acting. Rather than use my own words, I...

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...from the answers whether the beds are for older people or people with disabilities. There is a mix. I will put my hands up and say I am adding to the confusion. These are basic requirements. Carers are saving us billions of euro. I heard a figure of €20 billion mentioned. I do not know what the exact figure is, but the one I was using was €12 billion. We could pick...

Special Education: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...and the anger. We talk in terms of the millions provided. The reality on the ground, as the Minister of State well knows, is very difficult. Today, we have a report telling us that 2,000 carers were surveyed and 72% said they never receive respite. Not alone are parents struggling to get basic July provision and have consistency with that, they are also struggling for respite...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (11 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...: Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the release of the HSE property in Mahon from the ambulance service to Cork City Council. Deputy Robert Troy - To discuss the survey published by Family Carers Ireland outlining deficiencies in the system. The matters raised by Deputies Pádraig O'Sullivan and Robert Troy have been selected for discussion

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of her engagement in 2024 with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Tusla, and foster carers’ representative groups, with a view to ensuring that foster carers will be eligible for state pension contributions in respect of their time spent fostering; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 447.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of any analysis carried out by her Department as regards allowing for foster carers to be eligible for State pension contributions in respect of their time spent fostering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24854/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (8 May 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 301. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 20 February 2024, to provide an update on the long-term carers’ contribution scheme; the number of applications received to date; the number approved; the number rejected; the number pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20174/24]

Support for Carers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...; thaobh cúramóirí de. Tá an ceart iomlán aige agus aontaím leis. I thank the Regional Group for putting this motion before the Dáil. Every year since I was first elected, I have argued in advance of every budget for a value to be put on the unpaid work of carers, who are predominantly women. When we look at the figure we have been given...

Supporting People with Disabilities and Carers: Motion [Private Members] (5 Mar 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...We should keep that with modern language without a reference to duties, while recognising the importance of parents in a home and the parental work that they do. A parent's work is not the same as a carer's work, although of course they overlap. I refer to what the Minister should have done. I hope this goes down on Friday, not to score points with the Government but in order that we...

International Women's Day: Statements (5 Mar 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...in this debate, and that the Minister is still here. I welcome his written speech, and he has set out various issues I hope I will get a chance to look at, including equality in the workplace, carers, children, etc. Then he goes on to use this opportunity to say yes, yes for the referendums. I might come back to that. This is my eighth year doing statements, and I acknowledge some...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 53. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the long-term carers contribution scheme; the number of applications received to date; the number approved; the number rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8028/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I am looking for an update on the very welcome long-term carers contribution scheme, or the pension for carers. I am asking for all the details, specifically the number of applications to date, the numbers approved and rejected, and the number of applications the Minister expects under the scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...a community employment scheme? I asked the Minister if there was a review or appeal mechanism in place. One of the recommendations of the Pensions Commission was the establishment of a family carers register. Has progress been made on that? I cannot praise this scheme enough but I need more details to be able to explain it to constituents who contact me. What period of time is...

An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jan 2024)

Catherine Connolly: ...That has not been answered. The second is that, "The amendments (as currently worded) will not deliver meaningful enforceable rights and stronger constitutional protection for women, families and carers - as well as other groups who experience discrimination and disadvantage, such as people with disabilities. Instead, they are focussed on symbolic recognition alone." The Minister is...

An Bille up an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Catherine Connolly: ...out the courts I just mentioned, have been open to interpreting the Constitution as a living document and a woman in the home would have to be a man or a woman in the home, whoever is the primary carer. Unfortunately, it has never been tested. Judges themselves have expressed surprise. Mr. Justice Hogan has expressed great surprise that this particular article was never tested because...

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Sep 2023)

Catherine Connolly: ...sexual and gender-based violence such is the extent of it across the world. When we clap ourselves on the back and we talk about a thriving economy and a rich country, we are doing it on the back predominantly of women and carers. They should be recognised and valued. If the Minister of State is serious about this, and I believe he is, I am happy to work with him. However, I would...

Home Care and Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (21 Jun 2023)

Catherine Connolly: .... I welcome the fact that the Minister of State has taken action. She did so back in 2021 when she listened to the various debates and set up in March 2022 the workforce advisory group on home carers. I have read its report. The Minister of State received it in September of last year and it was published in October. I give her full marks for that and the work that was done. It is a...

Reform of Carer's Allowance Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2023)

Catherine Connolly: ...at what is in this motion. Deputy Harkin has put a focus on what we have all talked about for a long time over the years. At every single election, there is always a presentation regarding carers and what is happening in the Government's approach to carers, which I will come back to in a minute. This very practical motion is an indictment of our economic system. We talk about a...

Report on the Summer Programme 2023: Motion [Private Members] (2 Feb 2023)

Catherine Connolly: ...disabilities need ongoing attendance at different types of school venues and when summer provision fails them, there is regression. This is very upsetting. Another key issue is the strain on carers and families caused by delays in schools confirming participation in the summer programme. The expansion of the cohort to whom the summer programme is available also arose as an issue which...