Results 1-20 of 39 for carer's speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: It is fairly straightforward what we are asking for here and I welcome the fact the Government is not opposing this. If we are talking about carer's allowance, it is quite straightforward. We need to have an element of flexibility, and whether we are talking about the time someone spends on education or working, 18.5 hours with no element of flexibility is not working for many. We know...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Jun 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...they are entitled to. Not for the first time I may slightly go off on a tangent from the question rather than just repeating again what I said. Earlier the Taoiseach brought up the means test for carers and he said he believed it was too mean. He spoke about the income disregard that will be dealt with this week. Will the Minister give an update on this if it is possible? I realise I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Jun 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: We would all welcome any streamlining of systems, whether the IT systems or the process generally. My office still encounters issues. We are dealing with a particular carer's benefit appeal that has been hanging around since February. Average timescales are sometimes made up of some cases that are all right and other cases that are very difficult. Some cases take too long to resolve. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...this work and have this group up and running. It can report back to her and she can take action. All of us would welcome that as soon as possible. These are the means by which we can deliver for carers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the establishment of an interdepartmental working group with the Department of Health to examine and review the system of means testing for carer payments and related schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7231/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Will the Minister provide an update on the establishment of an interdepartmental working group with the Department of Health to examine and review the system for means testing for carer payments and related schemes? We dealt with this issue previously. We all know the issues around the thresholds. Anything that can be done to introduce some element of flexibility into the system and...

Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...impact by empowering and facilitating families and ensuring we can bridge the gap and can allow people to get onto this route out of poverty. The Minister and I have spoken many times about family carers and the fact we need to take a look at how we deal with this issue. I accept there are big differences between the supports provided to many family carers. We probably could not put...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...We all understand the idea, which is that people must be able to cover their payments and their bills. We must facilitate them to get back into the workforce. That is necessary. I wish to deal with the issue of carers. I welcome the changes that have been made to thresholds and pensions. We need to look at the huge piece of work that has been done by carers. I recently attended an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (9 Nov 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...relieved and that a system that works is created. However, we will have to address the underlying issue, particularly in north County Louth, that there just are not enough people working as home carers at the minute and people cannot get the hours they need to keep their loved ones in home settings. This would provide some level of reprieve, however. I brought up another issue. We...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline the current processing times for disability allowance, carers allowance and social welfare appeals; if she will compare these waiting times to this time last year; her views on the increase in processing times for these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46189/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Oct 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ..., we know how difficult it is to get home help hours and to have staff allocated. This is a huge issue in north Louth and, I assume, elsewhere across the State. I met representatives of Family Carers Ireland and noted the issue they still come up with is that of the means test. Very many people with really good jobs suddenly become carers, whether for siblings or parents. Children, in...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...there are gaps and disparities in services or where they do not exist. We should also produce extra route maps through the education system and all the rest of it to allow us furnish all the health carers who are required so we can provide people with the services they demand. This is definitely useful legislation. There will be a need, which I am sure amendments and whatever else...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): State Pensions (6 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...has said. We need this enacted as soon as possible. When I dealt earlier with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, it was particularly in relation to the foster carer allowance, which has not been increased since 2009. It related to the travel expenses, and there is obviously an onus on foster carers to maintain that connection with families. We all...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): State Pensions (6 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I welcome what the Minister of State has said. It is an acceptance that we do not have enough foster carers. We need a lot more, so we need to deal with all of these issues. I accept that the Minister of State's Department deals with a particular part of this, but the main play is with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I assume all of the necessary...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): State Pensions (6 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the number of home-caring periods a foster carer can accrue throughout the years they foster in order for them to be able to claim a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33074/23]

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): State Pensions (6 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Has the Minister given any consideration to extending the number of home caring periods a foster carer can accrue throughout the year as he or she fosters in order to be able to claim a contributory State pension? We all know of the great contribution made by foster carers who take children, who sometimes are coming from incredibly difficult situations, into their homes. I had an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 64. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given during the process ahead of budget 2024 to increase the rate of the foster carers’ allowance, which has not increased since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32456/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: What consideration or plans are there for budget 2024? We are aware of myriad issues around foster carers’ payments and particular conditions. The Minister had said there were certain things he wanted to deliver on previously. I hope he will have an opportunity to deliver on these in this budget.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...very positive. I have a list of issues I was going to bring up with him and he has dealt with some of them, including the pension. There have been issues with the contributory pension for foster carers and with child benefit. The Minister also referred to, which I had failed to do, the vital role foster carers play for kids that come to them, especially under difficult sets of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...pieces, and maybe tax breaks for someone working in the health sector who may be able to do weekend work but does not need to be absolutely crucified. We know about those in families who are carers and the limits on their hours. All of that needs to be dealt with. I think we were talking about 138 applications and 13 refusals.