Results 1-20 of 114 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fire Stations (30 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I was first contacted by local retained firefighters concerned about the continued closure of Castlerea fire station long before I was ever elected to this House. The retained firefighters did not see their role as just a job. They served their community with pride and that pride can be seen in speaking to them. I saw it the first time I met them. Castlerea fire station was closed in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Data (30 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: On the matter of special schools, I bring to the Minister's attention St. Teresa's special school in Ballinasloe. It has twice applied for an extra autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class but it was refused on both occasions due to "time restraints", to use the Department's term. However, at the same time 39 schools in Dublin have been ordered to reopen in September with ASD classes. It seems...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fire Stations (30 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Does it not seem strange to the Minister that he has cited staffing issues in his response when the fire station was not permanently because of staffing issues? It was permanently closed because of this new report. The decision was solely based on that. There is a statutory obligation on local authorities to provide a fire service, as the Minister has said. That obligation is not being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 47. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many trade workers who undertook emergency work during the Covid-19 pandemic have been locked out of supports as they return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I have asked several times how people will go about applying for that enterprise support grant. Will the Minister give an indication as to when she believes those matters will be decided and made public to allow people apply for them. Will those on the PUP who have returned to work without being able to apply for this payment and who do not pay rates and therefore cannot apply for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 27. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by lone parents in terms of child maintenance payments; if reform in the area will be a priority; if so, the timeline for such reforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19007/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Is the Minister aware of the difficulties being faced by loan parents when it comes to the collection of child maintenance payments? Will reform in this area, as indicated in the programme for Government, be a priority for her?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I acknowledge the commitment in the programme for Government to reform our child maintenance system. My party tabled proposals in 2018, and a revised version in 2019, on establishing a child maintenance service, which is badly needed. Lone parent families feature too highly in rates of consistent poverty, deprivation and beingat risk of poverty. They need to be considered. Evidence shows...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Maintenance Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I take it from that that the Minister will examine our proposals. I am happy to furnish her with a copy of them. They have been published twice in recent years. There are two issues with child maintenance. First, where those payments are actually made, they are viewed as household means for many social welfare supports. That is wrong and the Minister needs to examine the matter....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 21. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the ongoing issue of 65 year old persons at retirement signing on for a jobseeker’s payment for one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19302/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I would like to ask the Minister her plans to address the ongoing issue of 65 year olds being forced to sign on for a jobseeker's payment on retirement.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. I acknowledge the commitment in the programme for Government and I am glad this will be a focus of her Ministry. That is welcome. However, all the commitment in the programme for Government does is change the name of the payment. I welcome the revocation of the requirement for those who go on jobseeker's payments at 65 to seek work. It was a very silly rule that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Payments (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. It is always said by Ministers, especially when we discuss the abolition of mandatory retirement ages, that there is no statutory retirement age in the State. We know that, but so many employment contracts stipulate retirement at the age of 65. There would not be almost 5,000 65 year olds on jobseeker's payments if the age of 65 was not contained in their employment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Will the Minister outline clearly the engagement between departmental officials and JobPath providers? I appreciate that it is consistent. Have there been discussions about extending referrals to JobPath? I would appreciate an answer in that regard. I raise this matter because I met representatives of the Irish Local Development Network recently, which has clearly demonstrated its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 19. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the tendering process as part of the review of contracted public employment services; if there has been engagement between her Department and the JobPath providers to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19301/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Can the Minister provide an update on the tendering process as part of the review of contracted public employment services? Can the Minister state if she or her Department has had any engagement with the JobPath providers to date in 2020?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. First, can the Minister give any indication as to when the consultants’ report will be completed and published in order that we and the Minister can examine it? I am glad she mentioned value for money. I ask that she look at JobPath and the costs associated with the scheme, if it is to be extended as part of what has been mentioned in the July...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: 17. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons, including the self-employed, who will face a loss in income as a result of reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment rate as outlined in the July stimulus; if the changes to payment rates were poverty proofed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19300/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: Will the Minister specify the number of people, including the self-employed, who will face a reduction in their pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, due to the changes in rates outlined in the July stimulus, and if those changes in rates were poverty-proofed?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Claire Kerrane: I specifically referred to the self-employed in my question. I would appreciate it if the Minister could give me a figure on the number of self-employed people who will see a reduction when these rates change. I know from a reply to a previous parliamentary question I asked that approximately 15,000 self-employed people had their payment reduced from the €350 to the €203 when...