Results 1-20 of 63 for carers speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Apr 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 485. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the free travel pass is only assigned to those in receipt of the carer’s allowance and cannot be assigned to both the recipient of the carer’s allowance and the other parent or guardian, where the second parent or guardian can prove they contribute to the care of the child whose care needs gives...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jan 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...we were very lucky on Monday when we had the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in Carlow to open what is the dementia café called The Cabin Café. It really is a very supportive café for families and carers and this is part of all the networking mentioned through the HSE and local authorities which aims to make sure everybody is working together. It was a really successful...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My thoughts remain with the young children and the crèche workers who were so viciously assaulted and attacked on Thursday, and the children, carers, families and friends caring for them. I welcome the swift actions of the delivery driver, the parents present, the school staff and the staff of the Rotunda. I welcome the ongoing major Garda operation in Dublin city centre, which has...

Joint Committee on Disability Matters Report: Motion (26 Oct 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...another area I have been working on. I know the Minister of State is aware of it. Some people who had to give up work because they wanted to stay at home to mind their child do not qualify for the carer's benefit because they are over the limit. I have huge issues with that. If someone is staying at home to mind someone with a disability, they should get the carer's allowance. Again,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (24 Oct 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with Deputy McAuliffe. I too work with a lot of people who apply for the carer's allowance in Carlow. I live in the same area as Catherine Cox, who is a spokesperson on this issue, and the means-testing is a serious issue. Again, it involves constantly filling out forms and looking for bank statements and this, that and the other. There has to be a change of system. It is not...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ..., which is welcome. There will be a rise of €12 in welfare and pension payments from January. I also want to welcome the one-off €400 for people on the working family payment and those receiving the carer's, disability and blind person's allowances and the invalidity pension. I have concerns as a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters. I believe we could...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Protection: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: .... Some of my questions have been answered, so I will turn to Tusla first. Ms Duggan has a new remit, which I welcome, but what steps are being taken to find solutions to the issue of foster carer recruitment and retention? What are the challenges to the public taking up this role? I wish to ask about Tusla’s staffing in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5, whose remit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability Inclusive Social Protection: Discussion (11 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...people are living longer, that brings significant challenges for the system. We really need to have something in place for that. I and others have stated previously that it is unacceptable for carer's allowance to be means tested. Carer's allowance should not be means tested. There is considerable goodwill out there. Many families are doing this 24-hour-a-day job and because two...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My question is about the extra €200 that was to be paid to long-term social welfare recipients, including those on carer's allowance, disability allowance, the working family payment and pensions. I welcomed this but, in my office last Friday, I received many phone calls from people who thought they were going to get the additional payment to deal with the cost of living but who did...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Code (18 Apr 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 1257. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the payment assistance that is available for relative foster carers; the criteria that they have to meet to avail of payments available to care for the children of their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17549/23]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...issues. They also referred to the let-downs in the system. That was the big issue. I ask the Minister to explain that. How can we do what is needed going forward? All Deputies have met foster carers in their constituencies who have come to us with their worries and concerns. In 2001, the working group on foster care recommended that the fostering allowance be increased in line with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am of the same opinion that it needs to be looked at. There are so many schemes, including the carer's allowance. I know of so many people going into appeals where the Department wants further information. There is a far higher refusal rate than I have ever seen before. I would question this. When we look at it, people who are caring are looking after people instead of them being in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 57. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person receiving the benefit payment for 65-year-olds is precluded from receiving the carer’s benefit; if receipt of the same benefit payment precludes persons from receiving other welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6041/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Feb 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 270. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the carer’s grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5958/23]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Disability Services: Discussion (31 Jan 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...It is important, too, that families and the impact on families are talked about today. As I said, there is so much love there but there are many challenges for families too. We spoke about the carers. I myself see it. There are families that would have come to me that do not qualify to get the carer's allowance. In some families, in particular, the mother does not go out to work....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UNCRPD and the Optional Protocol (Resumed): Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (19 Jan 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...to one mother, but there are also others I am dealing with. She had to give up her job to mind her child. Her husband was working. This meant she was €10 over the limit and so she was refused carer's allowance. This is just unacceptable. This should not even be a case of needing to apply. Her child is very severely affected and that woman, who gave up her job - a really good...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Supports for Parents of Children in Foster Care: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...for extra supports? Would the provision of mileage support and allowance to foster parents, especially a further back-to-school allowance for children in care be beneficial? As we know, foster carers provide an invaluable contribution to the State because they want to bring positive change to the life of a child. That issue came across very strongly in my meeting with them. One lady...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability, Mental Health and Ageing: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Health (17 Nov 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...hour three times a day, in the morning, at dinner time and in the evening. At the weekend, they get half an hour in the morning and again in the evening. As the Minister of State mentioned, two carers are often needed. Many people tell me that half an hour is not enough and they need more support or help. How will the recruitment problem be sorted out? The funding is in place. The...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Alternative Aftercare Services for Young Adults: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ..., and we must ensure we have as many foster families as possible. In that regard, in the context of the cost-of-living crisis we, as politicians, must ensure we do all we can to support foster carers and that extra funding is provided for them. This needs to happen. Another point raised with me was aftercare for children, perhaps related to college or further supports. Representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2022)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any plans to acknowledge foster children as dependants to qualify carers for the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49349/22]