Michael Moynihan
Question:9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the delegation orders he has made in his own Department. [32475/17]
View answerMinisterial Responsibilities
Questions (9)
Written answers
On 14 June 2017 the Government appointed Deputy Joe McHugh as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht with special responsibility for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and Deputy Paul Kehoe as Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence with special responsibility for Defence.
On 20 June the Government appointed Deputy Pat Breen as Minister of State at my Department and at the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Social Protection, and Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, the EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Deputy Helen McEntee as Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs.
At my request, on 5 July, the Government made an Order delegating my statutory functions in relation to the Central Statistics Office under the Statistics Act 1993, the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 to the Government Chief Whip, Deputy McHugh.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Questions (10, 11)
Michael Moynihan
Question:10. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he has met the religious orders recently. [32476/17]
View answer
Paul Murphy
Question:11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Roman Catholic Church leaders on 31 August 2017. [39675/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
I have not met with religious orders recently. However, like public representatives generally, I meet with church leaders from all faiths informally from time to time in the course of attending official or public events.
On 31 August last, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Ministers for Education and Skills, Health, Transport, Tourism and Sport and Employment Affairs & Social Protection.
A wide ranging discussion took place on a range of important national and international issues and I was very pleased with the engagement that took place and found the exchange to be valuable. Churches and faith communities play an important role in Irish life and I think it is very beneficial that Government should engage with them in a structured way.
This was the first in a series of meetings that I will be holding with dialogue partners.
Questions Nos. 12 to 29, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 30 to 37, inclusive, answered orally.
Carer's Allowance Eligibility
Questions (38)
James Lawless
Question:38. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether in cases in which one parent is in receipt of carer's allowance for a child and then passes away, the system should allow for an automatic or at least smoother transfer to the surviving parent rather than requiring a new application, which brings additional stresses in addition to financial difficulties at an already very difficult time for the bereaved family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39444/17]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the difficulties experienced by carers and their families especially in sad circumstances such as the loss of a family carer through bereavement.
There is already provision within legislation for the continuation of payment of carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance for a period of six or twelve weeks respectively, following the death of a spouse, civil partner or co-habitant who has been in receipt of these payments in their own right. This provides for a period of financial certainty following bereavement and for a grace period during which a new claim can be made and processed.
Carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance are statutory schemes and if the surviving parent is to provide care, they must, in accordance with legislation, make an individual application for the appropriate payment. In relation to the possible entitlement of the surviving parent, their circumstances need to be examined to ensure that they meet the legislative criteria for either scheme.
This includes an assessment of the insurance record of the surviving parent in the case of carer’s benefit and a means assessment in the case of carer’s allowance. In circumstances such as those described by the Deputy, sufficient medical evidence regarding the full-time care requirement of the care recipient would already be available, reducing the time taken to process the application.
Carers can continue to work, should their personal circumstances permit, for up to a maximum of 15 hours per week and still be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a care recipient. This serves to maintain an attachment to the workforce and to ameliorate the risk of social isolation which a carer may experience in their caring role.
Questions Nos. 39 to 43, inclusive, answered orally.