Parliamentary questions

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for a change to the eligibility rules for community employment participants over 55 years of age in circumstances in which they can no longer remain on the scheme beyond three years; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being posed to sponsors in replacing these participants; if she will consider reversing the rule change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23134/20]

Departmental Reports

Claire Kerrane

753. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if the report carried out by external consultants to review all current contracted public employment services has been finalised; if she has received the report; if and when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22426/20]

Teacher Training

Claire Kerrane

19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider allowing student teachers some days in August and September 2020 to assist teachers and schools in preparing for reopening in view of the fact they missed out on subbing days in May and June in 2020 in addition to valuable teaching experience in the classroom as school placements were cancelled in further view of the fact this would also benefit the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19331/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

40. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will allow discretion for primary schools to reduce the curriculum areas temporarily in the first term of the new school year to allow teachers to give more time to SPHE with a focus on well-being following young children returning to school and the impact that Covid-19 will have had on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19332/20]

Road Network

Claire Kerrane

206. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding for local and rural roads by 10%. [20027/20]

Bus Services

Claire Kerrane

207. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated full-year cost of expanding rural transport options by increasing funding to LocalLink by 50%. [20029/20]

Tax Code

Claire Kerrane

316. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance the person or body responsible for stamp duty here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/20]

Island Communities

Claire Kerrane

406. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her priorities regarding her responsibilities in relation to the islands; her plans to visit the islands as part of her new role when safe to do so; the engagements she had undertaken as part of this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20086/20]

School Staff

Claire Kerrane

678. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has no permanent English as an additional language supports service despite several requests for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20200/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Claire Kerrane

679. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a special needs assistant, SNA, (details supplied) who is working full-time since 25 May 2020 following job sharing ending, in view of the fact the other SNA retired continues to be paid part-time despite their contract stating that if the job sharing lapsed the remaining staff member takes up the full role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20201/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

795. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying the pandemic unemployment payment at a rate of €250 for those that earned less than €200 pre-Covid-19. [19992/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

796. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying the pandemic unemployment payment at a rate of €350 for those that earned less than €300 pre-Covid-19. [19993/20]

Maternity Benefit

Claire Kerrane

797. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending maternity benefit by 12 weeks for mothers whose maternity leave ends between March and November 2020. [19994/20]

Maternity Benefit

Claire Kerrane

798. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending maternity benefit by one week. [19995/20]

Low Pay Commission

Claire Kerrane

799. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of running the Low Pay Commission. [19996/20]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

800. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €1 per week in tabular form. [19997/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

801. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment to meet the minimum essential standard of living as detailed by an organisation (details supplied). [19998/20]

Qualified Child Allowance

Claire Kerrane

802. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for the over 12s by €5. [19999/20]

Qualified Child Allowance

Claire Kerrane

803. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for the under 12s by €5. [20000/20]

One-Parent Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

804. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the age limit for the one-parent family payment to 14 years. [20001/20]

Jobseeker's Payments

Claire Kerrane

805. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing jobseeker’s payments for those aged under 24 years of age to the full maximum rate of €203. [20002/20]

Child Benefit

Claire Kerrane

806. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of making a one-off annual double payment of child benefit to recipients. [20003/20]

Child Benefit

Claire Kerrane

807. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending child benefit to 18 year olds still in secondary school. [20004/20]

Carer's Support Grant

Claire Kerrane

808. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the carer’s support grant to €2,000. [20005/20]

Jobseeker's Payments

Claire Kerrane

809. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the cut-off age of the jobseeker’s transitional payment to 18. [20006/20]

Working Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

810. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of reducing the working family payment hours threshold to lone parents from 19 to 15 hours. [20007/20]

Working Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

811. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the average working family payment by 10%. [20008/20]

One-Parent Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

812. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of raising the cut-off age of the one parent family payment scheme to 14 years. [20009/20]

One-Parent Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

813. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the earnings disregard for one parent family payment to €175. [20010/20]

One-Parent Family Payment

Claire Kerrane

814. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the earnings disregard for the one parent family payment to €175 and increasing the age limit for the payment to 14 years of age. [20011/20]

Child Maintenance Payments

Claire Kerrane

815. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of establishing a child maintenance service similar to that available in Northern Ireland. [20012/20]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

816. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of reintroducing the State pension transition scheme for 65 year olds. [20013/20]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

817. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of maintaining the State pension retirement age at 66. [20014/20]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

818. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of replicating the WALK PEER programme in each county. [20015/20]

Fuel Allowance

Claire Kerrane

819. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending the fuel allowance payment period by one week. [20016/20]

Fuel Allowance

Claire Kerrane

820. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the fuel allowance by €1. [20017/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

821. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of providing an occupational pension to community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors that have retired. [20018/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

822. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of providing an occupational pension to community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors that are in the role. [20019/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

823. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of immediately abolishing the JobPath scheme. [20020/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

824. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of providing for an additional 1,000 places on the community employment scheme. [20021/20]

Rural Social Scheme

Claire Kerrane

825. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of providing for an additional 500 places on the rural social scheme. [20022/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

826. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding to community employment by 10%. [20023/20]

Rural Social Scheme

Claire Kerrane

827. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding to the rural social scheme by 10%. [20024/20]

Rural Social Scheme

Claire Kerrane

828. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding to Tús by 10%. [20025/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

829. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2021 of maintaining the two rates of pandemic unemployment payment that is continuing the scheme as it is currently operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20031/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

830. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated savings in 2021 arising from the scheduled reduction of pandemic unemployment payment rates announced as part of the July stimulus. [20032/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

831. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of the pandemic unemployment payment in 2021; the assumptions underpinning this estimate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20033/20]

Parental Leave

Claire Kerrane

832. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of men and women, respectively that have taken parent’s leave and benefit since it was introduced. [20070/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

833. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have been referred to JobPath year on year since it was established; and the number of persons referred for a second, third, fourth, fifth time plus, in tabular form. [20071/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

834. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid to the JobPath providers since it was established, including a breakdown of referral fees and sustainment fees. [20072/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

835. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have had employment sourced for them through JobPath; and the number of persons whose employment was sustained for 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks, respectively. [20073/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

836. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of times JobPath providers have reported jobseekers to her Department for non-engagement with the scheme since it was established. [20074/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

837. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of penalties that have been applied to jobseeker's rates for non-engagement with JobPath since it was established. [20075/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

838. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the oversight her Department has had on JobPath providers; and the number of inspections, both notified and unannounced, respectively, that have been carried out. [20076/20]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

839. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has had engagement with JobPath providers since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. [20077/20]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

840. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide further details of her plans as contained in the July stimulus to enhance public employment service capacity across the Intreo system including contracted services; the contracted services to which she is referring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20078/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

841. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider abolishing or extending the three-year rule on community employment schemes as a result of lost time on the scheme due to Covid-19 and the difficulties that can be experienced in replacing participants in local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20079/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

842. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider abolishing or extending the six-year rule on community employment schemes for those aged over 55 years of age in view of the fact they are close to pension age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20080/20]

Rural Social Scheme

Claire Kerrane

843. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will remove the six-year rule for participants on the rural social scheme and revert to allowing participants remain on the scheme until they reach pension age in view of the fact that those on the scheme are primarily in their 50s and 60s and would struggle to find full-time employment following six years on the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20081/20]

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Claire Kerrane

844. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting time for each application for social welfare payments, in tabular form. [20082/20]

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Claire Kerrane

845. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting time for each social welfare payment under appeal, in tabular form. [20083/20]

Rural Transport Services

Claire Kerrane

846. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to further invest in RuralLink; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20088/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

847. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to put in place additional resources, including additional medical staff, to deal with a Covid-19 breakout on the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20089/20]

Pensions Reform

Claire Kerrane

848. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will elaborate on the commitment in the programme for Government to establish a commission on pensions; when this commission will be set up; the way in which the membership will be made up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20090/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

849. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine linking social welfare payments to adequacy in order to ensure that households relying on social welfare supports achieve an income that meets the minimum essential standard of living as determined by an organisation (details supplied). [20091/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

854. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether the decision to exclude workers that live in the Northern Ireland and work here where they pay their taxes was not an EU regulation as previously stated by her predecessor; her further views on whether the pandemic unemployment payment can be extended to such workers; if the payment will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20223/20]

Youth Services

Claire Kerrane

855. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have participated on the youth employment support scheme since it was established; the number of host organisations that signed up to provide the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20224/20]

Youth Services

Claire Kerrane

856. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount drawn down under the Irish Youth Guarantee as part of the youth employment support scheme. [20225/20]

Jobseeker's Payments

Claire Kerrane

857. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons aged 18 to 24 years of age in receipt of the reduced rate of jobseeker’s payment; the number of persons aged 18 to 24 years of age that live independently and therefore receive the maximum rate; the number of persons in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment; and the number of 65 year olds that receive jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit. [20226/20]

Social Insurance

Claire Kerrane

858. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) which is using the temporary wage subsidy scheme has placed employees on a J9 category of PRSI which is not a reckonable contribution to the State pension (contributory) in view of the fact the Revenue Commissioners state that it is intended that employees whose employer is on the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be allocated social insurance contributions appropriate to their normal employment status for the duration of the scheme which is the purpose of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020; the steps she will take to ensure that employees do not unknowingly lose out on PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20227/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Claire Kerrane

859. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to apply for the back to work enterprise allowance as a way to assist persons setting up a new business post-Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Claire Kerrane

860. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider relaxing the length of time a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to apply for the back to education allowance as a means of assisting persons that want to return to education post-Covid-19 return to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20229/20]

Public Services Card

Claire Kerrane

884. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the appeal of the enforcement notice regarding the public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20829/20]

LEADER Programmes

Claire Kerrane

894. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated full-year cost of increasing Leader funding by 10%. [20026/20]

CLÁR Programme

Claire Kerrane

895. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated full-year cost of increasing funding for small-scale rural projects, such as CLÁR by 10%. [20028/20]

Rural Development Programme

Claire Kerrane

896. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to each county in rural funding in each year since 2015. [20084/20]

Rural Development Programme

Claire Kerrane

897. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding available to rural communities including the funding streams from the European Union. [20085/20]

CLÁR Programme

Claire Kerrane

898. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received by her Department under CLÁR funding; the number of successful applications; and the number rejected on by county in each year since 2015. [20087/20]

Parental Leave

Claire Kerrane

1011. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will extend parent’s leave to 9 weeks as committed to in section 5, Part 8 of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 with immediate effect to assist mothers who are due to return to work but have no childcare available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20069/20]

National Carers' Strategy

Claire Kerrane

1060. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health his plans to review and update the National Carer's Strategy; if he will engage with representative organisations in relation to the matter; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20230/20]

Disability Services Funding

Claire Kerrane

1220. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a multiannual funding package will be introduced to address residential and respite waiting lists to assist those who qualify but cannot access care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20196/20]

Disability Services Funding

Claire Kerrane

1221. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a business case will be progressed for funding submitted by a service provider (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20197/20]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Claire Kerrane

1224. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health when a decision was made by the HSE to relocate residents from a nursing home (details supplied) to allow for works to be carried out; the consultation carried out with staff, residents and their families; the date the consultations commenced; if the HSE engaged with HIQA regarding alternative options on relocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20202/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

17. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked 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]

JobPath Programme

Claire Kerrane

19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked 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]

Jobseeker's Payments

Claire Kerrane

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

Child Maintenance Payments

Claire Kerrane

27. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked 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]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Claire Kerrane

39. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the enhancement of the role of MABS has been examined to help families deal with unsecured household debt; if she has engaged with stakeholders on the issue of household debt arising from Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19004/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

47. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked 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]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

61. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by mothers whose maternity leave is coming to an end at a time when childcare is unavailable and they are unable to return to work; the way in which she plans to address the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19003/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

80. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to honour the 2008 Labour Court recommendation which stated that community employment supervisors should have access to a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19005/20]

State Examinations

Claire Kerrane

435. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students that have been home-schooled or that have studied a subject outside of school are being excluded from the predicted grades leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18100/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

631. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if additional supports will be put in place to support the self-employed in reopening their business in view of the fact that they cannot avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme which other businesses can continue to access it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19061/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Claire Kerrane

132. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the self-employed can apply for the enterprise support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16418/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact self-employed persons have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203 on the basis of 2018 tax returns; if she will allow 2019 tax returns to be examined and the higher rate of the two be paid in view the unique difficulties faced by the self-employed at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16419/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

134. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the self-employed are having their 2018 tax returns examined in order to determine their rates under the pandemic unemployment payment rather than 2019 tax returns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16420/20]

Poverty Impact Assessment

Claire Kerrane

135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the poverty impact assessment of reduced jobseeker rates for 18 to 24 year olds as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the assessment will be published. [16422/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Claire Kerrane

136. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the report on the cost of hearing aids and the adequacy of financial supports as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the report will be published. [16423/20]

Treatment Benefit Scheme

Claire Kerrane

137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of the criteria to qualify for the treatment benefit scheme as committed to in the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019; and when the review will be published. [16424/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed that have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203. [16425/20]