Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

50. 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 shared with her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25032/20]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

53. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which talks between her Department and a company (details supplied) in relation to access to jobseeker’s benefit came about; the outcome of the talks; if workers will receive backdated payments in cases in which they were on reduced days while in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25035/20]

National Broadband Plan

Claire Kerrane

77. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the engagement he has had in relation to the national broadband plan in seeking to accelerate its rollout as committed to under Balanced Regional Development in the Programme for Partnership Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24326/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

533. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by a group of self-employed businesses (details supplied) which are unable to access supports for their businesses with the exception of the pandemic unemployment payment; if existing supports will be made available to the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25244/20]

Regional Development

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the steps she will take to address the growing regional inequalities here and specifically in the northern and western region, which has been downgraded by the EU from a developed region to a region in transition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24325/20]

Rural Development Plan

Claire Kerrane

21. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the status of the new rural development policy; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24324/20]

Island Communities

Claire Kerrane

32. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the stage the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development is at; the next steps and the way in which she plans to progress the work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24322/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

482. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of eligible staff who can apply for the higher executive officer competition in her Department. [23450/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

483. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff who applied for the promotion to higher executive officer in her Department. [23451/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

484. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff by grade (details supplied) who applied for the competition for promotion to HEO. [23452/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

485. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of HEO vacancies in her Department; and the locations and business units the vacancies are in. [23453/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

486. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of members of staff it takes to run the competition for higher executive officer. [23454/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

487. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of running the competition for higher executive officer. [23455/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

488. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when interviews will take place after the application date closes for the promotion to higher executive officer. [23456/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the interview panel for higher executive officer; if interviews will be done by video link or in person for the position; and if the interviewers will be internal staff or external. [23457/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

490. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the age range (details supplied) of applicants for the position of higher executive officer; and the number of applicants under each age range. [23458/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

491. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working days' notice candidates will be given of their interview date for the higher executive officer competition. [23459/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

492. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to workers who may lose work due to possible future localised lockdowns when the pandemic unemployment payment is due to cease for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23461/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

499. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [23539/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

500. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of previous incomes in each of the three bands of payment under the pandemic unemployment payment. [23540/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

501. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the sectoral breakdown of those currently receiving the pandemic unemployment payment. [23541/20]

Child Maintenance Payments

Claire Kerrane

132. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the names of the members who make up the child maintenance review group; if the group has met to date; if it is expected to report by the end of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23128/20]

Budget Process

Claire Kerrane

133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the priorities brought forward by stakeholders at the recent pre-budget forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23129/20]

Pensions Reform

Claire Kerrane

134. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reintroduce the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017 which contained important protections for defined benefit pension scheme members; if not, the way in which she plans to protect these members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23130/20]

Departmental Reports

Claire Kerrane

135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of report on the impact assessment of the current and projected future increases in carbon tax on low-income families by her Department; the stage the report is at; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23131/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Claire Kerrane

136. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by those entitled to a free travel pass but are unable to access one as they cannot obtain a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23132/20]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the date referrals of jobseekers to contracted employment services will recommence; and when activation services for those already referred will recommence. [23133/20]

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]