The Minister has made the case for why this tendering process is necessary. That is fine, but my concern is that, ahead of the tendering process, she is talking about paying for each jobseeker referred to the service. That is a move away from what local employment services are doing well. I am glad that the Minister recognises this, as they are reputable. The 2018 Indecon report showed how well got they were in the communities they served, their good relationship with local employers and how they worked well and ef…

My question relates to the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and its future in the weeks and months ahead. I hope the Minister will be able to provide an update on it.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The PUP has been a vital support for people through the Covid pandemic. I recognise the work of staff in the Department in processing the payment, which involved a huge effort. This vital support will need to be maintained because people will continue to rely on it in the weeks and months ahead. Given that we are now approaching the end of May, it is very important to have clarity for workers and families regarding this vital source of income. The Economic and Social Research Institut…

I reiterate that if the plan is as it was in April and it comes to pass that when the Minister says there will be no cliff edge it would be a move onto the jobseeker's payment of €203, the Minister must recognise that that is a much lower payment for many people. In addition, we know already that of the more than 19,000 people aged 18 to 24 who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, nearly 15,000 are on the reduced rate of €112.70 a week. That has to be taken into account. I hope the Minister will also be able to…

Ahead of the budget, which is not too far away, I wish to ask the Minister about the core social welfare payments. Will she consider increasing them in budget 2022 to start the process of getting to the minimum essential standard of living, which is so important? Any social welfare system should at the very least protect those who rely on it from poverty.

While the minimum essential standard of living is met by the State pension in certain circumstances, that is just one tiny cohort of people when we consider the range of social welfare supports provided. I acknowledge that social welfare rates play a role in lifting and keeping people out of poverty. However, many of today's rates are set below the poverty line and are nowhere near the minimum essential standard of living. The Minister spoke about evidence, but there is no evidence used in the debate we have every …

The survey on income and living, SILC, data for 2019 are the latest data available on poverty. The Minister did not mention that deprivation increased in 2019, which is alarming given that was all pre-Covid. I appreciate the previous budget contained targeted measures, but we need to start looking at core social welfare rates that have not moved in the past two budgets. A few weeks ago, representatives from Society of St. Vincent de Paul appeared before the social protection committee. They raised the issue of the …

Last year, the Minister extended the fuel allowance. That did not happen this year though I understand it was to be considered. Did the Minister consider extending it and, if so, why did she decide not to?

I understand all of that. Last year, because of Covid, the duration of the payment period for the fuel allowance was extended. When I questioned the Minister on the issue last year, including in the committee, I understood consideration would again be given to a possible extension this year. Many older people who had been cocooning for the best part of a year got no supports whatsoever, although they were expected to stay at home and the heating was on more. We should acknowledge it was an extremely difficult time …

I acknowledged that support, which was vital for people, but I am really talking about older people who did not have any supports. I appreciate the budget increases and changes that were made last year and came in this year. That is fine, but I take it from the Minister's response that consideration was not given to extending the fuel allowance in the same way as last year. While the PUP is in place, that is not available to older people and that is the cohort to which I refer.

This question concerns maternity benefit. A number of women have got in touch with me who have returned to Ireland, specifically from Canada and America, who do not have the required number of PRSI contributions. Having returned, they have had or are having a baby and they cannot access maternity benefit. Has any consideration been given to partial maternity benefit payments or any similar support for women when they have a baby but they do not have the required PRSI contributions?

It is great to see those who have emigrated coming home to start a family and take up work here after being abroad for a number of years. It is especially welcome to see young people, who had left, returning. When they do come home, if they do not have the required number of PRSI contributions if they have been in a country outside the EU, I accept the supplementary welfare allowance is available but there are difficulties in meeting the habitual residence requirements. I am not sure how long the supplementary welf…

In the last year alone rents have increased in County Roscommon by 5.3% and in County Galway by 5%. County Galway is now one of eight counties to have an average rent of above €1,000 per month. Average rents in County Galway now stand at €1,105 and in County Roscommon at €670. I was contacted last week by a person living in Ballinasloe whose rent is being increased after a rent review by nearly €400. This is a rent increase of 45% to 50%. This is exactly what is happening all of the time especially outside rent pre…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the extension of the powers of the Liable Relatives Unit of the Department of Social Protection, to make a Determination Order in respect of Jobseekers Transitional Payment to one parent families, to include any necessary application to the District Court for a Payment Order, thus enabling the State to recoup, from a “liable relative”, a contribution towards the cost of providing said payment and related matters. I am delighted to intr…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

We all agree that urgent climate action is required and that all sectors and each one of them has a part to play. There is a genuine fear that more will be asked of some than of others. Some decisions made by the Government have only added to these fears. As someone who lives on a farm in a rural area, it is important for me to say that farmers and rural areas cannot pay the price for climate action, nor will we be sacrificed for climate change. People in rural areas rely on their car because there is no public tra…

I wish to begin by welcoming the Government's support for this Bill and by commending colleagues and the USI on their work in relation to this. Of course, this Bill is not only about removing the lump sum that parents and students are expected to pay at the beginning but also is about removing the barrier that is there. There should not be a student in this State who is unable to move to go to college because of the cost of accommodation. It has been a major issue for students, for their parents and for their famil…

While preparing to bring forward this motion, I thought about the many carers whom I have met and know. We all know many carers in our own communities and perhaps even in our own families. We know carers who are on their own, lone parents who look after a child and who battle to get domiciliary care allowance for that child, for which it can take years to qualify. Last year, the appeals took between 23 and 30 weeks. That is how long parents were left battling to get this allowance for their children and trying to p…

We all know that we have a growing problem with energy poverty in the State, with approximately 28% of households living with and experiencing fuel poverty every single day. Our primary concern is older people and those who live alone, and also lone parent families. St. Vincent de Paul spends millions every year to assist families to meet their energy costs. It tells us that one in seven lone parents is in severe energy poverty. Some 31% of lone parents spend more than 10% of their income on energy. More than 140,0…

I support both amendments. They are most important. As has been said, it is really important we review legislation after it has been introduced. I wish to raise a few points about the amendment in particular. One is the importance of a timeline on further extensions in parent's leave. It is most important. We have seen it last year and this year in particular. This leave was mooted last summer, announced in the budget nearly six months ago in October, and parents had to wait on its introduction. Finally, they will …