New benefit payment for 65-year-olds
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Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan and North Meath, Niamh Smyth, has welcomed the introduction of a new benefit payment for those aged between 65 and 66 who have ceased employment or self employment.
Eligibility for the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds is determined by a person’s PRSI contributions.
Deputy Smyth commented, “Applications for this new benefit can be made when a person reaches 65 years of age. This payment will continue until the person reaches pension age provided, they continue to meet the eligibility conditions.
“For many people, due to their contract of employment, retiring at the age of 65 is their only option. I have called on the Minister on numerous occasions to sign regulations to formally remove the requirement for 65-year olds to be actively seeking work and to ‘sign on’.
Updated: 4 Feb 2021, 14:15
IRELAND is in the grips of a “hidden epidemic” of mental health issues being caused by the Covid-19 crisis with children as young as 16 taking their own life, the Dail has heard.
The Dail heard that the HSE’s mental health website has seen an increase in hits by more than 490 per cent over the past year with one in six people in Ireland visiting the online support.
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Sinn Fein TD Paul Donnelly told the Dail of one family s shocking experience with mental health services during the pandemicCredit: Paddy Cummins - The Sun Dublin
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Some 28 residents in mental health services have died of Covid-19 since the pandemic beganCredit: PA:Press Association
New scheme opens temporary access to healthcare in Northern Ireland
Transitional arrangements in place for patients due to receive treatment in the UK
A new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, operational for 2021, has replaced the former Cross Border Directive in providing reimbursement of private healthcare for patients from the Republic for a 12 month period.
The Government approved the introduction of the new scheme at the end of December to run on an ‘administrative basis’ for 12 months. The new scheme is to enable anyone living in the Republic to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the Health Service Executive (HSE), provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
Updated: 25 Jan 2021, 22:51
MET Eireann have issued an urgent yellow snow and ice warning for four counties.
Cavan Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim are set to be hit with falls of sleet and snow that are expected to cause hazardous conditions .
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Warnings will remain in place till 9am tomorrow morningCredit: Met Eireann
The warning will come into place just after midnight tonight and is due to finish up at 9am tomorrow morning.
The Met Eireann warning reads: Status Yellow Snow and ice warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim.
WEATHER WARNINGS
The UK Met Office have also issued a yellow ice warning for the six counties.