Results 41-60 of 6,753 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Officials in my department are currently managing large volumes of applications for PPS Numbers and efforts are made to ensure these applications are processed promptly. In general, PPS Number applications for international protection applicants are processed within approximately one week of being received where the form has been fully completed and the required supporting documentation...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The performance of the PRSI has been good. That shows that people are getting back to work. With regard to the extra spending on the non-contributory State pension, domiciliary care allowance and back-to-work family dividend he mentioned, the impact of the Christmas bonus is built into those increases. For example, spending on the non-contributory State pension for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature. The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (7 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that in-person appointments are available at all Intreo centres and that all of these center's are open 5 days per week, as are our branch offices. Offices are open for walk-in service each morning and appointment all day to 5pm. If a person wishes to make an in-person appointment for any of the Department's services, they can contact their local Intreo Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (13 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The policy in my Department is that notes are taken at meetings which have formal agendas, and which are attended by Departmental officials. On occasions when meetings are of a short 'meet-and-greet' nature without formal agendas, notes are not always taken. While this policy is not formally written down, it is understood and applied in the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In general, there is no delay in processing jobseeker benefit claims if the relevant claim application forms and supporting documentation are completed by the customer, in a timely manner. Seasonal workers including school secretaries should apply for jobseeker’s benefit as soon as they become unemployed. Educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...particular demand for an air service there. In terms of the ferry service, a number of issues have been raised by the islanders. We have taken those on board. All contracts, as the Deputy knows, are procured through a tendering process and adhere to all procurement rules and regulations. All competitions are conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner. As part of any contract...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (7 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The principle behind this is that people on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. That is why we target people on longer-term payments. The payments the Deputy has mentioned are short-term payments. We take the view that we should help those who are more vulnerable to poverty. The best...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement. Note that these figures refer to all recipients under 25 who are on jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits as of 23rd January 2022. Recipients on JA who are under 25 Recipients on JB who are under 25 Recipients on JB (credits only) who are under 25 ...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...voluntary sector got the support it needed. We have a €10 million fund that is being administered by Pobal on our behalf. If an organisation is a registered charity, it applies to Pobal. There are also some others out there and I thought that we have to cover them off as well. Some groups are not registered and they are playing a very important role because they are community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...will be approximately 300 Public BCPs in the network across Ireland. As the site connection rate grows the focus of the project is turning towards stimulating demand for use of the sites. There are a number of programmes being run to increase awareness of the Public BCP network and improve the offering at each hub. There are 4 thematic strands that are being developed to offer programmes...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Sorry, Chairman. We are not discouraging people; we are telling people to try to reduce their social contacts. We are asking them to be aware and exercise self-responsibility. I know that there have been some cancellations, but generally, there is no reason it is unsafe for people to eat in restaurants if they abide by the guidelines, be careful and are aware.

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I am fairly familiar with the dates in Northern Ireland, which are the same as ours. They were changed from the end of July to the end of August. I fully understand the need for health and safety considerations, but councils have the authority to cut hedges where are there are health and safety issues and I would encourage them to do so. I live in the country and...

Seanad: European Investment Fund Agreement Bill 2018: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: ...and who have shown great flexibility by taking all Stages today, because this Bill is urgent.The Senators raised issues around the supports we have for businesses. The Government and its agencies are in constant contact with businesses about Brexit preparations. We have instituted a wide range of initiatives that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses, such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Claim processing times are currently  well within the set targets.  These are kept under active review to ensure this  standard is maintained  and improved...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently 2 officers from my Department on secondment to the European Union (EU) Commission (DG Social Affairs & Inclusion) in Brussels.  On 23 June 2016 there was one officer on secondment to the EU Commission (DG Employment) in Brussels.  The Deputy may also be interested to know that there are two officers currently on secondment to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Leave (13 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Maternity Benefit is a payment made for up to 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on maternity leave from work and who satisfy certain qualifying conditions including social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions on their own insurance record. The main provisions relating to Maternity Benefit are in the Maternity Protection Acts, 1994 and 2004, Chapter 9 of Part II of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 478, 480, 482 and 490 together. Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (27 Mar 2018)

Heather Humphreys: We are operating in Ireland and in the Irish market. It is not just about exporting to Germany and France. It is about expanding our exports globally. Some of the companies will be going to China and some will be going to the Middle East, Asia or the United States. Therefore, we have to deal with the facts of where we are. The Deputy is correct that interest rates here are as they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I love libraries. They are wonderful places and do fantastic work. They are hives of activity for all the community. Older people learn computer skills. There are language classes for people who are looking to learn a new language. There are book clubs, which are a great way to meet people. A lot is happening in our libraries. We have 330 libraries across the country. They come in...