Results 61-80 of 6,753 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff (22 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Conservation Rangers are deployed through a regional structure. There are currently two Conservation Rangers based in County Tipperary, and their assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities. Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (25 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is correct; sometimes the training means training the dog owners. They would want to be under control sometimes too. If they are treated properly and well, dogs are a wonderful companion for anybody. We all have our own dogs of whom we are very fond. However, not to take care of dogs and let them out of control and allow them to worry sheep or chase after livestock is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There is always a sense of anxiety and concern in any community regarding crime. As a result, we have provided more front-line gardaí. Deputy Micheál Martin will know that there are more gardaí on our streets than ever before. There are 1,500 more Garda members, which is 1,000 more officers assigned to front-line duties and there are 1,265 extra civilian staff. We increased...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Mar 2024)

Heather Humphreys: 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 on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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 secondary in nature. The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: All social welfare schemes are subject to control and compliance checks in order to ensure that the Exchequer resources provided for those schemes are protected. The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) scheme is subject to conditionality, in particular that a person must have lost their employment due to the pandemic and are now fully unemployed. Where payments of any social welfare scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (9 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: In March 2022, the EU adopted the Temporary Protection Directive, which allows people arriving from Ukraine under the Temporary Directive to move through the EU as EU citizens. They are also entitled to avail of income supports from my Department. Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance are subject to the same eligibility conditions as all other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Currently, approximately 4,800 farmers are in receipt of farm assist, compared with 5,500 in 2020, 6,000 in 2019 and 6,500 in 2018. This is a demand-led scheme and the numbers in receipt of a payment are falling, mainly due to the age profile of the customers. More than 70% of customers are aged 50 and over, more than half of the claimants are aged 55 and over, while 30% are aged 60 and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Brexit Engagement: Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation (23 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: We are examining how we can support workers. We are conscious that there are many supports in place for business but what about workers who find themselves in a position that they had not planned for? We are looking at putting a package in place that will support such workers. The Minister and I have met and reached an agreement in principle, which we will announce in the coming weeks.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (25 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: We are going to do a number of things. I will explain the term "in effectual control" because I was not sure what it was either. It means dog owners are required to keep their dogs under effectual control at all times. It is very apparent when a dog is not under control and it is important dog wardens have a degree of discretion in applying this definition. I acknowledge the work of dog...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Where an application is complete and the required documentation is supplied, it is processed quickly. As I have said previously, where there are delays sometimes it is due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application. My Department has taken a number of steps to simplify and streamline the process for persons who apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 172 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 secondary in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...will continue over the coming weeks and months. The plan is that the Government will outline its full response to the commission's recommendations by the end of March. I appreciate that there are concerns, but let us not be in any doubt that there are no easy options. People are living longer, which is very positive, but it means there are challenges. Today, there are 4.5 people...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (6 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is mindful of those with disabilities or reduced mobility availing of subsidised island transport services. Ferry and air service operators are required to ensure that the service they provide caters for passengers of reduced mobility, and that their staff are fully trained in assisting passengers. Ferry operators are required to make the necessary arrangements to cater for...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his comments on the humane way in which the Department's staff deal with people. That is much appreciated. There are well over 6,000 people working at the Department and they do their best to help people. As Deputies, we know that from our experiences in our constituency offices. The Deputy is suggesting that people be encouraged into the RSS. All present are aware...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Marriages (21 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The requirements for solemnisation of marriage and registration of solemnisers are set out in Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended. Civil marriage ceremonies are solemnised by employees of the Health Services Executive (HSE). Applications to become a registered solemniser for civil ceremonies are made by the HSE on behalf of an employee and are approved by an...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is the same as asking gardaí to carry the Statute Book around with them to tell people which law they are breaking. Do Senators know what I am trying to say? I am trying to be helpful. These people are trying to implement the by-laws so we can all enjoy the waterways and ensure that the people who break the law are prosecuted. That is what we are trying to do.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (24 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future, and has delivered real benefits to rural communities across rural Ireland over the past 30 years. The programme is delivered in 28 sub-regional areas across the country which are for the most part aligned to the county boundaries. The exceptions to this are in County Cork which contains three sub-regional areas and in County Dublin. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The autumn Cost of Living double payment and the once-off €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant are part of a range of measures put in place as part of Budget 2023 to mitigate the effects of the increased cost of living. The autumn Cost of Living double payment will be paid to recipients of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disablement Benefit and Partial...