Results 81-100 of 6,753 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (28 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Welfare Service (CWS) in 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.  Based on the available data, it is estimated that 50% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 0-4 weeks and that 90% are finalised...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: A number of reports are being prepared on the impact of Brexit on businesses and the Irish economy. They will be published in the coming weeks. I have not read the full report yet but it will be published in the next week. Actually, I believe we are publishing it next week. Regarding the European Union, my officials are speaking continually to EU officials and we are certainly making...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Properties (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Any properties occupied by my Department are either leased or owned by the Office of Public Works and the question of any ground rents payable is the responsibility of that body. Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are separate legal entities in their own right. The issues raised by the Deputy are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies. As we all know, this is an emergency situation. During the 90-day period in which people are in this designation accommodation, the beneficiaries will be supported in trying to find employment and sourcing accommodation which may be private or pledged, as I said earlier. The Department of children is actively standing up arrival centres for use at the start of the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ..., all fines were €100, regardless of how serious the offence was. We now have a fine of €300, and multiple fines can be issued at the same time. The Cathaoirleach is dead right. If we are not out there and we do not have dog wardens making sure that people are punished for not keeping their dogs under control, it is no good. There are a couple of Departments involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (7 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ...pensioner who has been wholly or mainly maintained by that pensioner. The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those most in need. Entitlement to the contributory State pension is...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...that rate should be even lower but the normal price for overdraft facilities in the market is 8%, so it is a considerably reduced price. As part of that, businesses can avail of loans of up to €500,000 that are unsecured, which is important. Businesses that do not have security can still apply for the Covid-19 working capital facility. The loans are for up to three years. In...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our off-shore islands. These sites will be provided with a temporary wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: ...Ireland that while it has not determined a need for an associated penalty with this by-law at this time, the matter is being kept under review. I am advised also that the locks, docks and harbours are manned and/or frequently visited by Waterways Ireland Operations and Inspectorate Authorised Officers. Where swimmers are encountered, they are made aware of the by-law provision and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds was introduced in early 2021 in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are 65 who are required to or who choose to retire at age 65 but who do not qualify for the State Pension until they reach age 66. The underlying statutory basis of this benefit is provided for under Jobseeker's Benefit. There are a number...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ..., based on recommendations by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. The budget increased the fuel allowance, the living alone allowance and the qualified child payment. Of course, we are considering this issue as a Government. Despite what some people say, we are not removed from reality. We see what is happening on the ground and we know the cost of living has gone up. I...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department is not aware of any delays for Jobseekers Payment for self-employed pre-school and primary teachers. Almost all pre-school and primary teachers are employees and currently there are 9,858 applications for Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit awarded and in payment. There are 953 cases currently with the Department's Deciding Officers for decision and these will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important that this investment continues. It has been very successful in 2022. I will be considering its continuation in 2023 but no decisions will be made until the priorities for 2023 are decided on. The building acquisition measure has helped many towns across the country. We need to move with the times. Times are changing. These buildings are no longer being used for their...

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

Heather Humphreys: What I am seeing is that businesses are engaging. Enterprise Ireland is working closely with businesses. Some businesses may not be impacted by Brexit. I do not know who AIB surveyed. As the Deputy noted, Enterprise Ireland is a wonderful agency and is working very closely with businesses. Initially, people did not think this was going to happen. There was an idea among some businesses...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At present, there are 6,756 staff employed across the Department of Social Protection. The highest and second highest paid civil servants in the Department are the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary. Both are paid in line with Civil Service salary scales. Civil Service salary scales apply to staff employed in my Department. These are most recently outlined in Circular 04/2022...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 77 together. COVID Illness Benefit (Enhanced Illness Benefit) is a scheme that was introduced in March 2020, to support people who are incapable of work or who are required to self-isolate, as a result of a COVID diagnosis or being a probable source of infection. To date a total of 416,175 COVID Illness Benefit related claims have been processed of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...Officers, colleagues at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and the two commercial partners, National Broadband Ireland and Vodafone, to complete each connection. There are currently 282 Public BCPs live across the State. There are BCPs live in every county and in some of the most rural and isolated areas, including a number of our off-shore islands. At...

Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ...in question should not be in work and the payment kicked in straight away, without waiting days. That is a payment of €350. We need to consider that the average period for which people are sick and receive that payment is three weeks, approximately 21 days. That is why the enhanced illness benefit is available for up to ten weeks. People have asked about those who get Covid...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Media (14 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports, entitlements and services that are available to them. Public information campaigns, including advertising on social media platforms, are an important part of this work. For the purpose of this response, we have interpreted ‘amount spent on social media’ as media buying...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to ensuring that State pension (contributory) claims are processed and pension entitlement decided as quickly as possible when all necessary information is to hand. Processing of contributory pension claims depends on the individual nature of social insurance records and the applicant's circumstances.  It is also dependent on the completeness of the application...