Results 21-40 of 235 for going forward speaker:Heather Humphreys

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...of the Bill, which relate to child maintenance and the liable relative provisions, stem from the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group. As Members are aware, in line with a programme for Government commitment, the Government set up the review group to consider and make recommendations on the current treatment of child maintenance payments in the Department of Social Protection, the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Senators Burke, Keogan, Ardagh, Wall, Boyhan and Dolan for their contributions. I am very pleased to bring forward this legislation. The Senators have raised a number of issues and I will go straight to dealing with them. I said earlier that a new weekly payment of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child is being introduced for the beneficiaries of the temporary...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...what has happened and situations where people have been attacked. A lot of that comes down to the owner of the dog who is not keeping it under control. We want a media campaign on the issue. We are going to have a targeted neutering campaign and I am also going to set up a stakeholder group. That is going to bring in all the stakeholders and there are many diverse views on dogs, as we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I must say I had a good day with the Deputy in Carlow. We travelled around and it was lovely to go to that library. It is an old building that needs to be upgraded. As I say, applications are being assessed and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly. I hope Carlow is successful. I have not had sight of what has come through, to be honest, because applications are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...fund was announced last November. There was a number of successful projects I know the Deputy was very interested in, such as the Killala Bay ships reef project, which received €50,000 and is ongoing. The Cong to Lisloughrey pier recreational trail got another €50,000. These are small schemes by any measure. There is one particularly good one in Deputy Dillon's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was down at Inch beach and I announced that project. I do not know what is keeping them. They need to move on with it because if they do not spend, the money goes somewhere else. It is an absolutely amazing beach. I heard what was said about Kilderry to Milltown amenity walk. To go back to Deputy Dillon's question, I have secured an allocation of €16...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Nos. 74, 78, 98 and 101 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages throughout the country. This Government recognises the important role these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events. As the Deputies are no doubt aware, I have prioritised the...

Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...for their contributions. I acknowledge Deputy Ó Cuív's commitment to the means test and the need to continually review it. It is something he has raised with me on many occasions. I look forward to receiving the report on the means test shortly. We all know that lone parents are a particularly vulnerable group, which is why I am very pleased to bring forward this...

Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: In line with the programme for Government commitment, the Government established a child maintenance review group to examine certain issues relating to child maintenance in Ireland. The group's terms of reference were to consider and make recommendations on the current treatment of child maintenance payments in the Department of Social Protection, the current provisions regarding liable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...from private providers. Nobody foresaw the general increase in the applications we now have due to a war. We are in an emergency situation. We have plans - I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is working on them - to acquire more State-provided accommodation and to look at where that needs to go in terms of maybe a fairer or a broader distribution across the country. The Taoiseach has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...applicants are being moved mainly into hotels and large-scale types of accommodation. They are not taking homes from Irish people. If that is the line the Deputy is trying to peddle, she is going down a very dangerous road. We have taken a number of actions and will continue to work with communities and to improve our communication. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, is coming...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities going to great lengths in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.Funding of €50 million for over 880 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the changes announced on budget day. In addition, this year reforms to the State pension are included in the Bill. These measures form part of the Government’s response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations. One of the most important of these, and one I believe is endorsed by all members of this House, is to provide...

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

Heather Humphreys: On the issue of dogs, a couple of weeks ago I outlined that fines under the Control of Dogs Act will increase from 1 December. Previously, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (14 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities going to great lengths in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for over 880 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries. The Fund aims to support the development of...

Seanad: Care Payments: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue. I thank the Senators for their contributions and for bringing forward the motion. This is a timely discussion. I will host my Department's pre-budget forum next week when I will sit down with all the advocacy groups, including those representing carers. The Government is aware of the valuable work being carried out by family...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Disability Services (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...straw man proposals. We are looking at a complete overhaul of the disability allowance payment. The Deputy and I will both accept there are people with severe disabilities which prevent them from going to work while others have mild disabilities who may be able to get back and do some work. We will look at how we can distribute those payments more fairly. There is a big difference...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...hearing would be given rather than summary decision as it may be viewed as more beneficial to the appellant. As part of the statutory appeals process, the appeal papers are in the first instance forwarded to the Department. It then carries out a review of the decision and will take into account any new evidence provided as part of the appeal. In many instances, particularly with...

Our Rural Future Policy: Statements (14 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...high-speed broadband, people can do the same job in Ballybay, Ballsbridge, Malin Beg or Manhattan. What does this mean for rural communities? It means people's sons and daughters can have a good career and live in their local community. It means they can build a house and start a family in their own locality. It means they can spend money in the local shop, their children can go to...

Our Rural Future Policy: Statements (14 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...pleased to have the opportunity to open today’s debate. I launched Our Rural Future in 2021. It is the most ambitious and transformational rural development policy ever introduced by an Irish Government. It is a five-year plan, we are just over two years into its implementation and already we are seeing the hugely positive impact it is having on the ground. As we stand here...