Results 161-180 of 20,517 for speaker:Heather Humphreys in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 22 December 2020. To qualify for the standard state pension (contributory) an individual must have 520 full-rate contributions. This equates to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. As the person concerned worked in the public service, they were also considered for a mixed insurance pension. To qualify for this pension, 520 employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides social insurance and social assistance payments to those who are experiencing a particular contingency. There is a general principle of “one person, one payment” across the social welfare system, which is a common principle in social security systems globally. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, even if a person experiences more than one...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: A Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is a unique reference number that helps a person access social welfare benefits and public services in Ireland. Following the person’s application for a PPS Number, they were invited to attend an in-person PPS Number appointment on 10/05/2024 at 12.10pm in the Newbridge Intreo Centre. Details of the appointment and the documentation required,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify, the Carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department does not have any contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of over €113 million has supported more than 1,700 projects...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 set out requirements that owners of 11 specific breeds of dogs, including strains or crosses of those breeds, must comply with. In public, restricted dogs, and any crosses thereof, must be: securely muzzled, on a sufficiently strong leash or chain not exceeding 2 metres in length, and handled by a competent person over 16 years of age. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327, 328 and 329 together. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In furtherance of this, my Department drafts policies and manages strategic interventions and funding programmes that support economic, social and cultural development in urban and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Digital Hubs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future recognises the opportunity that remote working presents for rural rejuvenation and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. Remote working hubs provide an opportunity for people to continue to live in rural communities while following their career ambitions, supporting the retention of skilled people in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects across Ireland. The Scheme has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The 2023 TVRS had a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since the RRDF was established in 2018, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €414 million. Expenditure of RRDF funding to date is €179.7 million. The projects supported by the RRDF are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million. The free travel scheme was introduced to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently 35 Medical Assessors working in my Department. The numbers in situ at the end of December 2022, 2023 and at end of March 2024 are outlined below in tabular form and include both the Chief Medical Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Assessor. Year People Posts 2022 32.00 30.10 2023 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Long-Term Carers Contributions make it easier for a carer to qualify for the State Pension Contributory. Any period in which a carer is registered as providing full time care to an incapacitated person can be included in their social insurance (PRSI) record. Once a carer has reached a minimum of 1040 weeks (20 years) of Long-Term Carers Contributions, these contributions will be included in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million. It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5...