Results 61-80 of 25,425 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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...

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

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance...

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

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 14 November 2023. It is a condition for receipt of a...

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

Heather Humphreys: There are no employees within the Department and bodies under its aegis currently suspended pending a disciplinary investigation. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Heather Humphreys: The Training Support Grant (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short term training that can support individual jobseekers seeking employment (including self-employment) to access work opportunities. The grant can be provided when a Employment Personal Advisor or Job Coach have identified an immediate skills gap or related intervention, such as to obtain or renew certification and...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection has neither paid into nor received funds from any EU programmes or funds outside of the Multiannual Financial Framework from the year 2014 to date. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

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

Heather Humphreys: This Government acknowledges the vital role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. In...

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

Heather Humphreys: Illness benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance. Eligibility for illness benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. People must have made the required number of contributions under PRSI Class A, E, H or P to qualify. Previously,...

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

Heather Humphreys: To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit, a Jobseeker must pay Class A, H or P PRSI contributions. A person must have : 1) At least 104 weeks PRSI paid since they commenced work. AND 2) 39 weeks paid PRSI in the relevant tax year (2022). OR 3) 26 weeks paid PRSI in the relevant tax year (2022) and 26 weeks paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. * If you do not...