Results 101-120 of 25,425 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has provided funding for vehicles for community first responder groups through the CLÁR programme since 2022. The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. I launched the CLÁR 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There are no employees currently suspended from my Department on full pay pending disciplinary investigations. There are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. These are Pobal, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulator. No employee of any of these organisations are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: European Union (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not pay into any EU programmes or funds. I would note that EU funding is made available to my Department through schemes included in the multi-annual financial framework, namely, the LEADER Programme, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and the PEACEPLUS Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The 2023 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects that bring economic and social vibrancy to town centres in line with Government policies, and which will encourage more people into town and village centres to work, shop and socialise. The Town and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded 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 across the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank members for attending today and for facilitating the early hearing of Committee Stage of the Bill. The implementation of the automatic enrolment, AE, retirement savings system represents probably the single biggest reform of the pension system in the history of the State. I reiterate the Government’s commitment to the State pension remaining the bedrock upon which the Irish...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for their comments. I do not propose to accept these amendments because section 11 already sets out that the board of NAERSA will contain a person who has knowledge of or experience in matters relating to the interests of employees. This person could well turn out to be a representative of ICTU, or someone who would otherwise meet the approval of trade unionists. ...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The role of the board of NAERSA is to look after the interests of the automatic enrolment participants. It will obviously take account of the employers and workers. The Minister who appoints the board will ensure one of the representatives has strong experience regarding the workers. I do not want to be prescriptive in that ICTU is the nominating body. It is up to the Minister to examine...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There is no evidence of displacement. The evidence in the UK is that employers have improved schemes and membership has increased since the introduction of automatic enrolment rather than decreased, which is good. We want to see more pension coverage. Amendment No. 3 relates to occupational pensions. They do not come within the scope of this Bill or the functions of the authority,...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Sorry, I referred to section 40(3).

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Statistical reporting is already provided for. It includes periodic reporting on the performance of these funds and any other matters that are considered to be appropriate to report on.