Results 41-60 of 16,260 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 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. Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse/civil partner/cohabitant including property (except their...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Working Family Payment is a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low-earnings who have children. The payment is not linked to receipt of a social welfare payment, but rather, is based on overall household income. Unlike other Social Welfare schemes, which are means-tested, the Working Family Payment is an income supplement and is an income-tested...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 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 18th...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...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 contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions. According to the records of my department, the person concerned...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...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 443,000 children are now eligible for funding. I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in...

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: ...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 443,000 children are now eligible for funding. Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a...

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: 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: ...dogs issues. Membership of the stakeholder group will comprise a broad range of expertise including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field and animal welfare experts. This stakeholder group will also consider if legislative changes to the Control of Dogs Act are required. The first meeting of this group took place recently. ...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...), and the Community Services Programme (CSP). These two programmes will have combined core funding of over €100 million. Many of my Department’s programmes, particularly those that community groups may apply to, are administered by local authorities or Local Action Groups, allowing greater flexibility at local level to make decisions on local and community proposals and...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...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 rural communities and attracting mobile talent to rural areas. They can reduce commuting time, while lowering transport emissions,...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...these projects under the 2023 Scheme. A full list of the approved projects is attached for the Deputy's information. As committed under Our Rural Future, and the Town Centre First Policy, scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and...

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: 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: 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.