Results 2,901-2,920 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Budget of 2012 announced the disqualification from certain welfare payments for welfare recipients while participating on Community Employment (CE). Up until 16th January 2012, certain social welfare payments could be retained in part or in full when participating on CE. The CE personal rate of €208.00 was applicable to these participants (as any dependants were covered under the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department has improved the financial and programme monitoring of schemes since it became responsible for the Community Employment (CE) programme. The renewed focus on the development of individuals on schemes is leading to greater achievements for the learner and an improved service to local communities across the country. The putting in place of an Individual Learner Plan some years...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Cessation (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to confirm that there is no Government policy to withdraw community employment (CE) schemes. The CE scheme currently has 25,300 places, having risen from 23,300 places in 2011. It is the largest employment programme in the country giving long-term jobseekers and other disadvantaged groups valuable work experience and training/development opportunities to assist then in their return to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The number of community employment schemes operational in the country at present is 1,026 as at 11thNovember 2014. The total number of places available on CE is 25,300.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Scheme Supervisors (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The programme and training monitoring carried out under Community Employment (CE) focuses on gaining evidence from individual schemes of their compliance with the CE Operational Procedures, which sets the quality standard for the schemes. The purpose of this is to ensure that the CE participant benefits from the programme and is assured of getting a quality service. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The number of places on Community Employment (CE) has increased in the last two years by 2,000 to 25,300, with an increase in the CE annual budget from €352m in 2013 to €357m in 2014. Funding in 2015 will increase to €379m to accommodate the full complement of places. Also an additional €1.3m was allocated to the CE training budget in 2013 in order to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I can confirm that a person previously on a Tús employment scheme may progress onto a suitable community employment (CE) scheme and that provision is made for such progression. Tús participants aged 25 or over who have completed 52 weeks on that programme can progress directlyonto CE for a maximum of oneyear where it is considered appropriate within the context of an agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. There are approximately 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for...

Topical Issue Debate: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this topical issue. Although I do not have the information on the European decision that he has outlined, I would like to put this matter in context. The free travel scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability-type payments. The scheme...

Topical Issue Debate: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his comments, and I compliment the officials who negotiated the return of this route. I take on board the Deputy's views on how important that route is for people living in isolated areas. It is worth recalling that there has been a significant increase in the numbers using such services. In 2001, more than 600,000 people were availing of the free transport scheme,...

Topical Issue Debate: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Is that the issue raised by Deputy Ciara Conway?

Topical Issue Debate: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I understand that my colleague Deputy Ciara Conway has agreed to defer discussion of her issue until Tuesday, 25 November 2014. On that date, I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is the Minister responsible, will take the debate.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: She was absent for 65 days.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department keeps the operations of the Community Employment (CE) scheme under review and, where necessary, it updates the programme to comply with legislation changes, Government policy decisions, (e.g. Pathways to Work) and Departmental policy decisions (e.g. the CE Childcare programme). CE is subject to continuous improvement and the Department seeks to maximise the utilisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 151 together. JobBridge has made very significant progress since it came into operation on 1 July 2011. As at 14 November 2014, a total of 35,167 internships have commenced with 6,676 participants currently on a JobBridge placement, and 2,078 internship posts currently advertised on the JobBridge website. In County Mayo, there have been a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. There are approximately 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The progression figures for those who exited the community employment (CE) scheme in 2013 are outlined in the table. Community Employment Schemes Percentage/Number Found Employment/Self-employment 21.6% (2,145) Progression to Further Education 4.9% (485) Total Placement/Progression 26.5% (2,630) Total exits from CE in 2013 9,913 With regards to qualifications achieved while...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (18 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: At the end of October 2014, there were 22,815 community employment (CE) participants (excluding supervisors) engaged on the programme, an overall increase of 1,009 participants from October 2013. The breakdown of the 22,815 places is: Community Employment Schemes Breakdown 18,706 Jobseekers (JA/JB) 82.0% 1,215 Lone Parents/Widows 5.3% 1,886 Disability 8.3% 1,008 Others (e.g....