Results 2,941-2,960 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Donohoe, sends his apologies as he had to go to the Seanad.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister is back.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this important matter. Both myself and the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, share his concerns that this modern purpose-built facility has not yet been tenanted and I understand that officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working closely with Dublin City Council to resolve the matter urgently. As Deputy Costello...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I fully agree with what Deputy Costello has outlined. I also extend sympathy to the family whose house went on fire. It is an example of such a strong community on the northside of the city and the same sentiment is evident in the strong community in my own area. This matter can do reputational damage to the voluntary housing sector. We certainly want to work with it in partnership to...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I will finish on this point. We wish to work in partnership with the voluntary housing agencies but they must deliver on their side of the agreement. I thank Deputy Joe Costello for raising the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The existing participation limits for CE are in place to ensure that all eligible persons have the opportunity to participate on the programme. The limits (introduced in April, 2000) are 3 years participation for those under 55 years of age and up to 6 years participation for those of 55 years of age to state pension age (inclusive of any time spent on CE under 55). Persons in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Cessation (26 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Provision has already been made with regard to duration for vulnerable groups and older people on CE. With effect from 3rdApril 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual is as follows: - 3 years (156 weeks) maximum for persons under 55 years of age. - 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age. - For people in receipt of a qualifying...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Deputy Willie O'Dea is quite correct; we are all trying to achieve the same purpose, namely, that a stillborn child can be registered. The current legislative proposal covers that aim. As Deputy Willie O'Dea will be aware from his own profession, if one puts solicitors and barristers in a room and asks for advice, whoever pays the price will get the information he or she wants to hear. ...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I commend Deputy O'Dea in that he has engaged fully in discussions and he has graciously indicated he is happy to withdraw the amendments.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments, and in particular those who have been receiving such payments for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. JobBridge has made very significant progress since it came into operation on 1 July 2011. As at 20 November 2014, a total of 35,381 internships have commenced with 6,700 participants currently on a JobBridge placement, and 1,933 internship posts currently advertised on the JobBridge website. In County Kerry, there have been a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas: - Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower; - A social housing response sponsored by local authorities; - Comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 166 together. My understanding is that these questions refer to a non-profit organisation which supports advocacy and other services for immigrants to this country. The Department of Social Protection has not provided Exchequer or EU funding to the organisation in question for the periods stated in the questions, nor for any other period of time....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: There are currently no plans to lower the standard qualifying period in receipt of CE-eligible payments from the current 12 month duration, as Community Employment is primarily aimed at long-term unemployed persons, which is generally defined as one year or more on the Live Register. Persons who claim Jobseekers Benefit from 3rd April 2013 can only claim for a maximum duration of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (2 Dec 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 71,800 rent supplement recipients, of which approximately 1,800 are in Donegal. The Government has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that those participants who commenced Community Employment (CE) prior to Monday 16th January 2012 and who have continuous service on CE since that date (no single break in excess of 12 months), may retain their primary social welfare payment (subject to continued eligibility for receipt of same) alongside their CE Personal Rate allowance beyond December 2014, which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: In July 2008, the Labour Court recommended that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors (LCR19293) and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS, the agency responsible for CE at that time. The Department of Social Protection is now responsible for CE. Notwithstanding the position of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that those participants who commenced Community Employment (CE) prior to Monday 16th January 2012 and who have continuous service on CE since that date (no single break in excess of 12 months), may retain their primary social welfare payment (subject to continued eligibility for receipt of same) alongside their CE personal rate allowance beyond December 2014, which...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. The Tánaiste is not aware of any schemes other than the scheme relating to Waterford Crystal. Deputy Boyd Barrett rightly pointed out this arrangement is under mediation at the moment. I have no wish to comment until the mediation has been concluded. Before the break, Deputy Boyd Barrett made the point to the Tánaiste and she has undertaken some...