Results 3,061-3,080 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: It is later in the week and it is being deleted in that Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I must disagree. I was listening outside and thought the Tánaiste answered the questions that were put forward comprehensively. I know the Senator is anxious to press the motion, so I will allow that to happen. I do not propose to accept the recommendation.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Officials in the Department have engaged with COSC, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence in relation to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). In terms of income support, the Department provides a range of income supports including the supplementary...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Community Employment Schemes Funding (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The training budget for Community Employment (CE) in 2014 is €5.896m. The budget for each Division is set out in Table 1 below. Table 1: CE Training Budget by Division Division Training Budget 2014 (€) Dublin Central 644,045 Dublin North 489,362 Dublin South 405,473 Mid-Leinster 395,029 Midlands North 407,158 Mid-West 435,696 North-East 385,903 North-West...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. The Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness published in May 2014 is the Government’s Strategy to bring about an end to involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government recently announced the provision of 260 additional...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Community Work Initiatives (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank all the Senators who have contributed to the debate on Committee Stage. I personally have found it quite informative. I always enjoy coming to the House and think it a very worthwhile experience. I totally accept that Senators O'Brien and Norris put their amendments in good faith. I met the members of the particular schemes and I see the real cash loss, which is extremely difficult...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their contributions over recent days. I am sorry I am a little hoarse but I am well on the way to recovery. It is a little like recovering from a cold where a person does not believe it until they are over it. The public listen to Members in this House talking about recovery and things getting a little better, but they have not felt it yet in their pockets or in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 44 together. JobBridge is open to jobseekers with a live claim who have been in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseeker Transition Payment, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance or who are signing for social insurance contribution credits for a minimum of 3 months within the previous 6 months. I am currently reviewing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (18 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. There are approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. Rent supplement recipient numbers and expenditure since 2010 is provided in the tabular statement. There are currently over 1,500 rent supplement recipients in Westmeath, of which approximately 520,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (18 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Based on micro data from the Quarterly National Household survey, the Department of Social protection estimates that the number of young people aged less than 25 years not in employment, education or training in the second quarter of 2014 was 76,500. This represented 14.6% of the estimated population in this age group. There has been a significant fall in this percentage since the second...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Action Plan for Jobs (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Action Plan for Jobs has been updated and revised each year since its inception in 2012. It has not been cut, and the 2015 iteration of the plan is expected to be finalised shortly. Within the Intreo activation process managed by the Department of Social protection, a Personal Progression Plan is developed with each Jobseeker. Participation in a training, education, or development...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Education and Training Provision (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department in conjunction with other Departments and agencies (most notably the Department of Education and Skills and Solas) has put in place a range of options for reskilling as part of the wider whole of government approach contained in the Pathways to Work Strategy. The former FAS training provision is being transferred to the new regional Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. There are currently approximately 5,800 people in receipt of mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in the delivery of key local services, to tackle disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and cooperatives in communities around the country. Some 2,800 people are supported in employment by the programme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I regret to inform the Deputy that the Department does not have funds of this ad-hoc discretionary nature at its disposal. All funding to not-for-profit organisations for the provision of services and events is channelled through structured programmes aimed at generating and supporting employment of jobseekers, to support local service provision and/or to promote the social inclusion outcomes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 52, 53, 81, 111 and 113 together. There are approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. I can assure the Deputies that the Department continues to monitor the maximum rent limits and is aware of the difficulties people are experiencing, including recipients of rent supplement,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: A person of 25 years of age or over who is currently in receipt of Widows/Widowers Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension for a minimum of 12 months is eligible to participate on the Community Employment (CE) programme, as per the published eligibility criteria. From 16 January 2012, newparticipants on CE schemes will not be able to simultaneously claim their original social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: With effect from 3 April 2000, lifetime cumulative maximum 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) maximum for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age (inclusive of any CE participation under 55 years of age); and - For people in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in the delivery of key local services, to tackle disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and cooperatives in communities around the country. Some 2,800 people are supported in employment by the programme...