Results 3,341-3,360 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I have spoken to the Deputy briefly on the matter already. I am unclear as to the precise purpose of the amendment. If its purpose is to enable a person to qualify for the back-to-work dividend where the person ceases to be entitled to jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance or one-parent family payment within four weeks, and the person or his or her spouse or civil partner takes up...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: One of the officials will contact Deputy O'Dea tomorrow on the matter in order to clarify the matter. We sought clarification through the Bills Office but we were not able to contact the Deputy. However, I believe we are both working in the same direction.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: A significant amount of work and engagement has been done on this. The preparatory work will ensure anyone who engages will not fall through the cracks. Letters have been sent to people and they have been asked to attend group engagements. A lot of preparation work has been carried out.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The back-to-work family dividend is to encourage and help people to get back into the workforce and it is a time-specific payment. Options open for people when they go back to work. I was unemployed for more than 18 months and when I got back into employment options such as promotion, overtime and additional hours all became available. The back-to-work family dividend, which is time...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The €29 for each child is excluded from tax.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: No.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It is in section 13, which inserts a new section 194B in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: There is always a great urge for people to find something negative. The back-to-work family dividend applies to a much wider range of people than the one-parent family payment, including people who have been quite distanced from the workforce. I have met such people in my community and they will benefit hugely from this. The back-to-work family dividend is an excellent scheme and is a cash...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I commend the section to the committee.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It will be treated as having come into effect from 1 January last, so people will receive back payments.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: A start date had to be put in place in respect of the scheme. The Department is working to ensure that payments will be made as soon as possible after the legislation is passed.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It was the intention that anybody who commenced employment from 1 January would be entitled to the payment.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: They need to commence employment and then apply.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We will explain that to people. However, they need to apply. It is a new entitlement and it must be applied for.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The banks should accept the public service card as a means of identification. For many reasons, mostly relating to money laundering and other criminal activities, the banks have been quite rigid in terms of what they will accept as suitable identification. I have no difficulty pursuing this issue with them on the part of the Deputy.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 18:In page 13, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “Opinion of medical assessor 8.The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 300:“Opinion of medical assessor 300A.(1) In determining a person’s entitlement (whether in respect of a decision under section 300 or a revised decision under section...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I refer to the specific issue of letters raised by Deputy Naughten. I can give him a commitment that no further letters will be issued.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to make that clear at this stage because the Deputy raised it so well.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: To put it into context, it was a trial on a voluntary basis to communicate better with the customer. It was a small trial to see whether we are in the best position to communicate with customers. As I said to Deputy Naughten, no further letters will issue and we will review how to deal with the issue from here on. Deputy Ó Snodaigh made several points. The average value of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Not necessarily. The fact is that more than 90% of social welfare overpayments are caused by failure to inform the Department of changes in circumstances. The majority of cases are dealt with in a speedy, efficient and fair manner. In specific individual cases there may be glitches within the system. If the Deputy wishes to point out those specific glitches with individuals, I would be...