Results 3,841-3,860 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (4 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Community Employment (CE) and Tús - the community work placement initiative - are two of a suite of interventions funded and managed by the Department of Social Protection to support long-term social welfare claimants to return to the labour market. The Government’s policy for activation is set out in Pathways to Work and includes measures for the long-term unemployed (on the...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Fianna Fáil crashed the construction industry.

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It was caused by Fianna Fáil.

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will reply first to Deputy Sean Fleming who made criticisms about the operation of a guillotine today. It is 3.40 p.m. and there is no other Opposition spokesperson offering to speak on the Social Welfare Bill yet we had to waste time this morning voting on the issue. We had to listen to Deputy Fleming giving out about a guillotine being imposed this afternoon, yet the Fianna Fáil...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I have sat here hour after hour listening to Fianna Fáil, which appears to be suffering from loss of memory.

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Deputy Ó Fearghaíl comes in here and heckles because the truth hurts. There are young people in the Visitors Gallery. Fianna Fáil proposed in its budget submission 1,245 additional teachers.

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Labour Party and Fine Gael in this Government provided for 2,260 new teachers, including 600 extra resource teachers. There is a big difference in what Fianna Fáil proposed and what it did not propose. In answering Deputy Fleming's claim that the €3 increase was miserable, I would love if it was much more but we have gone through three difficult budgets. I wish Deputy...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will not continue for much longer.

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: In conclusion, Deputies raised a range of issues during the debate. I do not have the time to address all of them, although I took notes on each one. I look forward to the debate on Committee Stage when there will be an opportunity for closer scrutiny of what we are proposing, as well as what other political parties have proposed for the Department's budget. I commend the Bill to the House.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015. Rent supplement is a statutory means tested scheme which is payable at differentiated rates of payment taking into account the applicant’s means and their family’s accommodation requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies will deliver services...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (5 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies will deliver services...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (10 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of €298 million in 2015. The provision for 2015 represents a transfer of funding in excess of €20 million to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to support the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). In local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (10 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The roll-out of JobPath began...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobPath Implementation (10 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a rigorous public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her remarks on the work that Mr. Liam Daly and his team are doing locally. I also acknowledge the work of Unite and the Labour Relations Commission. In addition, I know Deputy Conway has constantly raised this issue, if not daily then certainly weekly in recent years. The mediated agreement for the former Waterford Crystal workers, which covers 1,774 scheme...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department and local officials have worked tirelessly on this matter. We are in constant contact and are having discussions to ensure these payments are made as quickly, efficiently and sustainably as possible. I would love to be able to tell Deputy Conway that it will be next week or next month, and so would all my departmental officials. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, however,...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 10, to delete “Social Welfare Act 2015.” and substitute “Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2015.” These amendments will allow the holder of the office of Financial Services Ombudsman to also hold the office of Pensions Ombudsman. They will also ensure that where the office of Pensions Ombudsman is held by the Financial...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister for Finance must bring forward legislation to allow for the merger of the offices of Pensions Ombudsman and Financial Services Ombudsman. Therefore, I do not have a definite date because it is not a matter within the control of the Department of Social Protection. That said, I hope it will happen as soon as possible.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes.