Results 3,941-3,960 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It was 4,700.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the work of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, in seeking to provide rent certainty. That will help to stem the number of people in rental accommodation. At least, they will have rent certainty for the next two years. Fortunately, the measure will prevent people from becoming homeless. We all rightly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Many voluntary groups such as the Peter McVerry Trust have welcomed what the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has done in respect of this issue. As the Deputy knows, the HAP is operating in Limerick and is working well there. I understand there are 960 HAP payments in the Limerick area, of which 510 are for new applicants. I would like to ensure that nobody is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: All current schemes are kept under review in respect of how well they work. Community employment, CE, is the largest employment programme administered by the Department and is a valuable resource for both jobseekers and communities. The Deputy knows the work done by CE schemes in the Ballyfermot area. Currently, there are almost 22,500 participants and nearly 1,400 supervisors employed on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy because it is not very often that Sinn Féin acknowledges that there is an increase in job availability but the numbers are improving. It is great to see people going back to work and when they do so it is certainly better for their families. There are several schemes and training programmes available: springboard offers 9,000 free places; skillnet actively...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept that the Deputy is being constructive in his suggestion, and we have been working with the Carers Association. As people move back into work it opens up other opportunities because it gives the Government further flexibility. One of the positive measures the Tánaiste has introduced within the Department of Social Protection is that there is a constant review to ensure the...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge is a national scheme which was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy, particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. As the Deputy will remember, we were heading to have nearly 500,000 people unemployed and an unemployment rate from the live register of 15.1%. Thankfully, the figures today are much more positive and moving in the right...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will just finish on this point, in fairness to Deputy O'Dea. We are tendering for an evaluation process. The tenders have gone out and we hope to have an evaluation process in place early in the new year.

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge has been a very successful programme, both for the participants and small and medium enterprises, SMEs. The closing date for the receipt of tenders was 19 October 2015 and the tender evaluation process has been completed. The Department has notified the preferred tenderer and in accordance with procurement guidelines is now observing the mandatory 14 days standstill period before...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government is trying to conduct evidence-based evaluations. Many schemes have been exceptionally successful across the country such as the JobsPlus element for the long-term unemployed. Moreover, it has been successful in the Deputy's native county where 60% of those involved in JobsPlus have been long-term unemployed. There has been a suite of measures in this regard and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 152, 153, 171 and 172 together. 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. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 17,200 rent supplement tenancies in payment awarded this year. Rent supplement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Support to community organisations for the provision of meals is available from a range of sources. Funds for meals-on-wheels type operations are generally a matter for the Health Service Executive. The Department of Social Protection can support such operations under a number of its work placements schemes, including Community Employment, Tús, the Rural Social Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Death Certificates (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted on 4 December 2014. The Act contains a wide range of provisions which are being commenced on a step by step basis. Section 13 of the Act provides for the creation of a record of deaths of Irish citizens who die while abroad. The provisions of the Act will be put into operation on the basis of an implementation plan involving both...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy has raised a number of issues relating to Community Employment (CE) in this Question and the responses are set out below. (i) Persons under 25 years - relaxing CE eligibility The general minimum age criterion of 25 for CE has been set to ensure that, in the first instance, younger jobseekers engage with the range of Further Education and Training (FET) provision already in place...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 190 together. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government’s primary strategy to reduce long-term unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. This strategy has been succeeding; in the year up to Q2 2015 the annual increase in employment was 57,100 (+3.0%). The long-term unemployment rate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge, The National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy - particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. The primary aim of the scheme is to give unemployed people the opportunity to secure work experience and prove their competence to prospective employers. To date, JobBridge has attracted the voluntary participation...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Order for Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

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

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Top be helpful to Deputy O'Dea, on Committee Stage I said I would circulate a written response to that. I will ensure that this is given to the committee, which will be circulated to the Deputy.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: No.