Results 3,981-4,000 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, commenced in July 2011 and to date has attracted the participation of 44,388 participants and over 18,000 Host Organisations. There are currently 4,865 participants on the programme. The JobBridge Scheme was introduced as an extraordinary response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy – particularly the sharp increase in unemployment....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, commenced in July 2011 and to date has attracted the voluntary participation of 44,388 participants and over 18,000 Host Organisations. There are currently 4,865 participants on the programme. I table below outlines the current numbers of JobBridge participants by County. The scheme was introduced as an extraordinary and temporary response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The table below details the number of CE participants and Supervisors by County, as at 31/10/2015. Source: CSM. CE PARTICIPANTS as at 31.10.2015 COUNTY Total CARLOW 389 CAVAN 338 CLARE 603 CORK 2,062 DONEGAL 1,150 DUBLIN 5,670 GALWAY 1,436 KERRY 1,006 KILDARE 886 KILKENNY 460 LAOIS 305 LEITRIM 148 LIMERICK 1,326 LONGFORD 350 LOUTH 836 MAYO 762 MEATH 519 MONAGHAN 417...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations which benefits approximately 217,000 children at a total cost of €39 million. An additional €3 million was allocated to the programme as part of Budget 2016, bringing the total allocation to €42 million in 2016. There are two schemes operated under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (24 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 over €298 million in 2015. Over 17,200 rent supplement tenancies have been awarded this year showing that landlords are accommodating significant numbers under the scheme. I am fully aware of the findings of the recent Daft.ie rental report...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Registration of Deaths (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The procedures governing the registration of deaths are provided for under Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004. The only circumstances under which a death can be registered by the registrar in the register of deaths are - - Under Section 41 of the Act of 2004, a death is registered on foot of a certificate provided by a coroner containing the required particulars of the death...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Data (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The rural social scheme (RSS) commenced in 2004. The scheme provides income support for 2,600 low-income farmers and fishermen and requires participants to work 19.5 hours per week. The scheme is delivered locally in county Kerry by North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership, South Kerry Development Partnership, IRD Dunhallow and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht areas. ...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tax Credits (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator for raising what is quite an important issue. It is interesting that she said the issue of lack of awareness was highlighted at public meetings. It is good, therefore, that it is receiving an airing and if even one person picks up on it, that will be positive. The home carer tax credit is a tax support which may be claimed by a married couple or civil partners where one...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Tax Credits (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The figures the Senator has brought out publicly are useful. Some 82,500 families are receiving €61.9 million. One of the benefits of the joined-up thinking with the Department of Social Protection and Revenue operating together is to ensure the maximum number of people receive that benefit without having to go through the process of claiming. The figures show clearly how...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Law Cases (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, who is unavailable to be here to take this matter. However, the issue is very close to her heart and is getting her fullest attention. I take this opportunity to inform the House of developments in regard to the establishment of specialist family courts. As the Senator is aware, the programme for Government contains a commitment to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Family Law Cases (24 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. For the information of the House, I wish to confirm that the groundbreaking Child and Family Relationships Act was enacted earlier this year and is due to be commenced in the coming weeks which I am sure will be of interest to this House. It will better protect children and their families for decades to come. It also contributes to giving...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. Since the introduction of the JobBridge Scheme on 1 July 2011, a total of 44,394 people have commenced an internship, there are currently 4,766 participants on the scheme, and a total of 1,398 of these are under the age of 26. Participants on JobBridge receive an internship allowance equivalent to their weekly Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Momentum Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: There are currently 331 clients under the age of 26 on the Momentum Programme, 152 of which receive the weekly rate of €160. Momentum is an initiative which provides education and training to assist long-term unemployed people gain the skills needed to access work in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities. All Momentum education and training projects are free....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Funding (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The training budget for community Employment (CE) has increased from €5.7m in 2013 and currently stands at €6.1m in 2015. It is anticipated that with the renewed focus on training under the programme that the budget will be fully expended in 2015. The training budget is allocated across the Department’s thirteen divisions. A level of flexibility applies in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. It delivers on its remit to provide services to the public by supporting a network of delivery partners, which includes 42 local Citizens Information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. It delivers on its remit through a network of delivery partners which includes 42 local Citizens Information Services (CIS) and 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am delighted to be back in the Seanad. Last month the Government announced a responsible, balanced and pro-employment budget. The social welfare package included in the budget was carefully designed to ensure a number of core groups would benefit. They include pensioners; families with children, including lone parents; carers, and people with disabilities. The budget was prepared in the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I have listened carefully and I will endeavour to touch on everything they raised. Senator Darragh O'Brien indicated he would table specific amendments relating to pensions and, therefore, I will deal with them on Committee Stage because it will probably take time to tease them out.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept that successive Governments have kicked the issue of pensions down the road but this Government has begun to tackle it. We had a major problem of unemployment to deal with and, hopefully, in our next term we will deal with the pensions crisis. I look forward, if I get the opportunity to serve in the Department, to deal with that crisis that successive Governments have left behind.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Specific questions were asked about statistics. I will have those checked and my officials will send them to Senator Quinn, in particular, if we have them, in a timely manner. Last year, we introduced a neutral budget and gave a little back contrary to what many economists said. Five years ago, on all the programmes I saw or heard, every professional who had an economics qualification was...