Results 4,021-4,040 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (1 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (1 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: From January to the end of October 2015, approximately 30,000 people have benefitted from a Community Employment (CE) place, of which 23,876 are currently engaged in around 1,000 separate schemes throughout the country. The budget for CE for 2015 is €373.3 million. Significant improvements have been made to the operation and governance of CE since 2012 and these continue in 2015....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (1 Dec 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. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant to assist them...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (2 Dec 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 and a high level of involuntary emigration and negative growth. The scheme aims to provide unemployed people with the opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator. I will not cause a row with him, but I do not accept that the Government has attacked older people. One need only look at the recent budget and the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill under discussion having regard to some of the cuts introduced by this and the previous Administration such as the Christmas bonus, 75% of which has now been re-established. We could have a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I concur with the comments made by Senator Hayden. I have been asked what is the Tánaiste's mood. Previously people at 62 years of age did not have access to certain payments but they now have full access. On a voluntary basis, they can opt to avail of training, community employment courses and further education. We need to improve things. One can see from how the demographics of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. The Senator made a point about the transition from 66 to 67 years.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The matter will be dealt with and discussions will take place. The couple to which the Senator referred are now aged 62 and they will have a retirement age of 66. Is that correct?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator talked about people who are now in their 60s and will retire on reaching 67 years. Currently, the mechanisms that are in place take a person up to the age of 66. I will give the Senator a note on the matter but I repeat that all short-term social welfare schemes, including jobseeker schemes, are payable up to the age of 66. Jobseekers whose benefits expire in their 65th year...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: In the very early term of the next government.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for his vote of confidence.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As I said in my last contribution in the Dáil, Senator Darragh O'Brien is the only one that ever seems to heckle in this House.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Perhaps the next Sinn Féin-Fianna Fáil government will deal with the matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yesterday, the parties put themselves forward as an alternative. They have every right to do so but it is the people who will decide.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It is not the Senator or myself who will decide.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Many points have been made on this topic. It is a small social welfare Bill and we are debating pensions, which I welcome. No political party has the answer on this and it will take some time to consider what is best for the State. We should certainly be building up a reserve. I sat on a finance committee on Dublin City Council and we met with the Department of Finance. At the time,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senators and Deputies in respect of the change in name of the respite care grant to the carer support grant. That is an important change and should be widely publicised. If Members are talking to people, they should discuss it with them because it is a fundamental change. It has, however, been passed over in the media.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I believe it relates to the carer's allowance but I will clarify it with Senator Moloney before we finish this session.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will try to be brief. I thank Senator Cullinane for his contribution. Senator Cullinane referred to the Central Statistics Office figures and the number of people who are underemployed or working part-time. I welcome the CSO figures indicating the number of part-time workers moving to full-time work. The whole thrust of the amendment was to remove welfare dependency and the poverty...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We are on amendment No. 2, section 6.