Results 4,041-4,060 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

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

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Senator Cullinane. I do not want to portray the Senators as a family at war before they even reach an agreement. I represent a working-class area. I accept the majority want to work and contribute to society. I outlined the amendments the Tánaiste made where a lone parent whose youngest child is aged under 14 years is required to take up employment to receive income support...

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

Kevin Humphreys: For the record, it was in section 8 we increased the family income supplement. We need also to be careful that family income supplement would not become a disincentive to employers to increase their earnings through increased hours or higher wages. This would leave recipients trapped on low incomes over time. We need to be careful on family income supplement. It is worthy of further study...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I do not propose to accept these amendments. Maybe they should have included references to cuts that were made prior to 2011.

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

Kevin Humphreys: I do not accept the Senator's flippant remark about the Tánaiste talking rubbish.

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

Kevin Humphreys: I suggest that the Senator should have a look at the variations in charges arising from the bereavement grant.

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

Kevin Humphreys: There are enormous variations across the State. The Department of Social Protection makes provision for payments to be made through the community welfare officers to assist people who are without means with the cost of burials. The Senator knows that well. I am not proposing to include these amendments in the Bill before the House because it would not be right or proper to do so. This is...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I said I would be happy to debate it with the Senator now. I hope both of us will be here to debate it.

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

Kevin Humphreys: I am not accepting the amendments. I am quite happy to come in and debate these matters at any stage.

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

Kevin Humphreys: This arose following a critical review of a recommendation. We are moving more rapidly to defined contributions. There is a crossover of expertise here. In respect of the schemes in operation, my officials have informed me that there are more than 62,000 schemes in Ireland and there are approximately 700 defined schemes so there is a certain amount of logic following the review carried...

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

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator is correct. I have heard him debate this issue many times with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection. I will not go over the details again. In fairness, the Senator has told me that he does not wish for me to do that. A few brief comments have been made several times. It is important to note again that the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 62,000 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). A review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Direct Provision Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The direct provision allowance is a non-statutory payment administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality to persons in the Direct Provision system. Government has provided €3.5 million for the direct provision allowance in 2015. There are approximately 2,990 adults and 1,100 children residing in the system of direct provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. The CSP is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services to communities and to utilise the potential of community assets and resources that are already in place. Funding is provided in the form of a financial contribution for the employment of staff to deliver the service. The CSP became operational in 2006...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (8 Dec 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. The Department initiated an inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobBridge Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The JobBridge Scheme was introduced in July 2011 with the aim of providing unemployed people with an opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective employers. Participation on the scheme is wholly voluntary and is open to all jobseekers who meet the qualifying criteria. The criteria includes the requirement that applicants must have a live claim in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €44.3 million for this scheme in 2015. In 2015, BSCFA payments were made to some 153,000 families in respect of over 290,000 children. The rate of payment is €100...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has responsibility for primary care issues. The new primary care centre in Kells is being delivered under the operational lease mechanism. The centre is now complete and the HSE plans to move services there early in...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We had a long discussion on Second Stage on pensions. This issue is very close to the Senator's heart. I also know that as he has previously worked in the area he has considerable expertise in terms of what is involved. However, I do not propose to accept his amendment at this stage. I agree with the Senator that we need to keep the pensions area under constant review. Recently there has...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I mean what I said. The Senator has worked in the area.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Never.