Results 4,061-4,080 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

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

Kevin Humphreys: Trustees must notify in writing the scheme members, any persons receiving benefits from the scheme and the trade union or representative groups representing scheme members before they make an application to reduce benefits to the Pensions Authority. Once notified, the scheme members or those representing the scheme members are entitled to make written submissions to the Pensions Authority...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Senators Norris, Darragh O'Brien and Power for their contributions. I will not go into detail because, quite rightly, the three Senators and Senator Mooney have debated this matter at length in the House with the Tánaiste. There are unintentional consequences regarding this amendment in that it would: have an impact on company debt, investment and growth; affect an employer's...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I referred to the general situation, as did the Senator in his first contribution.

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

Kevin Humphreys: The second part of my contribution was a response to the specific scheme. My general comments were in response to the Senator's general point.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Data (9 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: A number of programme refugees are currently resident in Kildare. Programme refugees are generally entitled to supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, including weekly payments, assistance under the exceptional needs payments (ENP) scheme and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Depending on the circumstances of the individual or family, payment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (9 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 64 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Registration Legislation (9 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was signed into law in December 2014 and contains a wide range of provisions. The right to marry is a basic right and the institution of marriage is protected under our Constitution. EU citizens and their families have the right to move and reside freely within the territories of the Member States. Following a ruling of the European Court of...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 to 46, inclusive, 48 and 49 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (10 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €27.9m for exceptional and urgent needs payments in 2015. An ENP is a means tested payment...

Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I, too, commend Deputy Willie Penrose on the work he has done on this Bill, about which we had very long conversations at different stages. In his contribution he mentioned the kitchen table. Very good ideas often come from it and often some very strong family decisions are made at it. The ideas expressed in the conversations that took place at that kitchen table found their way into the...

Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to again thank all of the Deputies who have supported this Stage.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 81, inclusive, and 138 together. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has activated its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 114, 124 and 127 together. The Department of Social Protection supports service provision through a number of programmes and schemes. The Community Services Programme supports community companies that operate on a community business or social enterprise model. Companies supported by the CSP generate and use income from the services they provide to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection does not provide support targeted specifically for the establishment and operation of men’s sheds. The Department does provide funding to assist local organisations and agencies to implement projects addressing the social and economic circumstances of recipients of welfare payments, to enhance their employability through education, training and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: European Globalisation Fund (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection referred 213 people who were not in employment, education or training (NEET) to the Lufthansa Technik European Globalisation Fund (EGF) programme in October 2014 and a further 150 were referred in June 2015, giving a total of 363 referrals since the programme started. The original 213 who were referred in October 2014 were all selected from the Tallaght...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (15 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department and is a valuable resource for both jobseekers and communities. Currently, there are almost 22,500 participants and nearly 1,400 supervisors employed on the programme at a cost of approximately €373m in 2015. As the Deputy is aware, CE aims to enhance the employability and mobility of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (16 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge 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 of over 44,000 interns and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (16 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. County/Area 2011 2012 2013 2014 Nov-15 Carlow 335 320 399 401 396 Cavan 225 216 284 339 337 Clare 596 573 605 600 607 Cork 2,177 2,122 2,198 2,190 2080 Donegal 1,157 1,124 1,169 1,185 1153 Dublin 6410 5658 5997 6117 5659 Galway 1,507 1,467 1,538 1,549 1493 Kerry 966 973 1014 1,017 1013 Kildare 664 615 817...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (16 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Families arriving in Ireland under the Resettlement arrangements are afforded full refugee status upon their arrival in Ireland. These families are eligible for social welfare payments on the same basis as Irish citizens and are entitled to apply for relevant social welfare weekly payments such as basic supplementary welfare allowance, jobseekers allowance, one parent family payment and...

Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Get on to the army council to keep them under control.