Results 4,201-4,220 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (21 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department, including through its Homeless Persons Unit and Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit in Dublin, works collaboratively with local authorities, Government agencies and the voluntary sector in assisting homeless persons to access private rented accommodation. This ensures that, where possible, people are diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 as a rapid response to the sharp increase in unemployment resulting from the unprecedented collapse in the economy. Since then over 18,500 Host Organisations have provided internship opportunities to over 46,500 unemployed jobseekers. Independent research indicates that circa 60% of jobseekers who participated in JobBridge progressed into paid...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) places under on-going review to ensure that they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. The eligibility rules and maximum durations allowed for participants are strictly enforced to allow the maximum number of people to benefit from the opportunity of a CE...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Dietary Allowance Administration (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for low income farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for 2016 amount to €44.3m. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (26 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The objective of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. Administration of BTEA by this Department is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education and Skills. The Allowance enables social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (28 Apr 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 57,600 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. There are currently over 1,600 rent supplement recipients in county Kerry. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (4 May 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Time spent on a VTOS course does count towards CE eligibility. The current eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) published on the welfare.iepublic website includes the following clause, "Time spent on recognised training programmes (such as a SOLAS/ETB training course or VTOS Course) or in prison can also be counted towards eligibility."

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Administration (4 May 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together. Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (4 May 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Tús and Gateway are work placement initiatives which aim to provide work opportunities for those who are long-term unemployed and on the live register for a specific period. The eligibility criteria are in line with the Government’s policies to focus resources on maintaining the work readiness and employability of jobseekers on the live register. In order to maintain this focus,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (5 May 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 56,800 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. A monthly breakdown of rent supplement recipients from January 2015 to April 2016 is provided in the attached tabular statement. The number of rent supplement recipients has reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (5 May 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle both youth and long-term unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Reflecting the impact of Government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall with a rate of 19% in March 2016 (as estimated by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Maternity Hospital (15 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Given that information, I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this particular Commencement Matter. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Harris, on becoming Minister for Health and thank him for attending to deal with this extremely important issue, which is the situation in respect of the co-location of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, with St. Vincent's University Hospital...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Maternity Hospital (15 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not believe that at any stage the Government or the HSE would have spent €5 million of taxpayers' money in preparing planning applications and doing the research that is needed to base the National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park. I am deeply disappointed and frustrated that this problem was raised at a very late stage. The plans should have been lodged at the end of the second...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (15 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I second the nomination of Senator Denis Landy to the position. I have known Denis for the past 20 years. He would bring great experience and fairness to the post. There is one thing that everyone who deals with Denis knows, which is how fair and honourable he is. His word is his bond. When he gives a commitment that he will chair meetings in this House fairly, he will do so and he will...

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I am happy to share two minutes of my time.

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: It might help if I am as brief as possible because in many ways this is groundhog day. I was elected to Dublin City Council in 1999. One of the very early arguments we had was about housing in the city and the provision of social housing in particular. At that stage the city management, to a great extent, had made the decision, along with many other local authorities, to move away from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I take this opportunity ask the Leader to get some information for the House on the adoption (information and tracing) Bill? A lot of work has been carried out previously on this Bill and I would hate to see it slip off the radar at this stage. The former Deputy, Anne Ferris, did a huge amount on the legislation and it is a very important Bill. I also request information on the Criminal...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. Like many Members, I was deeply disappointed with the result of the referendum in Britain. There are significant challenges for our small and medium sized business sector, our tourism and the agriculture sector. One thing I very much fear is that "Project Fear", run by the right wing Tories in Britain, was based on misinformation. So far,...