Results 8,641-8,660 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693, 695, 777 and 779 together. The COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and which has been extended to 10th August. A two level payment structure has been introduced to link the pandemic unemployment payment level to prior earnings. If a ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is understood from clarification received from the Deputy that the question refers to both employer and employee PRSI charges increasing to 3% or a minimum payment of €315. It is estimated that an increase to the employee and employer rates of PRSI to 3% for PRSI Classes B, C and D would yield additional full year revenue of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 696 and 716 together. The Enterprise Support Grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25June 2020 to re-start their business. A once-off grant will be awarded for 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000 covering vouched costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Government policy to reduce youth unemployment is twofold: - to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and - to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, including young people. Providing education and employment opportunities to young jobseekers forms a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artists' Remuneration (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Where an artist or performer has lost their employment as a consequence of the pandemic they may avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment at this time. The main social welfare schemes for unemployed people are the jobseeker’s allowance and jobseekers benefit schemes which provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699, 748, 775 and 785 together. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides for increases to the State pension age to make the State pension system more sustainable as life expectancy increases. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State Pension (Transition). This measure standardised the State pension age for all at 66 years. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Government has recently approved the extension of the payment up to 10th August and announced a two-level payment structure to link the payment to gross prior earnings.  This change to the payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned submitted an application for a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance with effect from 6/4/2020. This application was disallowed on the basis that his income is in excess of the prescribed limit for his family size and that the excess income is deemed adequate to meet his needs. A decision letter dated 27/4/2020 issued to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the rent supplement claim for the person concerned was reviewed on 28/11/19. Following completion of this review, his monthly Rent Supplement payment was increased to €370 per month. The person concerned has not made a further request for an increase in Rent Supplement since this last review. In order to continue to be eligible for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 703, 710, 757 and 788 together. The emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been introduced as a time-limited emergency measure so that payments can be made as quickly as possible to the large number of people who have become fully unemployed due to the pandemic. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. However, on foot of the Deputy's question, a form has been forwarded to the person concerned requesting her to state the grounds for her appeal of the Department's decision. On receipt of her reply the appeal will be opened, processed in the normal manner and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that where a person is not satisfied with a decision to withdraw their pandemic unemployment payment, they can have this decision reviewed. If the Deputy can supply the details of the individuals in question I will arrange for their individual cases to be reviewed. I trust that this clarifies the position.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Company law matters are the responsibility of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As I understand it, the Companies Act 2014 already includes provisions which may be utilised by liquidators or creditors of an insolvent company in appropriate cases. These include section 608, regarding the power of a court to order return of assets which have been improperly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Company Liquidations (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I note that Debenhams is a court-supervised liquidation, subject to the oversight of the High Court, and accordingly is sub judice. While company law matters are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, there is in fact no ministerial power to intervene in a court-supervised liquidation. In general terms, the Companies Act 2014 already includes provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In 2019, my Department activated extension provisions within the existing contracts of both JobPath providers that enable referrals to the JobPath service until the end of 2020. Normal labour activation services were suspended in recent months in accordance with public health guidelines, although engagement with clients continued by phone where possible. However, in parallel with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On my first day as Minister, I received a comprehensive briefing document on the many policy areas for which I am responsible in this Department. As has been the policy of the Department, it is intended that the briefing material will be published in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Court (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Labour Court recommendations that relate to my Department are usually dealt with and recorded on a divisional rather than central basis. As a result, it has not been possible within the timeframe allowed to collate with absolute accuracy the information the Deputy is seeking in respect of my own Department. This is underway and will be sent directly to the Deputy when it becomes fully...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: This case was reviewed and, having regard to all the circumstances, the person's pension has been awarded from their 66th birthday. Arrears will issue shortly. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The then Government introduced a new initiative in 2018 called the Interim Total Contributions Approach (Interim TCA) in response to concerns raised about rate-band changes in 2012. This initiative included provision for a new HomeCaring Periods Scheme which fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department recently made contact and had engaged in a publicity campaign with recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and requested that they confirm their continued eligibility to receive the payment. This is in line with the standard practice applying to all jobseeker payments. Recipients were asked to do this no later thanMonday, 13 July. Failure to do so may affect their...