Results 8,801-8,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (21 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The 2020 CLÁR programme, which was launched on 25th May last, has been tailored to help rural communities respond to COVID-19. The Measure which previously funded the enhancement and development of playgrounds has received...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (21 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan approved funding for 43 measures across 9 departments, up to a total of €45.5 million. The Department of Rural and Community Development has responsibility for the overall administration of the Dormant Accounts Fund, with each individual Departments responsible for the delivery and administration of their own measures. All measures funded must...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department did not award contracts to Aramark during the timeframe in question. However, Pobal, an agency under my Department's remit, had contracts during the timeframe totalling €2,486.01 at external locations where Aramark held those contracts.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time-limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and approval was given to the extension of this payment until 10th August. The Government is aware that there are certain sectors which will be affected by business closures longer than others and the confirmation that this payment will be available until early August...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment is that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and lost their income from employment. Where a person was due to take...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to people aged between 18 and 66 years, and the age range is consistent with other jobseeker and social protection income supports paid to people of working age. People aged 66 years and over are provided for within the Social Protection income support framework through the State Pension, either the contributory State pension based on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, in person oral appeal hearings have been suspended since 13...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Section 124 (3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 states a person shall be disqualified from receiving a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension for as long as he/she cohabiting with another person as a couple. The person concerned was refused a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension on the 4th March 2020 on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age in 2009 and has not applied for a State pension (contributory) to date. Without a formal application the person’s pension entitlement cannot be determined. I have arranged for an application form to issue to them. Their pension entitlement will be investigated upon receipt of the completed application...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. CA is payable up to two care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Under Section 220 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005, Child Benefit is payable to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides. Regulations governing normal residence for Child Benefit purposes are contained in S.I. 142/2007 (Article 159) and they provide inter alia for the following: 1.In the event that a qualified child is resident with both mother and father, he...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently managing a large number of review requests for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) re-rate at this time. For this reason we are not in a position to respond to enquiries as promptly as we would like. Following a review of the person’s record, I am pleased to inform you that his PUP has been re-rated to €350 per week. Any arrears due will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: From 29thJune, the higher rate of PUP is only payable to those who had average weekly reckonable income of €200 or greater from self-employment prior to applying for the PUP. As my Department has identified the person concerned as self-employed, it is basing its decision on his return of income in the 2018 tax year. Based on the income advised by the Revenue Commissioners the lower...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Low Pay Commission (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government states that the Low Pay Commission is to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government. The practical arrangements for giving effect to this commitment are still being considered, but it is my intention is that this matter will be progressed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department's main unemployment supports are jobseekers benefit and jobseekers allowance. The qualifying conditions for both schemes require a person to be unemployed, available for and genuinely seeking full-time work and to be fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. For jobseekers benefit they must have the necessary social insurance contributions and have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (23 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 182 together. The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. This week my Department issued payments valued at €97 million to 313,800 people for the pandemic unemployment payment. This represents a decrease of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Oireachtas Inquiries Line (23 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department provides a dedicated mailbox for each of the main schemes whereby Teachtaí Dála (TDs) can raise specific queries for their constituents directly with the relevant scheme area. These mailboxes are monitored every day and have been operating very quickly, efficiently and effectively. We also operate within the Parliamentary Question (PQ) system and the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: EU Pensions (23 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 2 October 2018, in advance of reaching pension age in June 2019. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 389 paid full-rate Irish social insurance contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for standard State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (23 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 21,572 recipients. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their...