Results 8,941-8,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Government approval has been secured to legislate for workers in receipt of the pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, who are currently not subject to a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is no statutory retirement age in Ireland.  The age at which employees retire is determined by the employment contract between the employer and the employee.  Many such contracts may have been entered into in the context of previous state pension arrangements.  However, a mandatory retirement age did not apply.  Statistical data on long-term demographic changes...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 51, 54, 63, 67, 73, 75, 85, 91, 93, 209, 211, 212, 232 and 238 together. As part of the Governments July stimulus package announced last week the pandemic unemployment payment has been extended to 1st April 2021.  Changes have been introduced to the structure of the payment which means that it continues to be a strong support but is also fair and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Last year, my Department undertook a consultation process with a number of interested stakeholders to hear their views on possible approaches to indexation of social welfare rates.  This process also included discussion with representatives of the community and voluntary sector at the Pre-Budget Forum in July 2019 as well as at bilateral meetings with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems.  As part of its free, confidential and independent service, MABS also provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears, and provides a range of services...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (29 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.  The information requested by the Deputy regarding the average waiting times for appeals in respect of schemes operated by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As of end of June 2020, there were 87,643 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance.  The projected expenditure in 2020 is approximately €919 million. A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care.  However, in order to support a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for participants within their communities.  The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market.  Participation on CE is intended...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Minimum Wage (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Setting the National Minimum Wage is governed by the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, and the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015.  The National Minimum Wage Act 2000 deals with setting the National Minimum Hourly Rate of Pay.  The National Minimum Wage 2000 was amended upon the establishment of the Low Pay Commission in 2015.  The Low Pay Commission is the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department will continue to deliver supports to those in our society who most need it, with a focus on adapting to meet the challenges associated with the changes in our economic and social circumstances as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the related restrictions.  As Minister with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and for Rural and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 60 together. The new Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” proposes an “Early Retirement Allowance or Pension” for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseeker's Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.   The new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities that will become available.  The scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Information is not available on the number of applicants for Jobseekers Benefit in 2020 who did not meet all of the contribution conditions for eligibility for the scheme. This information is not collated. A person who is unemployed, available for and genuinely seeking work may be eligible for Jobseekers Benefit if they meet two contributions conditions.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The pandemic unemployment payment two-tiered payment structure was implemented by my Department on the July 7th 2020. Since it's introduction a total of 3,702 people that reported self-employed and PAYE income within the same year were in receipt of the low-tier PUP payment of €203. Of this number 2,563 people received the most recent PUP payment on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 216 together. The age range for eligibility to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is consistent with other social welfare income supports paid to people of working age.  People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension. A person in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The last Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund was published in 2017.  This considered projections of income and expenditure out to 2071.  The projections underlying this report provide the following ratios. In 2016, there were 3.9 persons between 25 and 64 years of age for every person aged 65 years of age and over.  In 2026, this is projected to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,600 recipients.  The scheme provides short-term income support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The new Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment to examine options for a pension solution for carers, the majority of whom are women, particularly those of incapacitated children, in recognition of the enormous value of the work carried out by them.  This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the Community Employment programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities.  The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market.  Community Employment is generally open to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (29 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Credited contributions form an integral part of the social insurance system.  They are underwritten by the Social Insurance Fund and are designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who for reasons relating to either incapacity, ill-health, unemployment, early retirement, professional training or the provision of care are not in a position to make PRSI...