Results 9,041-9,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 767 and 777 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. One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 770, 872 and 880 together. I have reviewed the holiday arrangements in line with the most recent updated travel advice and have announced that people on a jobseeker’s payment who wish to travel to any of the countries on the Green List for up to two weeks can do so and continue to receive their payment. Separately, I am taking primary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Company Liquidations (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Duffy Cahill report, which was commissioned by the Government in the aftermath of the Clerys closure, highlighted how the issues raised by the event and the subsequent legal cases are highly complex. The Duffy-Cahill Report was sent to the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) in 2016 for its consideration as part of the work of that group in advising the Minister for Business Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (30 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. To be eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment a person must have been in employment immediately prior to the 13th March and lost their income from employment due to the onset of the pandemic. Self- employed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that for 2020 to the end of June the average...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue education and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study.  The weekly rate of BTEA payment is linked to the persons' underlying qualifying payment. Carers allowance is a qualifying payment for someone considering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Communications (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that neither I nor my advisers have ever used private email for any form of official Government use since the formation of the Government.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Meetings (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Other than internal meetings, I have attended the meetings listed below in my role as Minister for Social Protection. Date 7th July 2020 Video link-  OECD Ministerial Roundtable on Inclusion 30th July 2020 Pre-Budget 2021 Forum.  The pre-Budget Forum was attended by representatives of Active Retirement...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Advisers (30 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 terms...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (30 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. My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Advisers (30 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 terms...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that my Department's data cannot be broken down by constituency. Breakdowns are provided by county for the last payment date in each of the requested months in the table below. 28 April 26 May 30 June 28 July Carlow 7,752 7,349   5,252 3,367 Cavan ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 788, 789 and 861 together. Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,400 recipients as of 25thJuly 2020. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The criteria for eligibility for illness benefit are laid down in legislation. Illness Benefit may only be awarded to those who fulfil the contribution criteria. To qualify for illness benefit a customer must: - Be unable to work due to illness - Be under pensionable age (currently 66) - Satisfy the contribution conditions - At least 104 reckonable contributions - 39...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 795 and 796 and 829 to 831, inclusive, together. As part of a suite of measures announced in the July Stimulus, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will now be extended to April 2021. By week-ending Friday, 31st July 2020, the PUP scheme will have cost an estimated €3 billion. The estimated cost of PUP in July 2020 is approximately €420...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 798 together. Maternity benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on maternity leave and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has policy and legal responsibility for maternity leave. In 2020 it is estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Low Pay Commission (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Low Pay Commission was established on 26thFebruary 2015 through the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015.  Its principal function is, once each year, to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay and to make a recommendation to the Minister respecting the rate, ensuring that all decisions are evidence based, fair and sustainable, and do not create significant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €1 per week is as follows; Scheme Full year cost of a €1 increase €m Social  Insurance Schemes Pension Payments State Pension (Contributory) 24.02 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 and 849 together. The Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) is an assessment, developed by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types. The model produces a minimum income standard which is dependent on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Qualified Child Allowance (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together. The estimated full year cost of increasing the Qualified Child Increase for children age under 12 by €5 is €61.46 million.  The full year cost of increasing the Qualified Child Increase for children age 12 and over by €5 is estimated to be €38.81 million. The costs shown above are on a full year...