Results 9,121-9,140 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (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...

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

Heather Humphreys: The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators countrywide for those eligible under the scheme.  The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living legally and permanently in the State.  Applicants  under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to...

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

Heather Humphreys: Since 2012, social welfare inspectors have had legal powers to carry out checks at ports and airports.  Section 250 (16) of the social Welfare consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides the legal basis for these checks. While the number of airport checks has significantly increased in recent months since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), this reflects the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Costs of €3,082.37 are associated with an event, held in Tangent Trinity Campus, Dublin on 6th March 2020 where the company referred to by the Deputy is the contracted catering provider in that location.  These costs related to the teas, coffees, water and a light lunch provided by the catering company to some 160 people who attended this event. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In August 2019, the Data Protection Commission's (DPC) Final report into the Public Services Card (PSC), which examined my Department's compliance with its obligations in relation to the legal basis and transparency issues, was received. On 6 December 2019, my Department received an Enforcement Notice from the DPC in respect of the August 2019 Report. An appeal was filed...

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. ...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 provides that an employer must provide its employee with a written statement of the particulars of the employee’s terms of employment.  It also provides that an employer must notify the employee of any changes in the particulars given in the statement.  The Act provides a right of complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission...

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

Heather Humphreys: Since 2012, the Department’s social welfare inspectors have been undertaking control checks at airports and ports. Section 250 (16) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides the legal basis for these checks.  The number of inspectors attending the ports and airports can vary from day to day.  Typically, at Dublin airport, there will be six inspectors...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The data requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table below. Full PRSI data is not available for 2020; accordingly the figures for 2020 refer to recipients of Working Family Payment at the end of June 2020 who paid primarily class H PRSI in 2019. 2020 2019 2018 2017 Carlow 2 3 2 5 ...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 890 together. The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities.  Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.  This includes ensuring that  decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.  As the schemes in my Department operate under different criteria, the claims process can vary.  In relation to Carer’s Allowance, a decision is made on all the areas of...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department administers over 80 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. The Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services that are available, as well as ensuring key changes are communicated to them. Public information/advertising campaigns are therefore an important part...

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

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment at the weekly rate of €203.00.  The customer’s Jobseekers Allowance claim was selected for a review as part of the Department’s internal control processes. This is standard practice and my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a multi-annual EU programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the 7 year programming period 2014-2020.  Approximately 63% of the total budget is refundable from the European Commission on the basis of expenditure incurred. €225 million of the available funding has been allocated to the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver LEADER throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.  A total of €32.8 million has been approved for over 1,400 CLÁR projects since the programme was re-established in 2016. An indicative budget of €5 million has been provided for CLÁR this year. A 10% increase in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Programme (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together. My Department is currently working on the request, the information will be provided under separate cover to the Deputy. 

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe required to respond to this question.  However, I have asked my officials to collate the information requested and I will provide it to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The July Stimulus Package provided an additional €15 million in capital funding for my Department.  The additional funding includes an extra €10 million for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to assist rural towns and villages in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19.   Total funding available for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Programme (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The July Stimulus Package provided an additional €15 million in capital funding for my Department.  The additional funding includes an extra €10 million for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to assist rural towns and villages in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19.  The Stimulus Fund allocation also includes a provision of €5 million for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (30 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a multi-annual programme for rural development which is co-funded by the European Union.  The current seven-year programme (2014-2020) will come to an end this year as far as new project commitments are concerned.  Projects approved before the end of December 2020 will have up to June 2022 to complete their activities and submit payment claims to my Department. The...