Results 9,441-9,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 253, 255 and 261 together. My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland." A key part of achieving this mission is ongoing engagement with a wide range of stakeholders regarding the Department's policies, programmes and supports so...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 260 together. The Department for Rural and Community Development was established in 2017 to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. My Department delivers a coherent package of supports to strengthen and rejuvenate rural and urban communities. These supports enable economic growth and development and also...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 256 and 263 together. The Department for Rural and Community Development was established in 2017 to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. My Department has developed strategic interventions, funding programmes and schemes which target social inclusion in urban and rural areas nationwide. These supports...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Priorities (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My priority for rural Ireland is to develop and publish a new 5-year Policy for Rural Development in the coming months. The new Policy will reflect a whole-of-Government approach to supporting the economic, social and cultural development of rural Ireland.  It will be forward-looking, ambitious and will seek to highlight and foster the interdependence between urban and rural areas. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Job Creation (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently developing the next phase of rural development policy, which will set out measures to support the economic and social needs of rural areas over the period 2020-2025, including actions to support employment in rural areas.  As was the case with the Action Plan for Rural Development 2017-2019 which I published in 2017, the new policy will reflect a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a new Policy for Island Development which will identify and address the main challenges and opportunities for our island communities to support their social, economic and cultural development.  There has already been a large amount of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of this policy under...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Programme (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Connectivity, whether in terms of transport, in-person social contact or through communications networks, is important in ensuring the wellbeing and cohesion of our rural communities. Many of my Department's policies and funding programmes aim to address isolation in rural and urban communities and respond to the additional challenges facing vulnerable individuals as a result of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was tailored to focus on interventions that can assist our rural towns and villages to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19.  The scheme includes an Accelerated Measure which will enable towns and villages to introduce initiatives immediately to support increased footfall and encourage people to shop and socialise safely in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government includes a commitment for an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy. In October 2018, my Department launched a Town Centre Living Initiative to explore in a holistic way how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages.  The pilot...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (17 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017 as a whole-of-Government initiative to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland.  The three-year Action Plan concluded at the end of 2017. One of the objectives of the Action Plan was to support enterprise growth and job creation in rural areas.  The Plan's coordinated cross-Government...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future states that the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred. This will require an amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year. I hope there will be cross-party support for this legislation. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am working on the legislation and it is my intention to bring it to the House before the end of the year. I am aware of those who will become 66 years of age on 1 January and I want to make sure that they get their full entitlements when they reach that age in order that they will get their pensions. As I said, we are working on that at present. In respect of the commission on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, the commission on pensions will examine the issue in the round and will consider a wide range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability and intergenerational fairness. In terms of its membership, it is important that we have a broad mix of individuals with expertise in pensions, economics, labour market dynamics and industrial relations, as well as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter. As he is aware, the Government has decided that from 17 September, the pandemic unemployment payment will be paid at three rates linked to a person's pre-Covid employment earnings. Individuals whose prior earnings were €300 or more per week will receive a payment of €300 per week. A rate of €250 will apply to those who...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As a former Minister for culture, both the Deputy and I value the work that those involved in the arts and entertainment sectors do. The question is whether I restore the €350 rate specifically for those who work in the entertainment industry. Workers in that sector represent approximately 3% of people on the PUP. I understand the position that they are in but it would be unfair to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, the Taoiseach has spoken about sectoral supports. In that respect my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Martin, has announced the establishment of a new task force for the recovery of the arts and culture sector under the chair of Clare Duignan. It will consider the impact of Covid-19 for culture and the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The minimum essential standard of living, MESL, is an assessment, developed by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, VPSJ, of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types. My Department has partly funded the excellent, detailed work of the VPSJ for a number of years, and I find it extremely useful. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy said, the Department has partly funded the excellent and detailed work of the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice for a number of years and it is useful. I met Sr. Bernadette McMahon at my Department's pre-budget forum in July. The work of the Vincentians highlights the importance of services and how they can impact on the minimum income standards needed by households....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Last year, my Department undertook a consultation process with a number of interested stakeholders. The process included discussions with representatives of the community and voluntary sector at the pre-budget forum in July 2019 as well as bilateral meetings with stakeholders. The outcome of those discussions was considered and, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue. Of the approximately 206,000 people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, some 5,900 or 2.8% are members of the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. This represents a 58% reduction from 14,200 claimants in that sector at the peak in May. This reduction in the numbers of people in receipt of the PUP is in line with...