Results 9,581-9,600 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. As the Deputy is aware, no funding was available for new applications under the programme between 2010 and 2016 due to constraints on the public finances. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016 it has supported a range of different Measures,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 912 together. In November 2019, National Broadband Ireland was awarded the contract to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to almost 540,000 premises across the State, predominantly in rural areas. This project will be implemented on a rolling basis; however, the Broadband Connection Point (BCP) initiative is designed to bring a measure of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am well aware of the content of the CEDRA report, which made an important contribution to the development of rural policy in Ireland in recent years. The CEDRA report identified, as a priority, the need for an integrated approach to rural development. It recommended, as a priority objective, the assignment of responsibility for the coordination of rural development to a Cabinet Minister....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in November 2012 as an independent expert group to examine and report on the medium-term economic development of rural Ireland. The CEDRA report was published in April 2014. The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development which was published in January 2017 built on, and went further than, the CEDRA...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in November 2012 as an independent expert group to examine and report on the medium-term economic development of rural Ireland. The CEDRA report was published in April 2014. Costs associated with undertaking and publishing the CEDRA report amounted to €20,702.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Our towns and villages have always been at the heart of social and economic activity in rural Ireland. The Government wants our towns and villages to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, and to act as hubs for services and for cultural and recreational activity for their surrounding areas. However, we also recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to rural development. Different rural areas have different needs and require different solutions depending on their local assets, their peripherality, and their population density. There are already some successful initiatives which proactively respond to the localised needs of rural areas. For example, the LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of our rural towns and villages. Applications for funding are submitted through the Local Authorities. The scheme provides funding for 80% of the cost of the projects being delivered, with the remaining 20% provided by the Local Authority, local community and/or philanthropic donations. Each Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has received correspondence relating to infrastructural issues on Inis Bigil. Officials have contacted Mayo County Council, as the Local Authority with responsibility for such matters, regarding those issues. The works in question relate to the sea wall at the pier, degraded roadways and a missing windsock at the helipad. The works to the sea wall and road...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current programming period concludes in December 2020. Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-2027 were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission. However, given the nature of the discussions on the CAP and the wider EU Budget post-2020, there has been a delay in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is not possible, in the time available, to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy. My officials are collating the information requested and a further reply will be issued to the Deputy in the coming days.

Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Dáil Éireann: — acknowledges the exceptional challenges faced by employees during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of a statutory sick pay regime in Ireland; — welcomes the introduction of the Covid-19 enhanced illness benefit which provides income support...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Education Allowance has recently been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period of time before pursuing training or education. This condition is now being waived for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment seeking to return to education, including...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Rent Supplement expenditure in 2019 was €125.2m. At the end of August 2020, expenditure on Rent Supplement was €86.4m. The 2020 Revised Estimates passed by the Dáil on 28th May 2020 provided an allocation of €164.6m. The estimate was based on projections for additional recipients in 2020 as a result of the COVID 19 public health emergency. It is expected...

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

Heather Humphreys: Reducing the State Pension Age to 65 years would increase pension related expenditure significantly. My Department’s best current estimate of changing the pension age to 65 with effect from 1/1/2021 is that it would cost €450 million extra in the first year, €845 million extra in the second year, rising to over €1 billion extra in 2025, and this extra cost would...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: When State Pension (Transition) existed, it was a scheme which allowed those who were retired to get a transitionary payment between the ages of 65 and 66 years. The maximum personal rate was equivalent to the then maximum rate for the State Pension (Contributory). Eligibility was based on PRSI contributions and credits. It is important to note that the conditions and eligibility...

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

Heather Humphreys: At present, the State pension system comprises two basic components. Firstly, the State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State Pension (Contributory) is not means-tested but is based on social insurance (PRSI) contributions and paid from the Social Insurance Fund, and as such it is important to ensure that those qualifying for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Housing Issues (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: This Department prepares estimates for Rent Supplement for the coming year based on emerging trends on recipients for Rent Supplement having regard to anticipated transfers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) over that year. Similarly, the Department of Housing prepares annual expenditure estimates for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) based on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Until 2012, recipients of a Widow's or Widower's Pension or a One-Parent Family Payment who met all the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker's Benefit or Illness Benefit, were entitled to concurrently claim half the normal rate of Jobseeker's or Illness Benefit. When the concurrent payment of half-rate Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, in addition to One-Parent Family Payment and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Child benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-August 2020, to over 638,244 families in respect of over 1.2 million children....