Results 9,601-9,620 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 147 together. Government has provided almost €57 million for the Back to Education Allowance in 2020. This represents a considerable investment in supporting participants to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market. The weekly rate of payment is linked to the persons' underlying payment, for example...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been extended until 31st March 2020 and will support sectors facing extended periods of closure, including the events and entertainment sector. I have also secured approval to keep the scheme open to new applicants until the end of the year. Of the approximately 206,300 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week some 5,800, or...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 put the pandemic unemployment payment on a statutory basis since 5th August and ensures that people who lost their jobs, or were temporarily laid-off, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic shall be deemed to have made an employment contribution in line with that which they would have made if they had remained in employment. This...

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

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 28 April 2020. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were...

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

Heather Humphreys: Firstly I would like to say that the decision to extend the emergency measure relating to temporary lay-off or short-time work which arose as a result of Covid-19 has been a difficult one. I know many employees who have been laid off are experiencing great uncertainty but in making this decision the Government had to consider the need to ensure businesses survive, which in turn ensures...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (23 Sep 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. I can advise the Deputy that the number of CA applications received in my department from 1 January 2018 up to 31...

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

Heather Humphreys: The following tables set out the cost of increasing the individual social welfare payment rates to 2009 levels where the current rate is below 2009 rate: Scheme Full year cost of restoring rates to 2009 levels Social Insurance Schemes €m Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension 1.97 ...

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

Heather Humphreys: 1. The estimated cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance by two weeks, from 28 to 30 weeks is €18.3 million in a full year. 2. As the current weekly rates of payment are in excess of 2008 levels, no additional costs would arise. 3. The estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly rate of the State Pension Contributory, Widow(er)’s and Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1 September 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department the case in question will be...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Government has extended the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until the end of March 2021 to support employees and businesses who continue to be impacted by the on-going public health restrictions. I have also secured approval to keep the scheme open to new applicants until the end of the year. This means that anyone who loses their employment as a result of the pandemic between now and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (23 Sep 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. Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department has clarified that where a person has had a reduction in their days of employment, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, employees may claim casual jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments for days of unemployment, even where their employer is claiming the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for days of employment. Officials from my department...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by officials in my Department that analysis of recipients on these particular schemes will take more time. The information will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Respite Care Services (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Housing Regeneration (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Town Centre Living Initiative Synthesis Report, which was published on 22June 2020, is an independent report on the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative which was trialled in 6 different towns across the country between October 2018 and the middle of 2019. The aim of the initiative, which was supported by my Department and led by the relevant Local Authorities, was to explore how to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Housing Regeneration (23 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative was to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages and, at the same time, address the issue of vacant properties. The independent report on the Initiative was published on 22 June 2020 and contained a number of suggested actions for further consideration. An Inter-Departmental Steering Group...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (24 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational qualifications and their prospects of gaining employment. The Back to Education Allowance has recently been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (24 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (24 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance, under the National fuel scheme, may be payable to certain households in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments who are unable to provide for their heating needs. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s...