Results 10,041-10,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (21 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, together. 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 regulations for the post-2020 CAP were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission.  However, given the protracted nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of the entitlement of this gentleman, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my department, an increased rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 18 March 2020. A letter issued to this gentleman informing him of this on 19 October 2020. Arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 together. Budget 2021 provides that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses.  This measure applies with immediate effect. Where a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 122 together. The Department’s Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level.  The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned made a claim for Illness Benefit (IB) from 16thJune 2016 to 13thNovember 2017. The IB claim for the person concerned was processed and she received her full entitlement under the scheme. Credited contributions were awarded for the duration of her Illness Benefit claim. This lady has been in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from 17 May 2017 to 5 June 2018 and from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021.  This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019.  The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Enterprise Support Services (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Enterprise Support Grant assists eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme to re-start their business.  A once-off grant is payable up to a maximum of €1,000 covering costs associated with re-opening a business that was closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Funding of €12 million had been made...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The rate of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) for a self-employed person is calculated by reference to a person’s reckonable income in either 2018 or 2019, whichever is the greater.  Details of a person’s reckonable income is supplied to my Department by the Revenue Commissioners, net of business related costs including capital allowances.  Further, in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On 5thAugust the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2019 introduced the Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme as a statutory scheme.  To be eligible for the scheme and maintain continued payment, all persons, including students, must satisfy all the qualifying conditions of the scheme. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, has responsibility for taxation matters and the question...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an Illness Benefit payment on 23/09/2019 but was ineligible as he had non-reckonable credits, having paid Class D PRSI contributions in the tax years relevant to his claim.  Although he was not eligible for an IB payment, he was asked to submit medical certificates as he was entitled to non-reckonable credits for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 Revised Estimate provided for an average of 3,300 participants on the Rural Social Scheme in 2020. The outturn in 2020 is expected to average 3,160 participants.  The 2021 estimate is providing for a similar average number of participants in 2021. 

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare inspectors are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).  All social welfare inspectors operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with the public.  The code requires that Customers must at all times be treated equally, fairly, with respect and dignity, as outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is no record of any current applications registered with my Department in the case of the first person concerned.  Information outlining all schemes and payments administered by my Department can be viewed at www.Gov.ie/deasp.  The easiest way to apply for Jobseeker's payments is at www.MyWelfare.ie.  A person must have a verified MyGovID account to use this service which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is not a qualifying payment for receipt of Fuel Allowance.  However it does not prevent another member of the household from receiving a Fuel Allowance payment if they are in receipt of a qualifying payment.  In assessing entitlement to a Fuel Allowance, the PUP is disregarded for means testing purposes. I trust this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is not possible to provide the information that the Deputy is seeking as the information requested is not available.  Where appropriate, details of home visits by Social Welfare Inspectors may be included in individual case reports. Statistical information is not available from this source.  

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

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme has a budget of €25 million this year following the allocation of an additional €10 million to the scheme as part of the Government’s July Stimulus Package. The scheme has been adapted this year to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19.  In addition to the standard strand of the Town...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The table below provides the information requested by the Deputy, on schemes announced by the Department of Rural and Community Development, seeking applications for funding in which no announcements have yet been made in relation to approvals. Scheme/Programme When Approvals will issue (Indicative). Rural Regeneration and Development Fund ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Revised Estimate for my Department provides a total gross allocation of €364.8 million, which consists of €196.2 million in current expenditure and €168.6 million in capital expenditure. Current expenditure to date amounts to €159.5 million and capital expenditure to date stands at €81.4 million. Due to the nature of the capital...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Sport and Recreational Development (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Funding may be available through the LEADER Programme for the type of project referred to by the Deputy. LEADER is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020 which is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country. To date, over 3,400 core projects have been approved under the current programme, for funding of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tidy Towns Competition (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter. First, I say very clearly tonight that it is absolutely my intention that we will have a Tidy Towns competition in 2021. The SuperValu Tidy Towns has been in existence since 1958, as Deputy Sherlock notes, and it has become an integral part of our culture over the intervening years. The competition continues to grow in popularity and in...