Results 10,321-10,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 11 June 2020. 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 facts. I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is payable to the child's own mother (or father, if the mother is not available) in the first instance, or otherwise can be paid to the person who has custody of the child. While the child in this case is resident with her grandmother, her parents still retain custody even though they are abroad. According to the details previously submitted, they also continue to help...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 523 together. Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 806,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that I secured approval from Government last week to establish the Commission on Pensions, in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment. On Budget Day, I announced that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for Government commitment. In this regard, it will remain at 66 years pending...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It has been clarified with the Deputy's office that the question relates to a number of social insurance contributors who when applying for State Pension (Contributory) consider that their social insurance records are incomplete and, as a result, are not receiving or will not receive their expected pension entitlement. My Department holds contributor's social insurance records. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on 17/10/2020 confirming his date last worked was 14/10/2020. In assessing the claim the person concerned did not initially meet the eligibility criteria for a PUP as my Department had no record of PRSI contributions in 2018 or 2019. In reviewing the person's claim with the Revenue Commissioners it was found...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Social Welfare payments, including disability, invalidity and state pensions, returned to a weekly payment cycle last week. As all payments on any scheme have to be processed in the same way, the change back to a weekly payment schedule applied to all payment methods, whether by collecting cash at the post office or depositing money directly into a bank account. Fortnightly payments were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a statutory social welfare scheme on 5th August to continue to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the pandemic. To be eligible for the payment a person must have been in employment and lost that employment as a direct consequence of the pandemic and they are not being paid by their employer. A self employed person must have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 30 September 2020. On 8 October 2020 a request for further information in order to establish the means of the person concern was issued. The required information was received on 3 November 2020. The person concerned was awarded state pension non-contributory with effect from 28 August 2020 and has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Guardian's Payment (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded a guardians payment at the weekly rate of €372.00 with effect from the 10th July 2020. Payment will commence at her nominated bank account from the 13th November 2020. Any arrears due will also be paid into her nominated bank account in due course. The person concerned has been notified accordingly. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the solicitor of the individual referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by officials of my Department regarding his application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) so that we may proceed to progress his application. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy had already held a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). Letters with details of the PPSN issued to the person concerned and to his solicitor on 6th November 2020 and on 9th November 2020 respectively. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (10 Nov 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. An application for CA was received from the person concerned in respect of her brother on 5 August 2020. It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Support Services (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In addition to providing income supports, the Department provides a wide range of employment-related supports for both jobseekers with disabilities and employers seeking to employ a jobseeker with a disability or to retain an existing employee who has or who acquires a disability. The supports available include: Intreo Service The Intreo service is a single point of contact for all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed. The BTWEA is payable to self-employed individuals for a 24 month period from the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I regret 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. However I can confirm that no home visits were made by Social Welfare Inspectors during...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Budget 2021 introduced the COVID-19 Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed. The scheme commenced on 16th October 2020. The scheme is available to self-employed people who were in receipt of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a Jobseeker’s payment in the week immediately prior to their application and are returning to or increasing their self-employment for up...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that I secured approval from Government last week to establish the Commission on Pensions, in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment. On Budget Day, I announced that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for Government commitment. In this regard, it will remain at 66 years pending the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The ‘Plan for Living with COVID-19’, issued by Government, states that all museums, galleries and other cultural attractions, including libraries and mobile libraries, are closed to the public under Levels 4 and 5 but are available for online services. The public health risk is deemed such that people are being asked to stay at home, apart from essential work or attending...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be among the first sites connected under the National Broadband Plan. At present, there are over 200 public access BCP sites scheduled for connection in 2020, in addition to 75 school BCPs. Up to 100 further sites are planned for connection in 2021. BCPs will be located in some of the most rural and isolated areas in the country, including 10 islands...