Results 10,521-10,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the individual on 19th November 2020 with details of the PPSN. The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. Approximately 133,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is over €17 million. The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Data Collection (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is not a designated body with powers under Section 6 of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. Provision was made in December 2014 for the secondment of a number of Gardaí to my Department. There are 20 Gardaí currently working as part of the Department’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) with a Sergeant also now part of the SIU Team. Gardaí...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a one-person family payment appeal by the person concerned was referred on 14 October 2020 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office cannot hold in-person oral hearings at the moment due to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Data Collection (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In the case of the person concerned, the information sought was to help establish the current means of the claimant. Information in relation to the relative’s own family was not sought and the family member was advised that they only needed to provide the information as it pertained to the claimant and all other information on the documentation could be deleted or blanked out. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Data Collection (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, my Department carries out its functions within the bounds of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and of Data Protection legislation at all times. The Department does not, as the Deputy suggests, disregard data protection rules when assessing entitlement for a scheme. The number of refused One Parent Family Payment applications for the last five...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that it made enquiries with the Deputy's office as to whether this question related to a particular appeal. It was advised that a general reply was being sought. The published aims of the Social Welfare Appeals Office are to provide an independent, accessible and fair appeals service with regard to entitlement to social welfare payments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, and is committed to working with the sector to manage these challenges. In 2019, my Department published Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - A five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024. The strategy reaffirms the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: All procurement within my Department takes place in the context of national guidance, and national and EU requirements and regulations. My Department has not awarded any contracts over €25,000 which were found to be non-compliant with these requirements over the period 1st January 2019 to date. I would note that during this period there have been 2 contracts over €25,000...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Process (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department, which was established in July 2017, did not make application to wave pre-legislative scrutiny of primary or secondary legislation from 2017 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Chief Data Protection officer in the Department of Rural and Community Development is employed at the grade of Assistant Principal Officer.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Properties (24 Nov 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. The focus of the initiative is on renovating or repurposing properties for residential use rather than providing a specific incentive for young persons to purchase vacant properties. In October 2018, my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has not undertaken any tribunals, enquiries or investigations to-date.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was adapted this year to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. The scheme, which has a budget of €25 million this year including €10 million as part of the Government’s July Stimulus Package, includes two separate funding Measures - an Accelerated Measure and a Standard Measure. The Accelerated Measure was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 995 and 997, inclusive, together. The 2014-2020 LEADER programme is due to finish at the end of this year as far as new project commitments are concerned. Due to delays in agreeing the post-2020 EU Budget, the next EU LEADER programme will not commence until 2022 at the earliest. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2014-2020 LEADER programme is due to finish at the end of this year as far as new project commitments are concerned. Due to delays in agreeing the post-2020 EU Budget, the next EU LEADER programme will not commence until 2022 at the earliest. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Measures being funded through this year's programme are: Measure1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Well-being Support - Meals on Wheels and linked services...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as cycleways, walking trails, blueways and mountain access routes in countryside areas. The 2020 scheme was launched on 29th May last and is funded by my Department in partnership with Fáilte Ireland. The 2020 scheme has an indicative budget of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: During the COVID-19 emergency, the Government has been seeking to implement and operate supports that are targeted where most needed, to ensure continued economic activity and reduce the risk of poverty. While the primary State income support in respect of people who are aged 66 years or over is the State Pension – either the State Pension (contributory) or the State Pension...