Results 11,321-11,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working on the introduction of a payment for 65-year olds who are required to or choose to retire at age 65, with a view to implementation in the near future. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level.  My Department has a provision of €96.5m in supports under the BTEA for 2021. To continue to receive a BTEA payment, a student must continue to satisfy the conditions of their primary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 19,700 active recipients as at 31st January 2021. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 267 together. The third call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on 1st December. My Department received 66 applications to this call and I understand that an application was received relating to the Knocknagree Community Hub, submitted by IRD Duhallow CLG. The application process for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: WiFi4EU is a European initiative, funded by the European Commission and co-funded in Ireland by my Department.  The initiative aims to support the development of wireless broadband by providing a high-quality internet service, free of charge, in public spaces such as main streets, public parks, libraries, museums and other public areas of high footfall. Under the WiFi4EU scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas.  These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses.   The impact of the NBP rollout will be transformational for rural Ireland in terms of supporting both local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: On 4 December 2019 my Department announced the first phase of the Walks Scheme expansion, with the addition of 10 new trails.  The intention at that time was for these trails to come onto the scheme over the course of 2020, Payments to landholders for the maintenance of walks under the Walks Scheme are based on a programme of works agreed with each...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Dental Services (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The dental benefit operated by the department is demand led, with the Department providing for an annual oral examination and cleaning for all qualified PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses who opt to avail of such services. An allocation of €57.16m has been assigned for the dental benefit scheme in 2021. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: To date my Department has issued over 4.5 million Public Services Cards (PSCs). At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily suspended PSC appointments and the online system used to manage those appointments. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines and help protect the health and well-being of our customers and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Bord na Móna (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a statutory support which is available to people who have lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19. If an employee loses their job for reasons which are not related to Covid-19, they can avail of support under the Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowances schemes. Jobseeker's Benefit is a social insurance scheme based on an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Tús is a targeted activation measure specifically designed and delivered to those jobseekers who are on the live register and have been unemployed for twelve months or more. Eligible jobseekers can commence on Tús following their random selection and referral by the Department to the Implementing Bodies (IBs) who deliver Tús or by self-referral for eligible jobseekers actively...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491, 503 and 505 together. The Government will continue to keep all aspects of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) under review and future decisions will be informed by the trajectory of the pandemic and the evolving public health situation. Government intervention through the introduction of the PUP and other targeted supports has provided key financial...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned made an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) on 20/11/2020. This claim was disallowed on the basis that the person concerned failed to establish a need for assistance as her bank statement reflects lodgements being made by her former partner. A decision letter dated 07/12/2020 issued to the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 9 December 2020. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 17 February 2021. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable). I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme payable to people aged between 18 and 66 years of age who have lost their employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are eligible to apply for State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme paid to people who have lost employment as a consequence of Covid-19 and are not being paid by their employer. PUP is not payable where a person leaves work to care for an elderly or sick relative. From the outset of Covid-19, many employers will have taken the initiative, in line with requests from the Government, to be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is payment for persons between the ages of 16 and 66 with a disability which is expected to last at least one year, and who by reason of that disability, are substantially restricted in undertaking work suitable to their age, qualifications and experience. Applicants must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State. Entitlement to DA is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. There are no delays in processing claims once the necessary information is provided. In January 2021 the average number of weeks to award new Carer's Allowance applications was 5 weeks and 4 weeks for new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (10 Feb 2021)

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. The full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5 hour limitation are contained in the legislative provisions of...