Results 11,441-11,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Licences (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2019, by county and in tabular form, is available at the following link: . The 2020 dog control statistics will be published later this year. The total number of dog licences issued in 2019 was 217,261. This includes 212,559 individual dog...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. It is funded by my Department and administered through the relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was re-launched in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated for improvement works on over...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s policies and funding programmes aim to deliver sustainable outcomes that positively impact the quality of life of those living and working in our communities. The Department of Rural and Community Development is finalising a new whole-of-Government Rural Development Policy for the next five years, which will set out a range of measures to strengthen the resilience...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1062 and 1064 together. My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country and I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which have provided financial and other supports to community groups and organisations. These...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1063 and 1070 together. Addressing the issue of social inclusion and isolation in communities is central to many of my Department’s policies and funding programmes which deliver targeted supports to benefit vulnerable individuals. Policy in my Department is informed, during its development, by extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department works closely with Local Authorities and community groups across the State on a range of issues, including connectivity and digital development. Under the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative, which my Department has been leading on, some 300 locations will be provided with high-speed broadband connections for onsite public use. BCPs are typically community centres...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme, which is co-funded by the EU, is based on a local-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. The programme supports projects from local community groups and businesses which, amongst other objectives, promote economic development, social inclusion and the protection of the rural environment. The programme is administered at local level by 29 Local Action Group...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1072 and 1073 together. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to support the revitalisation of Ireland's rural towns and villages. In 2020, the scheme was adapted to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. I approved over €25.7 million in funding for more than 500 projects under the scheme last year, with the support...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My objective is to ensure that our offshore islands continue to support sustainable and vibrant communities. In this regard, the integration of the islands function into my Department last year will ensure a more integrated and cohesive approach the development of island communities and their economies, as an integral part of rural Ireland. My Department is currently developing a new...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has not entered into any such contracts, as described by the Deputy, this year.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Communications (17 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There has been no contact to date between my offices in the Department of Rural & Community Development and the US administration.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The exceptional needs payment scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department keeps all aspects of jobseekers policy including Short-Time Work Support under continual review. Individual Short-Time Work Support claims are reviewed regularly to ensure that the temporary systematic working arrangements introduced by an employer continue to apply in each case. Short-Time Work Support is available to assist employees in cases where their working days are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Short-Time Work Support (STWS) is a form of Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) and is an income support payment for people who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week by their employer. This payment is made in respect of the days of work that have been lost. STWS must be systematic and show a clear repetitive pattern of employment. Employees must also work at least 1 day each week...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is in the process of collating the information requested which will be provided to the Deputy directly, when available.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Pension entitlement is determined on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age. The Deputy will be aware that a Commission on Pensions has been established to examine sustainability and eligibility issues in relation to State pensions and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission is to report to Government by June this year on options...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Professional Artist scheme under jobseekers allowance is an initiative of the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme, introduced while I had Ministerial responsibility for the Arts. The scheme was initially introduced as a pilot scheme and was available to professional writers and visual artists. In September 2019 the Professional Artist Scheme was introduced as a permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for disability allowance (DA) was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 5 January 2021 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Adoption Data (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, provides for public access to birth registrations and the issue of birth certificates where a person has the necessary information to identify an entry in the birth register. I do not consider that any amendments are needed to the Act to enable the fullest access to information in the registers maintained by the General Register Office. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment (18 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) has not recently been submitted by the person concerned. To facilitate the person concerned, my officials issued an ENP pack by post on 16/02/2021. Upon receipt of the completed application form and supporting documentation, the claim will be assessed and a decision will issue to the person...