Results 11,561-11,580 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 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. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: All procurement within my Department takes place in the context of national procurement guidance, and national and EU requirements and regulations. My Department has not awarded any contracts over €25,000 (excluding VAT) which were found to be non-compliant with these requirements over the period 1 January 2018 to-date. I would note that during this period there have been two...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no meetings or engagement between this organisation and my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity at publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country. Sites are provided with a wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the NBP in the State intervention area....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: COVID-19 has affected communities across the country and the Government has addressed the question of supports for businesses on a national basis. A range of specific supports have been put in place to support the hospitality and tourism sectors. These include: - A reduction in VAT from 13.5% to 9% until 31 December 2021 - The “Stay and Spend” tax credit initiative - A...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tourism Industry (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. As part of this objective, my Department engages with a wide variety of organisations and stakeholders to improve access to mobile phone and broadband services throughout rural Ireland. Late last year, officials at my Department were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 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. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: An application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) has been received from the person concerned and is currently being processed. There are a number of issues that need to be further investigated, but pending a formal decision on that application I can confirm that an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) will be made to the person this week. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below, and includes those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment for the weeks specified who were working in either pre-primary education or in child day-care activities. This breakdown is based on the sector of the last known employer. Week Commencing Total 21 December 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Short-time work support scheme operated under the Jobseekers benefit scheme is designed to support employees in situations where their days are reduced by their employer on a temporary basis and they are not being remunerated for the days. An individual’s duration of eligibility for the Short time work support will depend on their PRSI contributions. The support is paid for 234...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that office on 7 December 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received on 4 January 2021. On 5 January 2021 the appeal was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Electricity Supply Board (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Following contact by an official of my Department with the Deputy's office, I understand that the question relates to an individual social insurance contributor. During his employment with the ESB, the person concerned was paying the modified class D social insurance rate that applied to public servants who were recruited prior to 6th April 1995. This class of social insurance gives...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, requires employers to make a minimum level of payment to employees in the event of a redundancy. It is the employer’s responsibility to pay redundancy payments to all eligible employees at this minimum rate as provided for under the Act. Policy responsibility for the schemes transferred to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The new Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to provide a benefit payment for people who are 65 who are required to or who choose to retire at age 65 but who do not qualify for the State Pension until they reach age 66. Recipients of the new payment are not required to sign on, engage in activation measures or be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (4 Mar 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 requires this level of care. The means test for CA has been eased significantly over the years and is now the most generous in the social welfare system, with an income disregard of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The table beneath details the number of recipients in receipt of the Half Rate Carer's Allowance payment and the corresponding social welfare payment that they are receiving. The figures pertain to the month ending 31/01/2021. Corresponding Social Welfare Payment Total Persons in receipt of Half Rate Carer's Allowance Back to Work Employee Increase for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (4 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory income support payment for employees and self-employed people who have lost their employment due to the COVID-19 Public health emergency. The scheme was due to expire on 31st March but Government has agreed to keep it open to new applicants and payments will continue until 30 June 2021. Where a person who was in receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (4 Mar 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. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver...

Civil Registration (Right of Adoptees to Information) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the debate in the House today and acknowledge all of the Deputies who have contributed, particularly those who have shared personal family stories. I also thank Deputy Funchion and Sinn Féin for bringing forward this Bill. We all recognise the background to the issues giving rise to this initiative. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, has already set out...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to employees and self-employed persons who have lost employment as a direct consequence of COVID-19. To date expenditure on the PUP scheme is over €6.2 billion. There is some flexibility under PUP which provides that a self-employed person can take up limited employment and retain PUP, whereby they can earn up to €960 over a...