Results 11,721-11,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment.  It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions. The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment  (PUP) is available to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) March 13 2020 due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic as per the scheme criteria.  The person concerned had been in receipt of weekly PUP payments in 2020 since the start of the pandemic until she returned to work in July 2020.   When...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned can apply online at MyWelfare.iefor the Household Benefits Package if they have a verified MyGovID account, or they can complete the application form which has issued to them. On receipt of their claim, the person's entitlement will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.   I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (24 Mar 2021)

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 on 22nd March 2021 with details of her PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Covid-19-related spend by the Department of Social Protection in 2020 was €9,112.7 million made up as follows: 1. €4,978.0m on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment; 2. €2,706.1m on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS); 3. €1,371.7m on the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS); 4. €56.9m on Covid-19 Illness Benefit. These figures are provisional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Maintenance Payments (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland.  The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice. The Group's Terms of Reference includes considering and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Poverty Data (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pobal HP Deprivation index is Ireland’s primary social gradient tool, used by numerous state agencies for the identification of disadvantage, in order to target resources towards communities most in need. The updating of the index is commissioned by Pobal every five years, following the completion of the national census. The index is created and updated by independent...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the process for drafting and producing legislation in my Department is as follows:  Government indicates that it will bring forward legislation to deal with a particular issue. This commitment is usually made in, for example, a Programme for Government, Strategy document and or in Debates in the Oireachtas or elsewhere. The process through which this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Economic Development Zones (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) are functional, rather than administrative, geographic areas that reflect the spatial patterns of local economic activity and development. They are, in effect, sub-county zones within which most people live and work. The central objective of the REDZ model was to stimulate economic activity at a local level by strengthening collaborative...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in 2017 as a three year framework to progress the economic and social development of rural areas.  The Action Plan ran to the end of 2019. I will shortly be launching a new whole-of-Government Rural Development Policy for the period 2021-2025.  The policy will be forward-looking and ambitious.  It  will build on,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The majority of capital expenditure within my Department takes place within the Rural Development function of my Department, with the Community Development aspect of the Department accounting for the majority of current expenditure. The revised estimate for 2021 provides a total gross capital allocation of €168.6 million for the Department, of which €151 million is allocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for sensory gardens is available from my Department this year through the CLÁR programme, which provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population in the past.  I launched the 2021 CLÁR programme on 15thMarch and the measures being funded under the programme this year are: Measure 1: Support...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2061 to 2072, inclusive, 2074 and 2075, and 2077 and 2078 together. The Interdepartmental Committee referred to by the Deputy was established in June 1993, and went on to publish its report “A strategic framework for developing the offshore islands” in 1996. This document set out a strategic framework within which future action in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department works to support sustainable vibrant communities living on the islands. As part of this work, funding is provided by my Department for Island Development Companies on islands outside the Gaeltacht areas. Support is provided for five such 5 Development Companies: - Inishturk Development Company, Co. Mayo - Clare Island Community Co-Operative Society, Co. Mayo -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Mar is eol don Teachta is oileáin Ghaeltachta roinnt do na hoileáin a thagann faoi mo chúram. Tá comhoibriú leanúnach idir mo Roinn agus Údarás na Gaeltachta i dtaobh riar leathan seirbhísí a chuirtear ar fáil ar na hoileáin.   Tá ról lárnach ag na comharchumainn oileánda, atá maoinithe ag...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There has been a strong level of  interest in the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) since it was introduced in 2017.  In 2020 alone, 287 applications were received by my Department under the scheme, seeking funding of over €26 million, which greatly exceeded the budget available. Under the 2020 scheme, I have approved 226 projects,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm my Department has not received an application from Kerry County Council under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in respect of  Boolteens or Castlemaine since the establishment of the scheme in 2016. The scheme is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population in the past.  I can confirm that no application has been received under the CLÁR programme from Kerry County Council in respect of Boolteens, Co. Kerry since the scheme was relaunched in 2016. One application was received from Kerry County...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The first and second calls for Category 1 and Category 2 applications under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are fully complete.  To date, 63 Category 1 projects have been approved for funding of €131 million and 76 Category 2 projects have been approved for funding of €35 million.  Category 1 relates to major projects that can drive sustainable rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not own, rent or operate any vehicles. Of the four agencies under the remit of my Department - Pobal, the Western Development Commission, the Charities Regulatory Authority, and Water Safety Ireland - only Water Safety Ireland operates vehicles. Water Safety Ireland uses 10 vehicles, 8 of which diesel and 2 are petrol. 9 vehicles are owned by the agency and 1 is leased.