Results 11,741-11,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: In my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development I am absolutely clear on the importance of ensuring that rural communities can access the services they need so that they remain vibrant places in which to live and work. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Finance has responsibility for banking. However, I am acutely aware of the value placed by rural communities on...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the purchase by a registered...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Western Development Commission was established on a statutory footing in 1999 under the Western Development Commission Act, 1998.  The main aim of the Commission is to promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare. The Western Development Commission operates the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2087, 2089 and 2093 together. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2088 and 2090 together. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (24 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2094 and 2095 together. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social enterprises...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to deliver a Rural Development Programme that is led by independent Local Action Groups and supported by Local Community Development Committees. This just one of a number of commitments in the Programme for Government related to LEADER.  Due to a delay at EU level in agreeing the post-2020 EU Budget, my Department’s...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department's remit includes working with Local Authorities to develop telecommunications infrastructure, both mobile and broadband, around Ireland.  Accordingly, my officials are actively involved in a number of programmes and projects that are intended to improve connectivity in rural areas. In support of this work, my officials engage with a wide and diverse network of...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these challenges, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. Along with other broader Government initiatives, my Department provided a range of supports in 2020 to assist community and voluntary organisations in...

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

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department does not issue any fines, charges or bills in respect of the programme areas under its remit. Any funds which need to be remitted to the Department must be lodged through the Department of Justice, who provide Financial Shared Services to my Department. As such, any future plans for provision of an online payment facility would have to take place through that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I  can confirm that my Department and agencies/bodies under the aegis of my Department have dedicated contacts in place for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Deputy will be aware that my Department provides members of the Oireachtas with a list of dedicated e-mail addresses for the various scheme areas in order to facilitate a rapid response to  specific...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath.For completeness,information is provided for the period from 2014 to date. DSP - Submissions under protected Disclosure procedures Year Rec’d Accepted, Assessed & Finalised Comment 2014 1 0 2015 1 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.  Number of Submissions to DSP under Protected Disclosures From Officials within Department From Officials that made protected disclosures that are now not working in DSP* From Officials retired / left 2017 12 (2 officials) 11 (1 official) ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (25 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The BTWEA is not an income support for individuals already in self-employment.  The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Maintenance Payments (25 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 are to consider and make...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department develops its services for people with disabilities in conjunction with other Departments and agencies under a number of key national strategies and plans.  These include: National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2017 – 2021) The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a coordinated and planned approach, across Government Departments, to promote greater...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Reviews (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since its enactment, the Civil Registration Act 2004 has been subject to regular revision and amendment, including mostly recently through the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Act 2018 and the Civil Registration Act 2019.  My Department keeps the statutory provisions regarding civil registration under regular review and new proposals are brought forward to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. The facilities referred to by the Deputy form a network of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across the country.  Approximately 300 BCPs will be fully connected this year. BCPs provide on-site high-speed broadband access to the public in areas that currently do not have adequate broadband services. They are primarily based in remote...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The table below provides the email addresses through which members of the Houses of the Oireachtas may contact my Department, and, as outlined in the circular 25/2016, the dedicated contact email addresses provided by the bodies under my Department's aegis. Agency Dedicated email addresses for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas...