Results 11,801-11,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the person concerned has not yet reached pension age, their entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of a formal State pension (contributory) application under the governing eligibility conditions when they reach pension age. On receipt of a completed application at that time, the person’s self-employment record will be verified. Their pension entitlement can then be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Job Initiative (JI) programme provides full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who qualified for the scheme having been unemployed for a minimum of 5 years. The Department provides financial support in the form of allowances and funding to assist with the JI programme including JI participant and team leader wages, materials and overheads grants. Following a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: An application for the Household benefits package was received from the wife of the person concerned on 29 October 2020. She was awarded the Household Benefit package, backdated to her 70th birthday on 9 August 2020. The person concerned is not eligible for a refund in respect of the TV licence, as it was due for renewal before the date on which they became eligible and were approved for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The procurement of goods and services is essential to support my Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. In accordance with FOI legislation with effect from January 2016, details of public contracts awarded over €25,000 are published quarterly on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a joint initiative of my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Among the first deliverables under the National Broadband Plan, BCPs will allow on-site public access to high-speed broadband in areas currently without adequate provision. These publicly accessible buildings are typically community centres, sports...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that an application in respect of the project in question was received in 2020 by my Department under the scheme referred to by the Deputy. Almost 250 applications were received under the relevant strand of scheme and the level of funding sought far exceeded the available budget. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fund all of the proposals received and the project referred...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Legal Cases (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that there have not been any instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts, in each of the years 2017 to 2020, from my Department's perspective.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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 for the project referred to by the Deputy. The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are currently being assessed under the oversight of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1299 and 1300 together. Funding for the type of project referred to by the Deputy may be available through the LEADER Transitional Programme. This programme, which will cover the period 2021-2022, will come into effect on the 1April 2021 for new project applications. The programme will be delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working with Donegal County Council in relation to the developments that can be undertaken at Machaire Rabhartaigh Pier. These works will affect the type of boat that will be able to operate effectively to Tory Island. The Department will be in a better position to assess the situation regarding the provision of the new boat when there is more clarity in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenways Provision (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I recently approved 14 projects for funding of €6 million of under Measure 3 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. This Measure provides funding for the development of large-scale outdoor recreational infrastructure projects in rural Ireland. The recent approvals included €500,000 for works on the Burtonport to Letterkenny Greenway. This includes the upgrades to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. My Department and the organisations under the aegis of the Department are strongly committed to meeting their obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. I can confirm that the Department and the organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established in July 2017. There are no Acts, signed into Law and falling under the remit of my Department which have not been commenced.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department procures all required goods, services and capital works in the context of national guidance, and national and EU requirements and regulations. Very limited capital works are procured directly, with our capital schemes and programmes generally delivered through local authorities and other bodies. Procurement of small goods and services, necessary for the day to day running of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Registration of Births (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The relevant legislation in this area is the Stillbirths Registration Act 1994 which applies to a child born weighing 500 grammes or more or having a gestational age of 24 weeks or more who shows no sign of life. Such thresholds are a feature of such registrations internationally and are in line with World Health Organisation guidelines in this area. I understand that these thresholds are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs. It is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made at the weekly rate of €28.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments and is paid over the winter...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to over 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that office on 19 March 2021. 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. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Food Poverty (1 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have read the report provided by the Deputy which documents the challenges posed in the Finglas area by COVID-19 and related restrictions. I can confirm that the Department of Social Protection is helping communities to address food poverty in the Finglas and wider Dublin 11 community through the School Meals programme and Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD). FEAD supports...