Results 11,941-11,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department actively promotes gender balance on the State Boards under its auspices. Since September 2014 the Public Appointments Service (PAS) has responsibility for managing an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system to support Ministers in making appointments to State boards. Under the Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, these board positions are advertised and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future, commits to the development of a pilot scheme to support the use of rural pubs as community spaces and hubs for local services. I have met with the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and my officials are currently working with VFI to develop the pilot project. Through the pilot, it is envisaged that a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Local Employment Service (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently finalising a request for tender to expand local employment services type provision to some parts of the State where no such provision currently do not exist. This RFT, which is required to comply with EU procurement rules,  will have no impact on the contracts of existing providers in other areas and it is expected that the tender will prove...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Data (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There are a number of environmental disclosure requirements which apply to Irish pension schemes. Directive (EU) 2016/2341 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (the "IORP II Directive") provides for the consideration of Environmental Social and Governance factors in: -...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The purpose of Rent Supplement is to provide short-term income support to assist with the accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation.  It is subject to a means test and other eligibility criteria.  Rent Supplement claims are also subject to ongoing reviews and payments may be affected if relevant information is not provided or if there is any...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor will not be regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) unless the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching pension age (currently 66 years), and all self-employment contributions payable have been paid. The Scope...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (22 Apr 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 has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received in respect of the person concerned on 13 November 2020.  It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 14 January 2021.  Under social welfare legislation the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Work was commenced in relation to advancing the legislative process in relation to gender recognition those aged 16 and 17 years and other relevant measures at the start of 2020. Since then, the ongoing devotion of resources within my Department to the public health crisis and associated matters has meant that it has not yet been possible to further progress this work. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme.  These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.  There are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department, as an employer within the wider civil service, makes the Cycle to Work Scheme available to its employees.  There have been 588 Cycle to Work scheme take-ups since the start of 2018. 2020 showed an increased number of applications to the scheme compared to the precious two years. 2018123 2019153 2020230 2021 (to date)87 The Department's HR Wellbeing Unit was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Local Employment Service (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the July stimulus, the Government committed to increase resources dedicated to the delivery of employment services both within the Department’s own Intreo service, and, in addition, to expand the coverage of the Local Employment Services to areas not currently covered by existing providers. My Department has already increased its own complement of employment service staff...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes. Remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development has two office locations, one in Dublin and one  in Mayo. Employees are encouraged to cycle to work where possible. To help facilitate this, there are bike racks in each office as well as showers available for staff who choose an active commute to work. My Department promotes the tax incentivised Cycle to Work...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (28 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (28 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned has been awarded at a rate of €91.10 per week. Their first payment is due to issue to them on the 26th April 2021. An award letter has issued to the person concerned giving them the full details of this decision. It is open for the person concerned to apply for a top up to this payment under the Supplementary Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds has been introduced to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who retire at age 65, in many cases not because they want to, but because that is the retirement age specified in their contract of employment.  The new payment is not designed to be a full State Pension and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (28 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Intreo Centres (ICs) are a single point of contact for all employment and income supports.  The Centres are designed to provide a streamlined approach, offering practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers. In the interest of continuing to observe the current public health advice in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and to safeguard both customers and staff, my...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (28 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 24 February 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 11 March 2020 and the appeal was referred to an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Council (28 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I was pleased to establish the Pensions Commission in November last year, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.  The Commission has held 10 meetings so far, and hosted a virtual Stakeholder Forum last week on April 21st. The Pensions Commission’s public consultation process, 'Have your Say on Sustainable State Pensions into the future',...