Results 12,121-12,140 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (6 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, 272, 273 and 274 together. I am working to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands, and I have made this one of the key elements of Our Rural Future, the Government’s new Rural Development Policy. Furthermore, my Department is currently developing a new National Islands Policy, a central...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (6 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas including the islands. The programme is delivered to the off-shore islands by the Donegal, Mayo and West Cork LAGs through its Implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (6 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is mindful of those with disabilities or reduced mobility availing of subsidised island transport services. Ferry and air service operators are required to ensure that the service they provide caters for passengers of reduced mobility, and that their staff are fully trained in assisting passengers. Ferry operators are required to make the necessary arrangements to cater for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, in conjunction with all Government Departments and Offices, is obliged to move banking operations to Danske Bank on foot of a Government Decision to tender for an “All of Government” Banking Service. The Government’s objective was to identify the most economically advantageous arrangement for the provision of an efficient, streamlined, cost-effective...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. In March of last year,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Community Welfare Service has responsibly for the administration of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, Community Welfare Officers in my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Where a tenant cannot furnish the property from within his/her own resources, s/he can apply for an exceptional needs...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: To date over €7.4 billion has been paid in relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) since its introduction in March 2020, to address the surge in unemployment due to Covid-19. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of negotiation, compromise and flexibility. Some of the options considered for workers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 April 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: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There are 3 categories of claimant who may qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit while partially employed. They are short-time workers, casual workers and part-time workers. In order to classify a person as either a short-time, part-time or casual work employee, each case is examined on its merits having regard to the person’s employment history, any fluctuation in the number of days...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As provided for in Budget 2021, Parent’s Leave and Benefit have been extended from 2 weeks to 5 weeks for each parent. These additional weeks are available to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019. The period during which this leave can be taken has also been extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second birthday or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: JobClubs are a contracted service of my Department which provide a range of services, supports and facilities to jobseekers to help them return to work. Currently there are 40 Job Clubs with 37 contractors operating in various locations across the state. The name and locations of Job Clubs are as follows: Job Club Name Location Dublin Northwest Area...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Pension entitlement is determined on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age. The person concerned was born in 1956. The age at which a pension is payable is currently 66 years. The Deputy will be aware that the Commission on Pensions has been established to examine sustainability and eligibility issues in relation to State pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested in-work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. Income that is assessable for WFP includes an applicant's and their spouse's average net weekly assessable weekly earnings from employment, plus any other household income such as income from self employment, other social protection payments...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this is to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a pension auto-enrolment system. The objective of this commitment is to address the low proportion of employees in Ireland with supplementary pension cover, which includes both occupational and personal pensions. The rate of supplementary pension coverage in Ireland is around 55% of the working population (CSO, Pension Coverage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the July stimulus, the Government committed to increase resources dedicated to the delivery of employment services within the Department’s own Intreo service, and, in addition, to expand the coverage of the local employment type 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection has not provided funding to An Taisce in any of the years referenced by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Self-employed individuals have a range of income support options available to them depending on their circumstances. Those in self-employment can earn up to €960 over a rolling eight week period and retain their Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Where a self-employed person exceeds this threshold they may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for the self-employed scheme. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (11 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A person claiming widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension must provide evidence that they are the legal widow, widower or surviving civil partner. The original civil marriage certificate has already been provided by the person concerned. However, where the marriage took place outside the State, as in this case, the marriage licence must also be provided. The...