Results 12,281-12,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance is one of a range of means-tested social assistance payments operated by my Department.  Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse / partner, if applicable), applying for the relevant scheme.  The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.  It is paid for two weeks and is available in respect of any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016.  Paternity Benefit is paid at €245 per week - the same rate as Maternity Benefit,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily suspended Public Services Card (PSC) appointments and the online system used to manage those appointments.  This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and World Health Organisation guidelines and help protect the health and well-being of our customers and staff.  All offices carrying out PSC...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 552 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the experience of past recessions indicates that youth employment tends to be significantly impacted by any labour market shock.  This is because many employers operate a "last in-first out" protocol when reducing their labour force.  Moreover, in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: On 1 April 2021, Parent’s Leave was extended from two weeks to five weeks as per a commitment in the Programme for Government.  Since the changes came into effect, the Department of Social Protection has awarded Parent’s Benefit to some 6,633 parents at a cost of over €2.6 million. In comparison, just 702 parents availed of Parent’s Benefit in April 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 129 together. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to employees and self-employed people who have lost their employment and the income from that employment due to the pandemic, and who satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme. As restrictions lift and businesses re-open, employers are contacting their employees to return to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Lead responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In August 2020, I agreed a protocol with Tusla on a pilot basis involving a referral process through Safe Ireland and other service providers resulting in changes to the rent supplement scheme to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and resulting public health measures, has greatly impacted economic activity in the State and the labour market.  The latest CSO data for April 2021, recorded a COVID-19 adjusted overall unemployment rate of 22.4 percent. While many have been displaced from their employment by the pandemic, most of those currently in receipt of the Pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: An Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to social welfare claimants whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them.  As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of means-tested payments are carried out across all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and resulting public health measures, has greatly impacted economic activity in the State and the labour market.  The latest CSO data for April 2021, recorded a COVID-19 adjusted overall unemployment rate of 22.4 percent.  It is important to note that this COVID-19 Adjusted estimate is considered to be the upper bound estimate and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 130 and 141 together. As part of the July jobs stimulus, the Government committed to increase resources dedicated to the delivery of employment services and to expand the coverage of the local employment type services to areas not currently covered by existing providers.  My Department will shortly issue a Request for Tender (RFT) to expand...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reviews (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine a number of issues regarding child maintenance within the social protection system and to make a recommendation as to whether or not there is a case for the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.  The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 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: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 134 together. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)  is a statutory support for employees and self- employed who have lost their work due to Covid 19.  This support is available to people affected across all sectors, including those in aviation.  The PUP scheme will remain available until 30th June.  Government will set...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a number of options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the One-Parent Family Payment ceases.  These include the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment where the youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years, inclusive, and the Jobseeker’s Allowance payment which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is aged 14 or over. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department for qualifying employees and  self-employed individuals who lost employment due to Covid-19.  To date, expenditure on the scheme is approximately €7.5 billion. The support is available across all sectors, including taxi drivers, many of whom are self-employed.   A self-...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is mainly responsible for income supports for individuals, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) introduced in response to Covid-19.  My colleague, the Minister for  Enterprise Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for supports for businesses. In terms of Covid support for businesses, self employed Individuals exiting the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 133 and 144 together. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to employees and the self employed who lost employment due to Covid-19.  To date expenditure on the scheme is approximately €7.5 billion which demonstrates the Governments commitment to workers impacted by the pandemic. The PUP scheme will remain available until 30th...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Economic and Social Council (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 557 together. I am aware of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) paper on ‘The Position of the Self-Employed’ that was published last November.  I note that the paper considers a number of issues concerning self-employed workers, and groups these into the four policy areas of: the social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment to examine options for a pension solution for carers, the majority of whom are women, particularly those of incapacitated children.  This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. As the Deputy is aware, the Pensions...