Results 12,541-12,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575, 576, 586, 587, 589 and 590 together. My Department delivers a wide range of policies and measures to support urban and rural communities. All policy is underpinned by broad consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including rural and urban stakeholder groups, young people and the wider public, Government Departments and State Agencies. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ferry Services (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, this relates to a procurement matter, which is currently underway. This process is being undertaken in keeping with the standard approach taken for ferry services subsidised by my Department. When preparing a Request For Tender (RFT) for a ferry service, my Department includes an estimate cost. This is based on the contract that is in operation, allowing for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's ICT services are provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). For operational security reasons, neither my Department nor the OGCIO will provide any details of its data security systems or those of the bodies under its aegis, as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department continues to pursue a number of different projects to further broadband connectivity across rural Ireland and, although there have been no further introductions between local authority broadband officers and satellite companies since the Deputy’s previous question, there has been good progress in broadband connectivity in a number of areas and across several projects run...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 584, 585, 588 and 592 together. A vital part of the Department for Rural and Community Development's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in County Kildare. My Department provides strategic interventions, funding programmes and supports which target and address issues of social and or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". A key component of delivering on this mission is regular, ongoing and meaningful engagement with rural and community stakeholders and other organisations working to enhance the quality of life for all of our people. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was first introduced in 2016 and is one of a series of support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s “Rural Development Investment Programme”. The funding is delivered through the local authorities. On the 3rd May I launched the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The 2014-2020 LEADER programme for Ireland had an allocation of €250 million. €225 million of this budget was allocated at the outset of the programme to Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration costs of the LAG. The deadline for project commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 19 July 2017. Since that date it has incurred expenditure in respect of legal fees of €2,655 in 2018, €1,855 in 2019 and €2,797 in 2020. In 2018, the Department was assigned a designated point of contact for the provision of legal advice through the Office of the Attorney General, and it is intended that this service provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cybersecurity Policy (25 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's ICT services are provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). I have been informed that the OGCIO implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. The OGCIO continues to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and is closely engaged with experts in the National Cyber Security Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory income support payment provided for employees and the self employed who have lost work as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Government has confirmed that the PUP will be kept at its current rates and the scheme will remain open to new entrants until 30th June 2021. The Government will set out plans for the future of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Driver Licences (26 May 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 approx. 996,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 18 February 2019. Their application for State Pension (contributory) was received by my Department on 9 September 2020. In line with social welfare legislation, the person was awarded State pension (contributory) at 94.2% of the maximum weekly rate, backdated to 10 March 2020, six months from date of receipt of their pension application. They were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: All disability allowance (DA) claims are subject to periodic reviews. The entitlement of the person concerned was reviewed by a social welfare inspector (SWI) and it was established that she had means not previously disclosed to the Department. On 21 January 2020 the person concerned was notified that her DA payment would be stopped due to having means in excess of the statutory limit with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned submitted an application for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds (BP65) with effect from 25/01/2021. The application was assessed and disallowed on the basis that the person concerned is not eligible to receive a BP65 as the only Class S Pay Related Social Insurance contributions on my Department’s records are those from his Approved Retirement Fund and as this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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 maintain the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Blind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State. There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension. The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this means assessment is to maintain the overarching policy of ensuring that social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Blind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State. The Department does not, in ordinary course, collate data on the specific grounds of disallowances in relation to the range of social assistance schemes it delivers. However, I am advised that, in 2020, fewer than ten blind...