Results 12,721-12,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has primary responsibility for cybersecurity, including the protection of Government data and networks, as well as critical national infrastructure. My Department focuses on the potential and actual criminal use made of the internet and information technology. However, cyber security...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 102 prisoners in custody associated with known organised criminal gangs currently serving a sentence or awaiting trial.  There is an additional 70-80 prisoners who are associates of these prisoners but are not known to be officially aligned to organised gangs and others who are part of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together. The Deputy will be aware that the decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the presiding Judge, who is independent in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. There is also a constitutional presumption in favour of the grant of bail as, under Irish Law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Ensuring people feel safe in their communities and in their homes is a priority for this Government and my Department and we are striving to provide that safety through engagement with communities, by reducing crime and tackling recidivism and by supporting victims.  In relation to the Deputy's specific question, while it is recognised that there is no quick...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, this relates to a procurement matter, which is still underway.  This process is being undertaken in keeping with the standard approach taken for ferry services subsidised by my Department. As is standard with Requests for Tender (RFTs) issued by this Department for ferry services, the frequency of sailings requested is a minimum acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, funding is provided through Local Authorities, Local Development Companies and State Bodies to complete outdoor recreation projects, including trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways and amenities near our lakes and rivers  My Department provides funding of up to 90% of the total cost of a project...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Development mostly utilises its budget to provide grant funding to local authorities, state agencies and other external bodies such as community and voluntary organisations. It undertakes very limited direct procurement, with the exception of the procurement of transport services for the Islands. All procurement takes place in line with national and EU guidance and requirements, and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since 2016, my Department has allocated almost €68 million to nearly 1,000 projects through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. This includes almost €16 million for 226 projects approved earlier this year. My Department also provides in the region of €2 million annually to fund the maintenance and improvement of trails and other...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish the Chairman and members of the committee a good morning. Before we start, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery of the two members of An Garda Síochána who were shot and injured yesterday evening in Blanchardstown. This shocking event reminds us all of the dangers in which members of An Garda Síochána put themselves every day to protect...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising all those questions. I will try to take them but he should come back to me if I leave any out. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a significant investment in the PUP. At its peak in May 2020, more than 600,000 people were availing of the payment and, as restrictions were eased, the numbers dropped to just over 200,000 in October 2020....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The first issue she raised relates to the PUP. As I stated, I am considering various options in terms of the PUP as the economy reopens. I am discussing it with my Government colleagues and I will be in a position to make an announcement in early June. We are working very hard on it and I am conscious of several issues that we are taking into consideration. As...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Joan Collins. With regard to the future of the PUP, I take the Deputy's point regarding the tapering. I am examining all the options and discussing them with my officials. I am also talking to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I am trying to address this fairly. The one thing I have said is that there will be no cliff edge. I...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Carey for raising these issues. I thank him for his comments on the bravery of the gardaí last night. As the Deputy knows, we have supported many people through the PUP, with total expenditure to date amounting to €7.75 billion. We are considering the future of the payment. It is the role of the social protection system to provide a basic income. With regard...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his kind comments regarding the actions of the Garda last night. The incident was certainly a big shock to all of us. The Deputy and I were both in the convention centre and, when I came out, it was a big shock to hear that had happened. I acknowledge and recognise the community, which responded well, An Garda Síochána, who managed a very difficult...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Vice Chairman has asked me a number of questions. I will try to answer them. With regard to the PUP, we have collected a lot of data on the numbers in receipt of the payment. I do not have it to hand, but I have asked my officials for a breakdown with particular regard to those who have been on the PUP for the long term, that is, those who have been on it since last March, because we...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. That is exactly why it is so important we invest in our young people and give them the supports they need to find employment and show them there are better ways. That is something this Government is committed to - to helping our young people in every way we can. There were a lot of questions there. One was on the pensions for CE supervisors and why we cannot extend it...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I take the point the Deputy is making. It was a valuable scheme. It kept employers in touch with their employees. For some, employers received the wage subsidy scheme and it was passed on to the employees. Many employers topped up the payment and made up the difference between what they got on the TWSS. That was the purpose behind it. However, I take the point the Deputy is making for...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will comment on the process for selecting those schools. We increased the budget considerably because the pilot scheme involved 37 schools. This year we brought the number up to 189. Those schools were picked on a random basis by the computer. There is one situation in particular where there are four schools in one campus. Three are getting the hot school meals and one is not. Those...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am very conscious that we need to support young people and that is why we have all these programmes, including the EmployAbility service, that target young people who have difficulties getting back into the workplace. I met representatives of EmployAbility on Monday and they explained to me how when young people come in to the service, they are placed with an employer and sometimes there...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (26 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Across Government we evaluate all these issues and examine the impact, and of course there will be a review of Covid, the impact it had on society and the issues on which we need to focus post Covid. On the role of the Department regarding equality budgeting, we introduced equality budgeting on a pilot basis in 2017 as part of a commitment in the programme for Government in 2016 to...