Results 13,061-13,080 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: JobPath provides employment assistance and advice to the long-term unemployed on behalf of my Department. The current JobPath contracts were originally due to expire at the end of 2020. Last October, however, in addition to contract renewals to the local employment services, job clubs and EmployAbility, I announced an extension of referrals to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Work Supports (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and has been open to applications since. YESS targeted young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aimed to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment by €1 is shown in the table below.  Payment Personal €m Qualified Adult €m Total €m Social Insurance Schemes State Pension (Contributory) € 22.0 € 3.0 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Child benefit is a payment made in respect of a child for the purpose of meeting some of the cost of child rearing.Under the relevant child benefit legislation, it is only payable to one parent, usually the mother. If the child resides part time with both parents, the benefit is payable to the mother unless the child resides with the father for more than 50% of the time.  As a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Regulatory Bodies (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together. The Government is committed to supporting the ongoing roll-out and delivery of the Data Protection Commission's national and international responsibilities. There has been a continued year-on-year increase in funding for the Commission over the last four budgetary years to reflect this commitment. The Commission has received an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. This includes the compilation of information relating to convictions. In addition, the decision about whether or not to prosecute a person is entirely a matter for the Director of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, unfortunately I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for the invitation to attend here today to discuss the 2021 Further Revised Estimate for the Department of Rural and Community Development. I am seeking approval of this Further Revised Estimate to enable my Department to continue its important work in the areas of rural development, community development and charities regulation. As we all...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Carey for raising these issues. With regard to the local improvement scheme, the Deputy is correct that there is a huge backlog in terms of the lanes that have to be funded and repaired through the local authorities. I know from my county that there could be a waiting list of ten years, and it is the same across the country. In 2017, my predecessor, Deputy Ring, reopened the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will reply to the first question before passing to the Minister of State. I thank Deputy Donnelly for the questions on the Estimates. There was extra support in 2020 of €50 million for the Covid-19 stability fund, which was a once-off payment. There was also an increase in the July stimulus package of €10 million provided in the Revised Estimate for the islands. The...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Kerrane and I will first address the issue of remote working. The Tánaiste is absolutely committed to remote working and is bringing through legislation that will give workers the right to request to work remotely. Some people will wish to work remotely for a number of days a week while for others, it is about going into their offices for a couple of days, so we must...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chair and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. Like the Deputy, I am committed to the town centres first policy. I have been talking to my colleagues in government about this initiative and we are having another meeting today to progress this scheme. Attending will be the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Housing, Local...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman and Deputy Ó Cuív. I will pass the community services programme, CSP, question to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien. In the meantime I will try to answer other questions the Deputy has raised with me. He mentioned CLÁR. As he and I know, it is a great source of funding to help local communities in depopulated areas. Since it was...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy referred to the position of Roonagh Pier on the mainland for the ferry to Clare Island. There is no doubt that it needs work. I announced funding of €139,000 for refurbishment work for Roonagh as part of the capital works scheme funded through the islands unit in partnership with Mayo County Council. Large-scale redevelopment of the pier is a matter for the local...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I do not know where that came out of. Certainly, as far as I am concerned, working from home can often increase productivity, not reduce it. I could not see any reason people would have reduced wages because they work from home. Sometimes working from home is a better solution for people and productivity is much better. The person is not spending hours commuting and he or she is better...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will try my best and if I miss any, come back to me. I thank members for those questions. Of course, as rural Deputies we are all passionate about remote working. It is the game changer for which rural Ireland has waited for a long time. I do not want to let it slip away. Above all things, I want to see it supported, I want to see it working, and I want to see people enjoying a better...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will get back to the committee on that. I do not have the figure off the top of my head.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Proposed Regional Employment Service: Discussion (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank members for their contributions. When I started this process I had the same concerns as they do but, having put a huge amount of work into this and having consulted extensively with the providers, I am satisfied that this request for tender will meet the needs of the one person I am most concerned about in all of this, namely, the person who is unemployed and looking for a job. I...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Proposed Regional Employment Service: Discussion (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chair for his contribution and I also thank the Deputies for outlining their issues. I do understand those issues, by the way. My officials will attest that the questions the Deputies have asked me were the same questions as I asked my officials. I want to be clear that this initiative is not about profit but about the service we provide to those people who need assistance in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 371 together. The Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the social insurance contribution- based Jobseeker's Benefit and means tested Jobseeker's Allowance. Both schemes provide support to individuals, including workers in the aviation sector, so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access...