Results 13,661-13,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner and his management team, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all Garda operations. As Minister, I have no role in Garda operational decisions. Similarly, the Courts are independent in the exercise of their functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including decisions relating the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. However to be of assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that scam calls, which include the criminal activity known as phishing, are taken very seriously by my Department and are the subject of ongoing engagement between An Garda Síochána and the banking and technology industries. I am advised that work is ongoing in An Garda Síochána to tackle this issue, including, but not limited to, the issuing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established in July 2017 and currently occupies office space at two locations - Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The offices occupied in Ballina are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), while the lease arrangements in relation to Trinity Point are managed on our behalf by the OPW. In both cases, no costs are directly...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together. My Department was established in 2017 and funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country. My Department was allocated €341 million in the 2021 Revised Estimates, this ensures that we are in a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 491 to 495, inclusive, and 504 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: Digital Hubs (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 to 499, inclusive, together. The increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes. This is a key focus of the Government's new rural development policy...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town & Village Renewal Scheme is designed to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and socialise. The Scheme has supported or is currently supporting 1,340 projects in towns and villages the length and breadth of rural Ireland. Grant funding is released at various stages as the project...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497, 498 and 502 together. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) forms part of the wider rural regeneration and development programme which also includes the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. In terms of both RRDF Category 1 (Major Projects) and Category 2 (Seed Funding), funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Isolation (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together. Addressing the issue of isolation, in both urban and rural communities, is relevant to the work of a number of Government Departments. This is reflected in ongoing Government work including that aimed at enhancing community policing, rural transport links and tackling social inclusion. Focus on actions to address the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town & Village Renewal Scheme is  designed to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and socialise. Under the Scheme, funding of over €93 million has been approved for the delivery of over 1,340 projects in towns and villages countrywide. The Scheme continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1089, 1097, 1100 to 1102, inclusive, 1111 and 1113 together. Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State. The focus throughout this exercise is the customer,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: To date the total expenditure by the Department of Social Protection on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment since its introduction in March 2020 is approximately €8.3 billion. The total expenditure to date on the Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant since its introduction in August 2020 is approximately €8.7 million. I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a key policy initiative under Pillar 2 of the National Recovery Programme, launched by Government on 1 June 2021. It is also a central measure of the Government's new national employment services strategy; Pathways to Work 2021-2025. This sets out the national framework for activation and employment supports to assist persons, whose...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: It is not possible to provide the information requested within the timeframe available. The data requested are being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as they are available. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested, in work, family payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings, with children, relative to their family size. WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid employees with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to pursue employment. In order to satisfy the qualifying and continued...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094, 1095, 1096, 1112, 1119, 1122, 1124, 1125, 1134 and 1187 together. Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State. The focus throughout this exercise is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jul 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 approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 17,700 active recipients at the end of June 2021. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have...