Results 13,921-13,940 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The primary purpose of credited employment contributions is to preserve the continuity of a person’s insurance record during periods when they are unable to work and pay social insurance contributions in the normal way for reasons including illness or unemployment. Similar to other schemes operated by the Department, there are qualifying conditions which must be met before a person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Marriages (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the current health guidelines of 100 guests which applies to weddings relates to the social gathering following the marriage ceremony. A civil marriage ceremony is a distinct legal undertaking, with the minimum requirement for valid marriage being the attendance of the couple, the solemniser or civil marriage registrar and two witnesses over the age of 18. Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Government Communications (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have met with the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) on two occasions since July 2020. These were on the 4th August 2020 and 23rd August 2021. I have been in touch with representatives of the MEAI on an informal basis as well as writing to them and to others who have made representations on their behalf. Through my engagement with MEAI, I worked to introduce a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for a Companion Free Travel Pass on 3 September 2021. Their application has been forwarded to be assessed by the Chief Medical Assessor. When a decision is made on their eligibility, the person concerned will be notified in writing without delay. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The domiciliary care allowance application from the person concerned has been finalised. They were notified by letter dated the 7th September 2021 that domiciliary care allowance has been awarded from 1st July 2021. Arrears due will issue with the September payment on the 21st September 2021. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The 2021 Further Revised Estimate voted by the Dáil on 16th June 2021 allocated €135.7 million for the Work Placement Experience Programme in 2021. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 September 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2022 (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that I will be considering a range of options for Budget 2022 over the coming weeks, taking account of available resources. While core rates for pensioners remained unchanged in Budgets 2020 and 2021, a series of targeted measures were introduced which sought to protect some of the most vulnerable groups, including pensioners. In recognition of research which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is published each week by my Department at www.gov.ie/dsp/statistics. 114,612 people will receive the payment for the week ending 19 September. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. When an appeal is assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration the Appeals Officer makes a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) on 02/09/2021. In assessing the application, the person concerned was asked to provide additional details in support of his claim. Following receipt of this information on 09/09/2021, JA was awarded with effect from 31/08/2021. The person concerned will have received his first payment and arrears to his nominated bank...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 18 February 2015 and their first payment was on 6 May 2015. Following a review and subsequent appeal of the review decision, they were found to have means not previously disclosed to the Department and an overpayment was raised against them. If they wish to have the current repayments reduced they can request it in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. Persons awarded this pension are obliged to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances that may affect...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The social protection system includes a variety of social assistance payments with different rules in relation to means testing, reflecting the different contingencies under which payments are made. The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: This matter concerns proposals to give recognition to loss in pregnancy where the criteria for registration of a birth or stillbirth are not met. Consideration is being given on how best to meet the demands of parents and develop solutions that are compatible with the existing health and civil registration legal frameworks. Research has been undertaken on how such matters are managed in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Process (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has prepared two Bills since 27th June 2020, both of which have been enacted; the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020 and the Social Welfare Act 2020. Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) are undertaken by the Department of Social Protection in accordance with the relevant guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach relating to significant legislative,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. My Department spent a total...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of the employer social insurance contribution rose by 2% from 11.05% to 13.05% on the portion of earnings in excess of €140,000 per year would be approximately €72 million per annum. This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the employer...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In line with the commitments in the Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025, to increase the capacity and resources of the entire Public Employment Service, including those provided by the Department's contracted service partners, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure the appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts across the...