Results 14,801-14,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 to 473, inclusive, together. The PUP is gradually being withdrawn over the next four month period until February 2022 to align it with the standard jobseeker payments. This considered and tapered approach is being taken to avoid a sudden reduction in payments to those who have not yet returned to employment. In line with the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The payment of Child Benefit is based on the rules of residency which state that, where a qualified child resides with his or her mother, the child is deemed to be resident with the mother and with no other person. In effect, the mother is the qualified person to receive the benefit in respect of that child. This applies even where the child’s father also resides in same household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 31 May 2017. On 5 May 2021, the person concerned was notified in writing that the DA payment would be stopped with effect on 26 May 2021, due to participation on a Community Employment Scheme (CES). All DA recipient payments are stopped for the duration of attendance on a CES and the weekly payment is taken over by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range 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 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 for employment. Disability Allowance (DA) is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Proposed Legislation (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together. My Department has, for some time, been examining how best to introduce a scheme to indemnify private land owners in upland areas who allow access to their lands for recreational purposes. This is a complex issue and my Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as has been proposed would require legislative provision and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Table 1 - National Hubs Mapping Exercise - Digital Hubs Identified by County Dublin 63 Galway 42 Mayo 32 Cork 31 Kerry 26 Tipperary 25 Donegal 22 Leitrim 21 Limerick 18 ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Development Plan (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that last month the renewed National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 was launched. It is the largest National Development Plan in the history of the State - €165 billion - with a focus on priority solutions to strengthen housing, climate ambitions, transport, healthcare, jobs growth in every region and economic renewal for the decade ahead. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) provides funding to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages and make them more attractive places to live, work, socialise and raise a family. The initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s five year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland. This year's scheme closed to applications on 16 July...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €252m for projects costing over €343m. A guidance document detailing the Fund's objectives is issued before each call for applications. Subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different Measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. The Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities Measure (Measure...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas. Applications are received by the Department from Local Authorities and Local Development Companies. This year's scheme is closed to applications. This year the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first phase of a two-phase procurement of new employment services.  This procurement process follows extensive consultations by my Department with the existing service providers over the last number of years. This phase involves the procurement of Regional Employment Services for seven counties in four lots for the North-West and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in work family payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 19 October 2021.  Following receipt of further requested information/documents from the person concerned, they have been awarded WFP with effect from 26 August 2021 to 24...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: For the purpose of this response, I have interpreted “the amount spent on advertisements including traditional forms of advertisement and online advertisement” as media buying costs incurred from public information campaigns, announcements and recruitment notices. My Department administers over 90 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The amounts paid to recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment since March 2020 to date (October 2021) are set out in the following table. - €m March 2020  110.9 April 2020 778.8 May 2020  824.5 June 2020 858.1 July 2020 421.3 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The amounts paid out to Jobseeker Allowance recipients each month since March 2020 to October 2021 are set out in the following table. - €m March 2020  152.9 April 2020 137.8 May 2020  125.7 June 2020 128.6 July 2020 139.6 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 157, inclusive, together. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced in an extremely short period of time in order to cushion the incomes of citizens following the onset of an unprecedented public health crisis. Within a month of the PUP scheme going live, over 507,000 people received at least one payment.   Recipient numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 25 August 2021. They were notified of this decision directly in writing on 5 November 2021. The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 10 November 2021. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department received a claim for fuel allowance for the person concerned on 26 October 2021.  A Deciding Officer of the Department wrote to the person concerned on 08 November 2021 requesting further information relevant to his claim.  The claim will be finalised as quickly as possible on receipt of the requested information. I hope this clarifies the position...