Results 14,861-14,880 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since the gradual lifting of restrictions the number of customers receiving PUP has fallen dramatically to approximately 60,400 compared to an earlier peak this year of 481,000 in February and a peak of more than 600,000 in 2020. It is important therefore in the interests of equity and sustainability to restore standard social welfare payments in a careful and considered manner. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). In order to qualify for Illness Benefit, a person must have 39 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the second last complete tax year from which the claim is made, or they must have 26 reckonable PRSI contributions paid in both the second last complete tax year and the year prior to that. They must...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under Pathways to Work 2021-2025, the Government committed to the expansion of Intreo’s Public Employment Service capacity to ensure that all those who wish to enter or re-enter the labour force have the necessary support to help them make the transition to work. In particular, the Pathways to Work strategy seeks to increase labour market participation among groups that would not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period of 3 months if pursuing a 2nd level course, or 9...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long-term unemployed and is payable for up to a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The opinion of the medical assessor, provided for the benefit of the deciding officer in this domiciliary care allowance application is being released as part of a recent Freedom of Information request by the person concerned and will be sent directly to her shortly. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and also the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs, including...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that, as announced by the Government on 30 August 2021 in its plan for the next phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, “COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting”, certain activities in libraries were allowed to resume from 20 September. I can confirm that this includes the provision of study and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. LEADER is administered by 29 LAGs which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has been given a funding allocation for the duration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and also the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (16 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides investment to ambitious and strategic projects that support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural communities and assist in the regeneration of towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and outlying areas. The lead party in an application must be a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Question Heading for question(s) 122 (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. If, at any stage since starting work, a person has no PRSI contributions paid or credited for 2 full tax years in a row, they cannot be awarded credits again until they return to work and pay...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP from the person concerned on 19 May 2021. The claim for IP was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Qualification for Treatment Benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions, including having paid the required total number of insurance contributions since first starting work, along with having the required number of contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based. A social insurance record in the EU or the UK can assist a person to qualify for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The list of public bodies that are authorised to use a person's Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) and/or accept a Public Services Card (PSC) as proof of identity when transacting with an individual, is set out in social welfare legislation. An Garda Síochána is included on that list but only in respect of its own members. When the legislation governing the PSC was debated in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. It is payable for a maximum of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Death Certificates (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that the HSE is responsible for the day-to-day delivery of civil registration services. The Eastern Registration Area, Joyce House, is responsible for processing applications for death certificates received via the HSE website certificates.ie. The General Register Office has made enquiries with the HSE who have advised that applications for death certificates...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department has received an application for Occupational Injury Benefit from the person concerned. However, we have not yet received any medical evidence to support this claim. The person concerned needs to provide a completed Certificate of Incapacity for Work. This can be sent electronically by their GP directly to the Department, or a paper version of the Certificate, which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the person referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to him on 13th November 2021 providing him with his PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Education Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level.  The conditions under which the BTEA operates are designed to support customers into employment, subject to meeting certain...