Results 15,021-15,040 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The requested information is outlined in the table below and outlines the average performance of schemes for the previous twelve months, for which operational data is available, versus targets issued as part of the published Revised Estimates Volume. Scheme Revised Estimates Volume Target Average targets achieved (12 month average) State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The following means test based schemes are assessed in terms of operational performance: - State Pension (Non-Contributory) - Jobseeker's Allowance - One-Parent Family Payment - Supplementary Welfare Allowance Total - Carer's Allowance - Disability Allowance - Household Benefits The following schemes which are based on PRSI contributions are also assessed: - State Pension (Contributory) -...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make an exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Government has provided €46 million for the exceptional and urgent needs scheme in 2021. The exceptional needs payment scheme is available to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (25 Nov 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: State Pensions (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to ensuring that State pension (contributory) claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. The operational target for State pension (contributory) claims is to have 90% of applications awarded (where qualified) by entitlement date, currently the applicant's 66th birthday. The State Pension Contributory Section in my Department processes pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (25 Nov 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. I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that in 2020 a total of 23,664 appeals were registered and 26,790 were finalised. In the period January to October 2021 20,574...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since the gradual lifting of restrictions the number of customers receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has reduced dramatically to just over 57,100 compared to a peak of over 600,000 in May 2020 and 481,000 in February 2021. As the Live Register figures demonstrate, in the vast majority of cases, the decrease in PUP numbers is due to a return to work and not to a transfer to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department introduced Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds on 25 January 2021, to deliver on a Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or chose to retire at age 65. This payment is for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify, a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, this country faced an unprecedented shock to the labour market as a result of the pandemic. Prior to Covid-19, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for 2019 averaged approximately 12.5 percent. Following the onset of the pandemic, the CSO’s "COVID-19 adjusted" monthly youth unemployment rate, which includes all those in receipt of the PUP,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy, where available, is set out in the tables below. Table 1: Pensions Applications - State Pension (Contributory) Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension State Pension (Non-Contributory) Oct-20 2,637 700 649 Nov-20 3,646 639 851 Dec-20 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) also being satisfied, the State pension system already provides significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is provided through the award of credits and/or the application of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Registration of Births (25 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that the HSE is responsible for the day-to-day delivery of civil registration services. My Department, through the General Register Office, has made enquiries with the HSE who have advised that there are no backlogs in registering births with the exception of the Eastern Registration Areas. The HSE have advised that the time taken to register a birth in the Eastern...

Employment Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I fully recognise the hard work, professionalism and commitment of all those working on the front line in providing employment services and supports to people who are out of work. I know very well the good work that the LES does in my home county of Monaghan. The services throughout the country provide valuable support and assistance to...

Employment Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Sinn Féin Deputies are doing a disservice to those 480 people who get up every day, go to work every day and do their best to help people across this country. The evidence from the OECD report clearly shows that individuals who were supported by JobPath were more likely to enter employment, remain in employment for longer and have higher earnings from employment. I encourage the Sinn...

Employment Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My priority is about delivering the best possible employment service for the people who need our help and ensuring we do so on a sound legal basis. I think it is important in the context or this motion to note two important facts that are central to an informed and accurate discussion. First, LES and job club services are not delivered directly by the State. The decision to establish LES...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions paid by employees, employers, self-employed people and voluntary contributors is income to the Social Insurance Fund. Therefore, any increase in the rates of social insurance contribution, including those paid by employers, would increase the annual income of the Fund. The Fund operates on a pay-as-you-go basis with the Exchequer acting as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Nov 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 Eligibility (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned received child benefit for her daughter for a period during which the child no longer resided with her. She was therefore not entitled to payment for the period in question and a revised decision was made disallowing child benefit in respect of the period concerned (August to October 2006). This resulted in an overpayment of €450.00. She was notified of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (30 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have received a copy of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands entitled 'Examination of Employment Services'. As requested in one of the recommendations of the report, I will respond formally to the report in due course once I have had the opportunity to fully reflect upon it. I appreciate the Joint...