Results 15,081-15,100 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that in-person appointments continue to be available at all Intreo Centres and that all of these centres are open 5 days per week, as are our branch offices.  Offices are open for walk-in service each morning and for appointments all day to 5pm. If a person wishes to make an in-person appointment for any of the Department's services, they can contact...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 Dec 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. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Paternity Benefit is a payment to employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). The benefit is payable at the rate of €245 per week for two weeks in total. Since the introduction of the scheme approximately 2,200 claims have been received per month and claims have been processed on average within...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Section 241 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) provides that it shall be a condition of any person’s right to benefit that they, inter alia, satisfy the Minister as to their identity. The Act also provides (in section 247C) that a person in receipt of any social welfare benefit must satisfy the Minister as to their identity, when requested to do so. The list...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The eligibility criteria for Invalidity Pension (IP) do not permit people taking up employment. However there is a Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme (PCB) which can be used by individuals in receipt of IP who wish to enter the workforce for a period of time. The person concerned was advised of the availability of PCB but opted not to apply for it at that time. The changes to regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas, which will deliver on the National Strategic Objective of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities. The funding from the RRDF will also further the aims of Our Rural Future, the Government's 5 year...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 June 2021.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection.  These papers were received in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of Illness Benefit at a rate of €203.00 per week. The person concerned was previously in receipt of an increase for three children on her claim, which made her weekly rate of payment €331.00. This increase was stopped from the 17th September 2021 as the person's spouse began earning over €400 per week. This meant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity Pension is a pension paid to people who are “permanently incapable of work” because of illness or disability.  It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions and medical conditions and is not means tested.  Increases are payable for qualified adults and children.  People in receipt of invalidity pension transfer to the State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Tá mo Roinnse tiomanta seirbhís ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla dá custaiméirí. Tá an Roinn ar an eolas faoina cuid oibleagáidí faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 agus na gealltanais mar atá leagtha amach inár Scéim Gaeilge 2019-2022. Is féidir le hIonaid Intreo agus Oifigí...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Schemes (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection has no role in supporting the project referred to.  I would refer the Deputy to the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Parent's Leave and Benefit is currently available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 for five weeks and must be used within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.  The Parent’s Benefit scheme is family-friendly and flexible, allowing parents to take one week of leave at a time or for a consecutive period. Provision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government commits to introducing a pension auto-enrolment system.  The objective of this commitment is to address the low proportion of employees in Ireland with supplementary pension cover, which includes both occupational and personal pensions. According to CSO figures, the rate of supplementary pension coverage is around 55% of the working population (Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Maternity Benefit is a payment made to women who are on maternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). Following receipt of an application for Maternity Benefit,  a letter issued to the person concerned on 16 November 2021 requesting additional information in order for a deciding officer to make a decision on their entitlement. When this information is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the child referred to by the Deputy.  A letter with details of the child's PPSN issued to the child's mother on 30th November 2021. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pensions Council is a body established under Section 26B of the Pensions Act 1990.  Its key role is to advise the Minister for Social Protection on matters relating to policy on pensions and to represent and protect the consumer interest.  Both I and previous Ministers have asked the Council to give special attention to matters relating to charges.  On 4thMarch 2021 I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The HSE is responsible for the registration of births.  There are currently delays in birth registration of up to six weeks in the Eastern Registration Area covering Dublin City and Council, Kildare and Wicklow. My Department has offered its support to help clear the backlogs. Child Benefit is automatically triggered following completion of the birth registration and any arrears due...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The following table provides details of the cost of heating and lighting in the Department’s premises in each of the last 5 years and for 2021 up to end October: €000 2016 4,252 2017 3,860 2018 3,810 2019 3,520 2020 4,018 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Effective and efficient ventilation has been identified as a protective measure against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic along with other key infection prevention and control measures.  The majority of offices in my Department are naturally ventilated and staff have been encouraged to keep windows open subject to acceptable comfort limits and to keep air conditioning...