Results 15,501-15,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases. Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service. Contracts were signed last month and services are in the process of being mobilised. Phase two of the process has now commenced, with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases. Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service. Contracts were signed last month and services are in the process of being mobilised. Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in an extremely short period of time in order to cushion the incomes of citizens who had lost their employment following the onset of an unprecedented public health crisis. Within 3 weeks of the payment being launched over 500,000 people had been paid. The delivery of the scheme on such a scale and in such a short time represented a major...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Subject to satisfying certain PRSI contribution criteria, Illness Benefit may be paid to those who are certified as medically unfit to attend work. The payment can be made for a maximum period of 1 or 2 years depending on the level of PRSI contributions made. When a person is approaching the date from which their entitlement is due to expire they receive a letter advising them that this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: This person concerned was awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 18 February 2015. The debt in question occurred as they had means which was not disclosed to my Department from 4 January 2017 to 27 February 2018. The Department is obliged to recoup any debt owing to it and the method of recovery, and negotiations regarding the amount recoverable, are dealt with under the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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. As part of the Government’s commitment under the Pathways to Work strategy, my Department has a provision of approximately €105.4m in supports under the BTEA for 2022. A person wishing...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a person who required a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) attended an office of my Department for SAFE registration. The SAFE registration process involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, and the subsequent issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). Face-to-face...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The system of social assistance supports provide payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency - be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring. The application of a means test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that the resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Widow’s, Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s pension is paid to the husband, wife or surviving civil partner of a deceased person and is available to those who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions, either on their own record or on that of the deceased spouse or civil partner, provided the applicant is not cohabiting. The legal context governing...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Jan 2022)

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. As part of the Governments commitments under the Pathways to Work strategy a budget of approximately €56.4m has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that In response to reported increases in domestic violence, in August 2020 the Government agreed that rent supplement should be made available to victims of domestic violence, referred by Tusla or by Tusla-funded service providers, for an initial three months and, other than the payment of a minimum contribution, without the requirement of a means test. A means test...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The 2021 expenditure for rent supplement is €122.96m. This figure is provisional, subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The system of social assistance supports provide payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency - be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring. The application of a means test not only ensures that the recipient has an income need but also that resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2022)

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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Care Services (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Health, last week confirmed the payment of a Covid Recognition Payment as a once off, tax-free payment of €1,000, ringfenced to certain workers ordinarily onsite in COVID-19-exposed healthcare environments. The workers eligible for the payment will be: - public service health and ambulance workers, - those seconded or assigned to the HSE (for example: Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Care Services (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The cost of paying a once off €1,000 bonus to family carers would be dependent on eligibility criteria for the proposed payment. Paying the bonus to all carers in receipt of the Carer's Support Grant would cost an estimated €128.3m. This costing is based on the the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The appointment of civilian drivers in my Department are made in line with the “Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil” and the “Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 33rd Dáil’’. I have dual responsibility for the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Rural and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working with Donegal County Council in relation to scoping developments that could be undertaken at Machaire Rabhartaigh Pier, the mainland pier that services Tory Island. These works will affect the type of boat that will be able to operate effectively to the island. The Department will assess the situation regarding the provision of the new ferry when there is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Domestic Pets (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 709 together. Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for all operational matters relating to the control of dogs. They have the power to appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against dog owners, where appropriate. The primary intention of dog control...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Food Initiative is administered at local level by Local Action Groups (LAGs) with overall funding allocated at a national level by my Department. Project applications are in the first instance considered at local level, with subsequent final project approval signed off by my Department on a first come first served basis. As with all funding programmes, there is a finite budget...