Results 15,581-15,600 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The application for the person concerned has been reviewed and they do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self Employed. This payment is only available for persons whose self employment has ceased completely. The person concerned has been considered for Jobseeke'rs Allowance (means tested assessment) and the Deciding Officer has awarded Jobseekers Allowance in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as one of a number of measures to provide income support to those who had lost their employment as a result of Covid. Other supports include the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit payment, which is available to persons who have diagnosed with Covid-19 or instructed by a Doctor or the HSE to self-isolate. The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In 2019, my Department undertook a consultation process with a number of interested stakeholders to hear their views on possible approaches to indexation of pensions and social welfare rates more generally.  This process also included discussion with representatives of the community and voluntary sector at the Pre-Budget Forum in July 2019 as well as at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Feb 2022)

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 Payments (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In light of the complexities in these cases,  suspending, cancelling or not awarding lone parents applications for this reason referred to is rare at application stage in the Department. However,my Department follows up with liable relatives for appropiate contributions towards the cost of the One Parent Family Payment . During 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021- 1,039, 1,474, 1,075, and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Last May, my Department, under phase 1 of an expansion of employment services and in accordance with its legal obligations sought tenders for the provision of a new local area employment service in Laois-Offaly. I understand that existing job clubs providers in Laois-Offaly did not submit a tender for those counties, which removed any chance of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the new employer, Turas Nua, has had multiple meetings with representatives of SIPTU who said there was a collective bargaining agreement in place. This matter needs to be addressed with the employer, as the Deputy knows. A collective agreement is not compulsory under law, as I understand it. The WRC is a forum for resolving employment issues which arise between an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Support Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We have been down this road a few times regarding the local area employment services. The legal advice from the Attorney General is clear - these services have to be put out to tender. Community organisations won out in two of the three areas where they submitted bids under phase 1. That shows clearly that the community can win these contracts. As the Deputy is aware, the requests for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Welfare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The community welfare service of my Department delivers the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. The scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The Deputy can be assured that I am...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Welfare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The increased back office support in place across the greater Dublin area and in counties Kildare and Wicklow has been found to have improved the service to customers, especially at times of particular pressure such as during periods of staff absence due to the Covid pandemic. It ensures that a swift response is available to customers, resulting in significant decreases in the time waiting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Welfare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Intreo offices are also providing these services. The Deputy is asking specifically about contracts with the HSE. I cannot give him that answer because I do not have it. I am happy that my officials can write to him on it. We have all changed the way we do business since Covid. People have been working remotely. The officials in my Department and particularly community welfare officers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Before the introduction of temporary public health measures in March 2020, the default payment method for jobseekers was cash collection at a post office. Nevertheless, one in four jobseeker payments was still paid into customers' bank accounts. These include those in receipt of a jobseeker's payment upon reaching the age of 62 years and who...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: All we announced last week was simply a return to the jobseeker's payment system that had always been in place before the pandemic whereby people collected their payments at post offices. This is about supporting our post office network. Post offices are an integral part of communities across the country. I have met the Irish Postmasters' Union and An Post. They were clear that the loss...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: If people are immunocompromised and have genuine concerns, I ask that they contact their local Intreo offices. At the end of the day, we are here to help. What we are doing with this is putting things back the way they were prior to Covid. As the Minister for Rural and Community Development, I want to support post offices and our rural towns and villages. We want to look at ways of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The programme for Government commits the Government to acting to reform our child maintenance system and addressing key issues such as calculation, facilitation and enforcement, guided by international best practice and in light of the findings of the child maintenance review group's report. In line with this commitment, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We are absolutely on the one page on this; I agree with the Deputy. There is nothing worse than what she has described. I saw the problem myself when I worked in the credit union and, indeed, the bank. Whenever a lone parent, who was usually a woman, got a court order, it was a case of a payment being made one week and missed for the next couple, followed by another payment. It was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At the minute, the income from maintenance payments is assessed as means. In most cases, 50% of the person's weekly maintenance payment is assessed. That is half of it. There is a further disregard of €95.23 per week, with the balance of any maintenance being assessed at 50%. I take the Deputy's point but the matter will be considered in the review. It is best to await the report...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The report of the Commission on Pensions was published on 7 October 2021. It established that the current State pension system is not sustainable and that changes are needed. The report set out a wide range of recommendations in relation to the State pension system and social insurance fund, including PRSI base broadening measures. In the interests of older people and future generations...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There is a process, and I have outlined what is still to happen in that regard. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to stand here today and tell the Deputy which recommendations the Government will accept or otherwise. The discussions will continue over the coming weeks and months. The plan is that the Government will outline its full response to the commission's...