Results 15,621-15,640 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is right. It is hard to beat a face to face interaction. Many times applications are turned down because all of the information has not been provided and perhaps people are unaware that it was an important piece of information that would help make a decision on their application. We were able to do some oral hearings and appeals online during Covid. We continue to use new...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The cost of disability research is significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that the findings in the research will have implications for many areas of public policy, including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports. These relevant Departments have been requested to examine the work they are currently committed to undertaking...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Dealing with the cost of disability requires a whole-of-government approach. The reform of disability payments will take on board the recommendations of the report and it is clear a whole-of-government response is needed. There are recommendations in respect of housing, health, education, transport and others, and from a social protection perspective one of the recommendations is a payment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that we must help more people with disabilities get back to the workforce. That is very important. I worked to extend the Ability programme last year. That was funded through the EU and funding was due to finish but I met the appropriate people and ensured the Dormant Accounts Fund could support this excellent programme. I was given an outline of what the programme...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I apologise but I did not expect to get to this question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: If that is okay I will get the reply sent to her. We were very quick getting through questions today.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 92 together. The Government recognises the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. The main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I have already emphasised, the Government is fully supportive of the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. My Department provides a range of income supports to family carers including Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing high quality services to help people who are long term unemployed prepare for and secure employment. It does this through a combination of directly provided services and contracted services. Under national and EU procurement rules, and as advised by the Attorney General and the Chief States Solicitor's Office, contracted services must be procured via...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit schemes, which include dental, optical and hearing services are available to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable.€109 million was spent on the scheme in 2021. As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The legal advice from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the Attorney General was unequivocal that there needs to be competitive procurement for future public employment services. In addition, my Department is responsible for ensuring good governance of employment service provision, which requires greater oversight and enhanced visibility of service provision. I can say that, as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Cost of Disability research findings are significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that this issue will not be addressed through income support alone. The research has implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports. In order to implement an all-Department response, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Last May my Department under a Phase 1 expansion of employment services, and in accordance with its legal obligations, sought tenders for the provision of the new Local Area Employment Service in Laois/Offaly. I understand that existing Job Club providers in Laois/Offaly did not submit a tender for these counties, removing any chance of them continuing to provide employment services in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The key role of the Department of Social Protection is to provide income support where an income need arises because of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, caring or unemployment. Disability Allowance is the Department’s main income support for people who have a disability. To be eligible, the disability must be expected to last for at least one year and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions. In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: This measure will allow for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) and associated Carers payments to be paid for up to six months in respect of a child who is admitted to hospital full-time for an extended period. Currently these supports are paid for up to a maximum of 13 weeks (three months). This measure will address the issue with the relatively small number of children who are in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Websites (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Launched in 2015, the MyWelfare.ie platform continues to develop and grow. The rationale for developing a customer facing online platform, as set out in the Department's Digital Services Channel Strategy, was to meet growing customer demand and expectations. This rationale remains and my Department is now working towards the Civil Service Renewal target of getting 90% of services online by...