Results 15,841-15,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is a customer of the Local Employment Service (LES), a contracted third party provider of employment services. My officials have spoken to the person concerned and will address her concerns.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At the time of receipt of the claims made by the two people concerned, the Department received a very high volume of Enhanced Illness Benefit claims. While 92% of the 37,500 weekly claims received in January were processed within a week, some claims required further examination by a officer of the Department. The Enhanced Illness Benefit claims concerned have now been awarded, and arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation stipulates that a minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions are required to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). The person concerned reached pension age on 9 October 2021. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 24 August 2021. According to the records of my Department, they have a contribution record of nil full-rate paid social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 511 together. The issue of family maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the people concerned. Social Welfare legislation provides that some or all of the cost of One-Parent Family (OFP) payments are recovered from the other parent. These "liable relative" provisions are set out in Part 12 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to assist the Deputy with the information requested; however, this should not be construed as an interpretation of the law, which is solely a matter for the Courts. Section 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended (the "Act"), provides, amongst other things, that the Minister may make regulations for any purpose in relation to which regulations are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned made an application for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance on 26th November 2021. This application was refused on the grounds that the proposal was not a new enterprise as the person had previously been self-employed in this sector in the locale, and that there was a risk of displacement as there are many other similar businesses in the vicinity. My officials...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The rate of Illness Benefit payable is based on a person's average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. For claims made in 2021, the relevant tax year is 2019. The person concerned qualified for Illness Benefit at a rate of €134.20 per week as her average weekly earnings in 2019 were between €150.00 and €219.99. For 2022, the relevant tax year is 2020; the current...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There is no record of a claim for the living alone allowance having been received in my Department from the person concerned.  In order to have entitlement to the allowance examined, a completed application form must be received.  I have arranged for a living alone application form to be posted to the person concerned.  When...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.  For the purposes of the means-test, at application stage and through the lifetime of a claim, an applicant must...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The following table details the foreign travel episodes arranged for the persons concerned and undertaken from 1 January 2018 to date. Purpose Number Travelling Destination Departure Date Return Date Total Cost Presidential  delegation 1 Athens 20/02/2018 24/02/2018 €504.82 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The qualifying criteria for the widow’s pension depend on whether a person is claiming the Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension.  Each pension is payable to a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner, whose spouse or civil partner has passed away. To qualify for the Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit scheme is available to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. It is also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable. Those who are eligible can avail of dental, optical and hearing services under the scheme. €109 million was spent on the scheme in 2021. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 August 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. Those papers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022.   It is estimated that up to 400,000 households will benefit from this payment in 2022.  The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  The allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 January 2022.  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. Those papers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or being claimed as a qualified adult...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of this customer's Jobseekers claim, a revised decision was made, and an overpayment assessed by a Deciding Officer of my Department, which was notified to the customer.  The customer subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The appeal is under consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) which has received a submission...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (16 Feb 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 for the long term unemployed and is payable for a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I do not currently have any Ministerial Garda drivers employed in my Department.  The appointment of civilian drivers in my Department are made in line with the Government guidelines “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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have not undertaken any foreign travel since my appointment as Minister for Rural and Community Development on 27/06/2020. Minister O’Brien has not undertaken any foreign travel since his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development on 27/06/2020. The cost of Ministerial foreign...