Results 16,041-16,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance Scheme is designed to assist pensioners and other welfare-dependent householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their winter heating needs. The fuel allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses and is not intended to meet them in full. It is means-assessed and is paid only to customers who meet all the qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disabilities Assessments (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Assessments of medical eligibility for Disability Allowance (DA) are based on medical reports and other evidence furnished by the applicant and the applicant’s treating physician. Under Social Welfare legislation , it is a deciding officer (DO) who decides upon any and all questions in relation to a person’s eligibility for DEASP schemes, including DA. In arriving at his or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In 2019 and 2020, the Institute of Employment Studies and Social Finance undertook a review of all contracted employment services, including EmployAbility. The review and proposed changes to the EmployAbility procurement model are under consideration though significant changes is unlikely before contracts starting in 2023. The review did recommend, amongst other things, competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The case is one of the most serious incidences of fraud that has been detected in many years. It was the inspectors and seconded Gardaí in my Department who secured this prosecution following an extensive investigation. My Department uses a range of measures to ensure that fraud is identified, prevented, and minimised. Where it is established that a fraud has occurred, such as in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Advertising (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not subscribe to the publication referred to by the Deputy and it is not distributed to staff.  No payments relating to advertisements or other matters have been made by my Department to the company concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 922 together. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.  The Fund has, to date, allocated funding of €277 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €375 million. Calls for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ferry Services (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 924 together. My Department fully understands the importance of the Dursey Island cable car service for island residents, the local farming community, and the impact the withdrawal of the service will have on tourism in the region. It is important to note, however, that Cork County Council are wholly responsible for the provision of the cable car...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established on 15 December 2021 with a meeting co-chaired by myself and Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD, involving participation from all key State stakeholders, including ComReg and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland. At the first meeting, Minister of State Smyth and I to set out our priorities for the coming period, which...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Services Provision (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has not won any award from the Public Sector Magazine publication.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of public library services, including the provision of library premises, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act, 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Ratoath is primarily a matter for Meath County Council. My Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme 2016 – 2022,  which is currently fully...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that I have WhatsApp on my official phone. I use the application on occasion, usually for transmitting videos for social media use in relation to my Department’s work. I do not have the disappearing messages function activated.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home.  Domiciliary Care allowance (DCA) can be paid in respect of qualified children up to age 16 years.  A total of 3,402 children ceased being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2021, as they reached 16 years of age.  If those children...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The EURES ‘Targeted Mobility Scheme’ (TMS) aims to foster movement for workers within the European Union by the creation of innovative job mobility projects with the support of the European Commission. The initiative is financed under the Employment and Social Innovation ("EaSI") strand of the ESF+ which is a European-level financing instrument managed directly by the European...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the Table below. The Deputy should note that the percentage refused is based on refused claims as a percentage of claims with a decision recorded; that is as a proportion of claims awarded or refused or withdrawn. Domiciliary Care Allowance Registered Awarded Refused Withdrawn % refused...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 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, to 371,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. The person concerned was assessed with a Jobseekers Allowance (JA) overpayment of €153,702.20. This decision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.  An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 1 November 2021.  A person can be considered to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In order to support an application for Illness Benefit, medical certification is needed.  To date, the Department has not received any medical evidence for the person concerned.  Medical certification for Illness Benefit is accepted in the following formats:  - An e-Cert – sent electronically by the person's doctor to the Department.  - A paper...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age.  Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. In accordance with Social Welfare legislation the person with whom a qualified child normally resides is qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The Arts and Culture Taskforce recommended the introduction of a pilot basic income scheme for artists. This was reflected in the National Economic Recovery Plan. Budget 2022 included an announcement of €25 million to pilot a new Basic Income Guarantee scheme for artists. My colleague the Minister for Minister for Tourism,...