Results 16,361-16,380 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I note that details of a specific case have not been provided in this instance. State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, legally and 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Proposed Legislation (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government commits to developing a National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, investing in our blueways and recreational trails, and expanding the Walks Scheme. I expect to publish the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy later this year and in 2021 I approved funding of almost €35 million under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. In addition, I expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1165 together. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to face masks or face coverings is set out in the table below: Vendor Cost (incl. VAT) Bunzl €1168.50 Bunzl €3182.75 Codex €159.00 Hunt Office ...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a number of funding streams for Community Centres. For example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. I announced the fourth call for Category 1 applications in December 2021, with a closing date for applications of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that no contact has been made by myself or my Department officials in any form of communication, with the World Economic Forum, or representatives of the World Economic Forum.

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

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Local Authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved...

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

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. Funding under the LEADER programme is focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings of Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation; Social Inclusion; and the Rural...

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

Heather Humphreys: On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to the mass influx of persons fleeing Ukraine as a consequence of the war. This means that persons to whom the Directive applies will be able to work in Ireland and to access social services and the full range of social welfare supports including...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) Scheme was made available to employees and self- employed people who had lost their employment due to the effects of the Covid pandemic. It has proven to be a vital income support to workers, thousands of whom lost their jobs virtually overnight. In line with the standard practice applying to all jobseeker payments, my Department undertook a number...

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

Heather Humphreys: Since the lifting of the restrictions on the 28/02/22, the Medical Review and Assessment Service of the Department has planned to resume in-person assessments which are scheduled for the week starting 21/03/2022. During the pandemic, my Department continued to service the customers of Disablement Benefit Scheme by conducting Desk Assessments where appropriate. I hope this clarifies the...

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

Heather Humphreys: In Budget 2022, I introduced a new measure that will provide a flat grant of up to €500 a year for eligible individuals towards the cost of non-surgical hair replacement including wigs. The grant will be available from 28 May 2022 under the Treatment Benefit scheme. The Treatment Benefit Scheme is a social insurance scheme and eligibility is based on age and social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (23 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) enables my Department to assist local organisations and agencies to implement projects addressing the needs of recipients of welfare payments and their families, to provide progression routes into education, training and employment. The application of the funding is largely responsive to demand identified by local organisations who apply...

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

Heather Humphreys: The table below shows Child Benefit expenditure and average recipient numbers for the years 2017 - 2021. Year Expenditure €000 Average Recipient Numbers 2017 2,086,390 623,170 2018 2,096,671 626,240 2019 2,102,436 629,760 2020 2,102,328 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a commitment to the provision of interpretation and translations services under its Customer Charter and Action plan. The provision of these services assists customers in the conduct of their business with the Department. The table below sets out the total cost of engagements with Word Perfect Translation Services LTD from 2011 to 2022 for the provision of translation and...

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

Heather Humphreys: Officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been working together to coordinate the Government response. In addition, officials from my Department have been in ongoing contact with the Receiver for Roadbridge since Saturday the 12th of March 2022. While the statutory 30-day period under the 1977 Act must be adhered to,...

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

Heather Humphreys: In Budget 2022, my Department announced an estimate of €23.35 billion for 2022 which was based on emerging trends as the country moved on from Covid-19 restrictions which had been in place for much of the previous two years. When compared to the 2021 provisional outturn figure for my Department, this estimate included increases such as: - €274.3 million for jobseekers to...

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

Heather Humphreys: The number of claims awaiting a decision at the 28th February 2022 for each scheme, for which operational data is available, are show in tabular form below. Scheme Claims awaiting a decision as of 28th February 2022 State Pension (Contributory) 4,767 Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension 393 State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Further to the commitment under the Programme for Government, the Benefit Payment for 65 Year olds was introduced from January 2021 for those who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. This payment bridges the gap for eligible people who retire at 65 but do not qualify for State Pension until they are aged 66....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (23 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, young people in the labour market (those under 25 years of age) can be particularly affected by labour market disruptions. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 264,000 young people were in work and the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for 2019 averaged approximately 12.5 percent. However, following the onset of the pandemic, the CSO’s...