Results 17,001-17,020 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (10 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the subsidised transport services to the off-shore islands do not fall under the remit of the fare reduction scheme currently being introduced by the National Transport Authority on behalf of the Department of Transport. While I am open to considering the introduction of a similar scheme for island residents, there are some concerns that applying a fare reduction for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The total amount of Rent Supplement paid by the Department of Social Protection in 2021 was €122.96 million. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this person on 30 March 2022. On 6 May 2022 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on their eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made on their DA application and the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres, including South Leinster CIS which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (11 May 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. Recipients of state pension non-contributory are obliged to notify the Department of any changes in their circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 194 together. The information requested is contained in the tables below. With the exception of Fuel Allowance, all the number of distinct recipients by quarter are provided. For Fuel allowance, the number of distinct recipients by year are provided. Table 1 shows the recipients of each scheme by quarter from Q1 2020 to Q1 2022 in Westmeath, and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced in response to the unprecedented disruption to the labour market caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Over the course of the pandemic, over 880,000 individuals received support under the scheme, at an associated cost of over €9 billion. Following the full lifting of public health restrictions earlier this year, the scheme has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. In March 2020, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly income support paid to people who are aged over 16 and under 66 and who are substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications by virtue of them having an injury, disease or physical or mental disability. The specified disability must be expected to last for at least on year...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan, my Department is committed to countering climate change and improving our environment for present and future generations. My Department has a Greener Department Group, comprising staff and managers which promotes a greener, more ecological culture within the Department, coordinates green initiatives, champions sustainable practices,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Reviews (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department conducted a public consultation on measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland. This process has been completed and I expect the findings of this review will be published on gov.ie in the coming days. Approximately 1,000 submissions were received and a selection of submissions from representative organisations will be published alongside the consultation report. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Measures (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Following a public consultation, revised guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments were published in July 2018 and came into effect on 1 January 2019. Following a review, my Department is currently developing necessary legislative amendments to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Reviews (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities and represent a vital piece of infrastructure for rural communities. As part of 'Our Rural Future',the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme is funded into the future. The selection of LIS roads is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a number of measures in place which can contribute to the installation of structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species. Some of the funded programmes encourage and promote the enhancement of biodiversity when reinstating/landscaping areas e.g. native pollinator plants. For example, applications received under CLÁR 2022 must outline if the project...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The tables below provides details of the amount of funding allocated to county Cork since July 2017 (when my Department was established) and details of the schemes under which this funding was assigned. Unfortunately, this project data is not available at the specific granular geographical level requested by the Deputy. Allocations to County Cork 2017-2022 € ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (12 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In order to qualify for a payment of Illness Benefit a person must be medically certified as being incapable of attending work due to illness and satisfy prescribed PRSI contribution conditions. The person concerned does not meet the PRSI conditions and therefore does not qualify for a payment. A letter issued to her dated the 9th May 2022 explaining the decision in full. If the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (12 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of the Department the person has a total of 938 full rate paid and credited contributions for the period 1960/61 to 2010. This is equivalent to a yearly average of 18 which qualifies her for a reduced rate pension currently payable at €190.00. A yearly average of 48 is required for entitlement to a maximum rate pension. The person’s total...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (12 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced in response to the unprecedented disruption to the labour market caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Over the course of the pandemic, over 880,000 individuals received support under the scheme. Following the full lifting of public health restrictions earlier this year, the scheme has now been wound down. The phased closure of the...