Results 17,161-17,180 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The table below shows the numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory at the end of December 2020 and December 2021. As the scheme is demand led and means tested, it is not possible to predict the extent to which this number is likely to fluctuate in future years. Year Number of recipients 2021 95,010 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The attached tabular statement outlines the monthly recipients of Child Benefit in April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022. There was a fall in recipients of approximately 0.2% between 2020 and 2021, followed by an increase of approximately 0.4% between 2021 and 2022. By close of business on 1st May 2022, there were 6,104 awarded child benefit claims awarded to people fleeing the conflict in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the person referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to her on 12th May 2022 providing her with her PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: This question relates to Action no. 60 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (Health and Wellbeing section). which is assigned to the Department of Health under the Strategy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently undertaking a significant expansion of public employment services, through an open and competitive public procurement process. In particular, specialised employment services for those farthest from the labour market - previously available in just twelve counties - will soon be available State-wide for the first time. In the first phase of this procurement,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Social Protection I regularly meet with stakeholders in the community and voluntary sector, such as St. Vincent de Paul, through events such as the annual pre-budget forum. I value the informed views and opinions of these organisations. I am very aware of the challenges facing low-income households as a result of the recent increases in consumer prices. These increases,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (17 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Public Services Cards (PSC) are produced following the authentication of a person's identity via the SAFE registration process. Accordingly, there are no direct applications for PSCs. The records of my Department show that a total of 3.6 million persons have been SAFE registered and had a PSC issued to them. In 2021, my Department issued 442,000 PSCs of which 150,000 were issued to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Habitual Residency Condition (HRC) is one of the qualifying criteria for social assistance schemes in Ireland and it applies to everyone who makes a claim for such a payment, including Irish citizens. There is no minimum period of residence in the State required to satisfy HRC. Each person’s claim is considered on its own merits and within the terms of the relevant scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned made an on-line application for Enhanced Illness Benefit. Unfortunately she did not upload the required medical evidence to support her claim. The person concerned identified herself as being self-employed and accordingly there is a requirement that she provide proof that she is registered as such with Revenue along with documentation that shows she had been working in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The recently published Indecon report highlighted that the ‘Cost of Disability’ is significantly wider than the income support system. Additional costs of disability identified run across a number of areas of expenditure including: housing, equipment, aids and appliances, medicines, care and assistance services, additional living expenses and the area of mobility, transport and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Leave (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for Maternity Leave. Any changes to the legislation would be a matter for that Minister. As Minister for Social Protection, I have responsibility for the associated Maternity Benefit which is paid at a weekly flat rate of €250 for 26 weeks to employed and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse / partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33.00; or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments; and is paid over the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits package comprises of the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (18 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. The 2022 programme was launched in February last with a total budget of €7 million, an increase of €1.5 million on the previous year. The measures being...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (18 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 determination of eligibility and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (19 May 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. Carer's allowance reviews take place in a number of circumstances as follows:- - If the decision on a new claim is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (19 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 290, 296, 298 and 299 together. The estimated cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment by €1 is shown in the table below. Payment Personal €m Qualified Adult €m Total €m Social Insurance Schemes State Pension (Contributory)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (19 May 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. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in...