Results 17,581-17,600 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each fuel season) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Overpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended).  Customers who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled. Some payments may have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: General Register Office (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The General Register Office (GRO) is currently considering a range of revisions to improve the functioning of the civil registration system in the State.  I expect to be in a position to consider proposals from the GRO for amending legislation later this year.  I have been informed by the GRO that any proposals for amending legislation will include changes...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement services/products to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions and their dependent spouse, partner or co-habitant .  In order to qualify for treatment benefit when aged over 66 years a PRSI contributor must...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The Scheme is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that can make a lasting impact in revitalising rural towns and villages across the country....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund 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 €278 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €377 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (22 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy was launched in early 2021. The policy recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. In furtherance of this commitment, my Department’s focus to date has been on strategically...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together. The Minister for Social Protection has no function in these matters.Policy issues related to public service pensions are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Policy matters related to public sector broadcasting are for my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Public Services Card (PSC) is accepted as proof of identity when a person accesses public services, and is also used by my Department’s free travel customers to avail of their entitlement to free travel.  My Department does not automatically issue PSCs to those whose card is expiring for a number of reasons. Firstly, to ensure the efficacy and reliability of the PSC as...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department has placed 100 Job Coaches to date. It is planned that, in 2022 and 2023, an additional 50 Job Coaches will be assigned by reassignment of staff roles within the Department.

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

Heather Humphreys: Job Clubs currently provide a short-term employment service to job-ready clients under contract to my Department.   The Department is currently procuring a significant expansion of employment services that will see the delivery of an enhanced nation-wide service designed to support those most distant from the labour market.  This revised model will see the implementation of...

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

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance  scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.  Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in...

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

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child , aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 months. The following table shows the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.  The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. The following table shows...

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

Heather Humphreys: I confirm that my department received an application for Carer’s Support Grant  (CSG) from the person concerned on the 9thJune 2022.  I can confirm that the person concerned has been awarded a CSG for the year 2022.  Payment of €1,850 for the year 2022 will be paid to the person's nominated bank account shortly. Notification of this decision has...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 April 2022.  It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (23 Jun 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 (23 Jun 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. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (23 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The sustainability of the communities on our off shore islands is a core objective of the Government, as set out in its ‘Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, Our Rural Future’. The policy acknowledges the importance for island communities of access to reliable, safe and affordable connectivity services to and from the mainland.  Contracts for connectivity services...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together. The LEADER programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year. Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials and stakeholders in...