Results 17,741-17,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Jul 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 depopulation over a defined period. A review of CLÁR areas nationally was undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census of Population data. The review examined the most recent changes in population...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The budget allocated to my Department for 2022 is published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2022, which is available here: assets.gov.ie/207416/1ebb916d-9839-458f-a4df-9fa77be9b7de.pd f The Revised Estimate 2022 provides a gross allocation of €378.6 million, of which; €202.3 million is allocated to the Rural Development, Regional Affairs and the Islands programme area;...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Pay (5 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 set out that restoration for public servants with annualised basic salaries above €150,000 would be completed by Ministerial order by 1 July 2022. In accordance with the legislation, an Order under Section 20 of the Act was laid before the Oireachtas on 30 June. The Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. From 2017 to 2021, my Department allocated €80 million...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Jobseekers Benefit has been awarded for the person concerned at the rate of €208.00 per week. Notification has been sent to the customer concerned on 04/07/2022. The person concerned will receive their first payment on 07/07/2022 at their chosen post office. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has no Jobseekers Benefit claim open with the Department. Once the person concerned has made a claim application for Jobseeker's Benefit, with relevant supporting documentation, the application will be processed in a timely manner. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Jobseekers Benefit has been awarded from 04/07/2022 at €208.00 per week for the person concerned. First payment will issue on 13/07/2022 to the selected post office for the person concerned. The decision letter was issued 04/07/2022 confirming payment to the person concerned. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 02 June 2022 and will receive his first payment to his nominated bank account on 21 July 2022. Any arrears due from 02 June 2022 to 20 July 2022 will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 05 July 2022. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 14 December 2021. He was awarded the maximum weekly rate of SPC which is currently €253.30. An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Entitlement to Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension (WSCPCP) is based on the social insurance record of either the applicant or their deceased spouse or civil partner. In order to qualify for a maximum rate pension a person must have a yearly average of 48 weeks social insurance contributions paid before the death of their spouse or civil partner. The late...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. My Department provides a comprehensive package of income supports for carers including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware the person concerned provided incorrect bank details when she made an application for Illness Benefit. My Department's Accounts Branch made efforts to have the money refunded from the recipient bank but unfortunately this approach was unsuccessful. The Illness Benefit section subsequently tried to contact the company involved by phone but were unable to get in touch...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. My Department does not distinguish between claims awarded following registration, claims awarded and subsequently disallowed or on claims that are awarded following review. Detailed information on claims awarded, claims rejected, claims withdrawn and total claims registered are available in the Annual Statistics report at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot be expected to pay from their weekly income. It provides supports and services to help support people on low incomes and facing financial hardship. This scheme is administered by the Community...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (7 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. It is a targeted payment to people dependent on specified long-term social welfare payments. The purpose of this payment is to assist those households most in need with their energy costs. In Budget 2022, the Government increased the weekly means threshold for the Fuel...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Just over two years ago, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party formed a Government. It was not easy, but we did it for one overriding reason. We believe that people enter politics to improve people’s lives. Putting people first was our number one interest during the Covid-19 crisis. The priority of this Government now is to protect families against the unprecedented...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In the eyes of Sinn Féin, €385 is not good enough for a child south of the Border but £42 is enough for a child in Northern Ireland.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As usual with Sinn Féin, it is a case of "Do as we say, not as we do." It is the flip-flop party. During Covid, when the Government closed the pubs, it wanted them open. When we opened the pubs, it wanted them closed. When we do universal measures, it wants targeted measures. When we do targeted measures, it wants universal measures. Last week, it wanted an emergency budget. This...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a number of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. There is a range of benefits available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Entitlement to such benefits is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other...