Results 18,081-18,100 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together. The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body tasked with providing information, advocacy and advice to citizens. These important services are delivered by the eight independent Regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies. The CIB provides funding to the eight CIS companies that operate a national network of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (14 Sep 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 (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The National Fuel Scheme applies to persons in receipt of long-term Social Welfare payments who satisfy a means condition and who are living alone or who only with the persons who come within certain categories. Fuel Allowance is not payable where a claimant is in receipt of certain non-qualifying payments from the Department. Non-qualifying payments include Disablement Benefit, Illness...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 398 together. The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department. The funding for the programme amounted to around €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My officials have advised that an Exceptional Needs Payment has been awarded to the person concerned towards the cost of furniture, appliances and floor coverings for her new accommodation. A payment of €4,600 was available in the person's nominated bank account on 12/09/02022. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 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). Citizens 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. Where an overpayment is raised,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Departmental records reflect there is no record of an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) or an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) for the person concerned. It is open to the person concerned to submit an SWA application by completing form SWA 1 and including all relevant documents in support of her application. For convenience, an application form will be posted to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together. My Department has introduced an online service which allows people with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their Public Services Cards (PSCs) through the MyWelfare.ie service without having to attend an appointment in one of our offices. Clients are requested to submit a passport quality photograph which must be verified to ensure it...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. It’s important to note that the Community Welfare Service remains a flexible...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Farm Assist is a means-tested payment for low-income farmers. Amongst other qualifying conditions a person must be aged between 18 and 66 to qualify for the payment. The person concerned was in receipt of a Farm Assist payment from 07/10/2019 until 23/08/2022. As the person concerned turned age 66 on 24/08/2022, he was advised by officials in the Maynooth Branch Office to apply for a State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 24 August 2022. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on the 08 August 2022. Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is both a means and medically assessed payment. The Department commenced a means review of the person concerned in June 2021. In their reply, the person concerned stated that they now have a rental property which is valued at €270,000 and has no out-standing mortgage. Properties other than a person’s principal residence are assessable for means purposes...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel Scheme allows people who are aged 66 years or over, and who are legally and permanently residing in the State, to travel free of charge on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, Local Link, as well as on the public transport services of a large number of private operators in various parts of the country. Certain people under age 66 may also be entitled to free travel if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment. A review of WFP for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am acutely aware of the increase in cost of living and impacts of inflation and rising costs in recent months, and my Department continues to support communities throughout Ireland to ensure they remain vibrant and sustainable. My Department delivers a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities including sports clubs,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Centres Investment Fund application closing date was Thursday 14th July 2022, and I can confirm my Department received an application from the group the Minister refers to. The appraisal process is currently ongoing. All applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines. Due to the high level of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 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: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to embedding remote working into the culture and practices of the Department. To this end, our Blended Working Policy was launched in July 2022 with a view to building a dynamic, flexible and versatile organisation, while sustaining high levels of performance, productivity and innovation. Our policy applies widely across the organisation and is underpinned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas. Earlier this year, I launched the 2022 Scheme with a budget of €15 million to support outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The measures being funded under this...