Results 18,561-18,580 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsor organisations who are the legal employers of their CE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I note the recent publication of the Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, "Foundations for the Future," which independently considers how best the taxation and welfare systems can support economic activity and promote increased employment and prosperity in Ireland. I also note that there are a broad range of recommendations for Government to consider, including the recommendation...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents. Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 37, 58, 67 and 86 together. In 2022 to the end of September, almost 66,000 applications for ANPs were processed and awarded, an increase of just under 60% on 2021. This rise in the number of applications reflects, at least in part, the efforts the Department has implemented, including two major advertising campaigns, to increase awareness of the payments....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Properties (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Office of Public Works approached the Department of Social Protection regarding a full retrofit of Block 1, Intreo Centre, Government Buildings, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare and a re-modelling of Block 2, Government Buildings, Kilrush Rd., Ennis In phase 1, redevelopment works will need to be undertaken in Block 2 to accommodate DSP staff from Block 1. It is anticipated that these...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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 household. Only one allowance is paid per household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 72 together. As stated in the 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report, measures to address the additional costs of disability should be based on a multi-faceted approach involving increased cash payments, enhanced access to service provision and specific targeted grant programmes. The report also made clear that the cost of disability has implications...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 45 together. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report. The Cost of Disability research report was published by my Department in December 2021, which is feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The main income supports to carers provided by my department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to exceed €1.5 billion. The means test for Carer’s Allowance not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Energy Prices (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports in 2022 and a package of one-off measures worth €2.5 billion in the Budget 2023 cost of living package. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to recognise and protect the statutory independence of the Citizens Information Board and the separation between it and the eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies, which it funds, and which operate the national network of Citizens Information Centres on its behalf. Section 7(1) of the Comhairle Act charges CIB with the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period. One of these measures is the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment. This will be paid to those schemes which are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus, with one...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 55 together. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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: Rural Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from early September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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 household. Only one allowance is paid per household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I announced on Budget Day that the Government will spend more than €2.1 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments from January 2023. This supports both pensioners and those of working age and includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults. This is the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all customers, ensuring that claims are processed as quickly as possible and that backlogs are kept to a minimum. Processing times for new applications vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that Budget 2023 includes a social welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. This extensive package includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment which is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings. The Working Family Payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to...