Results 19,221-19,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Grant Payments (24 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The table below identifies funding returned to my Department from local authorities during the timeframe requested by the Deputy, based on details extracted from my Department's financial management system. Year LA Amount returned (€) Scheme/Programme 2019 Wexford County Council -8,750.00 Rural Broadband ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 419, 423 and 437 together. My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 461 together. The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 500,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the HHB, with one package provided per household. The HHB is also available to people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 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: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that neither I, nor officials from either my Department or the statutory bodies under its aegis, attended the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently, understanding the many pressures faced by customers. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, for all the main scheme areas. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Applications for Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in the Department. The purpose of the ENP is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which cannot be met from any other source and which a person could not reasonably be expected to...

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

Heather Humphreys: The National Shared Services Office is responsible for payroll administration for all Government Departments. On 21 October 2022 the NSSO issued a communication in relation to the payment of pay increases due under the Building Momentum Public Service Agreement which stated the following: "Phase 2 Revised rates and arrears requiring individual review: Revised rates under the terms of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: A person's marital status does not affect their entitlement to Disability Allowance. Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Nov 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 7 October 2022. It is a statutory requirement of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Marriages (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Firstly may I take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the person concerned on their bereavement. The registration of marriages is provided for in the Civil Registration Act 2004 as amended (the Act). Where a registrar refuses to register a life event, which includes marriage, provision is made for a statutory appeal process. In this case, I understand that an appeal is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. Living alone allowance is payable from age 66, with widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension. As the person concerned is under age 66, she does not qualify for this allowance. However, the person concerned was previously in receipt of living alone allowance with disability allowance, in which case it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together. The person concerned has been in receipt of living alone allowance since 25/03/2011. Their weekly pension payment is €275.30. This is comprised of the maximum personal rate of €253.30, plus €22 living alone allowance. As a result of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides income supports through contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and 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 or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Invalidity Pension is a contributory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware it is a core value of my Department to deal with all its customers in a professional and respectful manner. When corresponding with customers in the context of a medical review or appeal of a particular claim it is standard practice to include a pre-paid return envelope. In order to facilitate the efficient distribution of the returned correspondence the envelope has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. A new claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 10 November 2022. In order to establish medical suitability two forms were sent to him on 16 November 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Nov 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. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an email from the person concerned was received in that Office on 26 September 2022. As the communication did not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions. If a person is aged under 21, they may qualify if they have paid at least 39 contributions at any time. Between the age of 21 to 28, a person may qualify if they...