Results 19,501-19,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can agree to report to the Oireachtas on the matter. However, I have to set out some facts relating to the ex gratiapayment. It is a complex issue as community employment, CE, workers are not State employees. This agreement was reached with both unions representing supervisors, SIPTU and Fórsa, arising from a 2008 Labour Court recommendation on pensions for CE supervisors and...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Joan Collins. As part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, the Government committed to finalising an approach for the benchmarking and indexation of pension payments and to consider and prepare a report for Government on the potential application of the benchmarking approach on a wider basis to other welfare payments. I am happy to share that report with the Deputy...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I just said, given that the Government has approved an approach on pension payments, potential benchmarking approach to other social welfare payments will, of course, be examined. Regarding the MESL, my Department has used this research as a key input into consideration of budget options in recent years. I value the insight this research provides and it will form part of the...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On Committee Stage, I committed to initiate a wide-ranging review of means testing in the Department. I said I would review all those schemes. This review will with cover the treatment of income and disregards across schemes generally and will therefore include the examination of thresholds and their impact for both the blind pension and the disability allowance scheme. I take the Deputy's...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I, too, want to say that it has been a tough year for Tracy McGinnis. We think about her and we extend our thoughts and prayers to her as she faces Christmas without her son, Brendan. It cannot be easy for her. I was in touch with her recently about a separate issue. I appreciate where Deputy Kerrane is coming from on this matter. She is coming from a good place and I recognise that,...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It would not be appropriate for my Department to compile a report, as is requested in the amendment, because policy in respect of apprenticeships does not come within my Department's remit. As the Deputy knows, the overall policy responsibility rests with my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and his Department. This year, the National...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Land Issues (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am delighted to say that yesterday I launched Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, which was an action under Our Rural Future. This Strategy was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe and is collaborative cross-Government, stakeholder-led strategy. It reflects the views of stakeholders, the public and the whole of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Fishing Industry (29 Nov 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. Under the 2020 Scheme, Inland Fisheries Ireland was awarded funding of €500,000 for four outdoor recreational project initiatives to help improve existing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: This year's CLÁR programme was launched in February with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme. The measures funded under CLÁR 2022 were: - Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities - Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. CLÁR has made significant investments at community level the length and breadth of the country. Funding of over €57...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has an Access Officer appointed at Principal Officer level. The officer concerned is responsible for securing assistance within the Department to meet any needs raised by people with disabilities in accessing our services. Contact details for the Department's Access Officer are listed on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: All applications to the Community Centres Investment Fund are subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines. Category 1 applicants were notified of the outcome of this process last month. Details of successful applicants are available on my department’s website at: www.gov.ie/drcd The group the Deputy refers to applied...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department occupies offices in Trinity Point, Dublin 2 and in Government Buildings in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Cleaning services in Trinity Point are currently provided by 5 Star Facilities, which took over the contract from Accent Solutions in May 2022. One cleaner is currently sufficient for the Department's footprint. The costs associated with cleaning services in Trinity Point for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: One former civilian driver remains in the employment of the Department of Rural and Community Development on temporary contract which is coterminous with the Minister for Rural & Community Development. This officer is on a redeployment assignment to another Government Department for the remainder of their temporary contract. Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) was not issued and no case...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 18 January 2022. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused as her means exceed the statutory maximum allowed under the DA scheme. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 27 May 2022 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I announced on Budget Day that my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion on social welfare measures to help individuals and families through this difficult period. These measures include an Autumn Double Payment, which was paid in mid-October to over 1.4 million people, including pensioners, carers, people with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently 29 Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) employed by Intreo Centres in Dublin South Central, namely in the Ballyfermot, Bishop’s Square and Cork Street Intreo Centres. This figure includes the team of CWOs working exclusively on Rent Supplements in the Cork Street Intreo Centre. Given the fluctuation in demand for the Community Welfare Service (CWS), particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Living Alone Allowance is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension. The Living Alone Allowance is not means tested and the payment is made as an increase to the...