Results 2,201-2,220 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (31 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused, in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Homeless Persons Supports (31 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 70,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (31 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Tús is a community work placement initiative, established in 2011, that provides short-term part-time working opportunities for unemployed people. The income received by participants on Tús is treated as income from employment for PRSI purposes and, in the same manner as other workers, is subject to Class A PRSI. This provides the participants on these schemes with access to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (31 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 216, 217, 221, 227 and 245 together. Since 15th July, 2014, a total of 108 JobBridge complaints have been recorded on the Department’s centralized complaints facility. As a matter of course, all complaints are investigated. As at 27th March, 2015, a total of 43 host organisations had been disqualified from participation in the scheme. Since 15th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (31 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Gateway is a work placement initiative delivered by county and city councils which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants will benefit by being involved in work, they will improve their work readiness and will be able to apply their skills and learn new ones. The scheme was introduced in December 2013 and selected...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am confident that the Minister will be reviewing the debate on this issue. I will convey to him the three points the Deputy has outlined as soon as he returns from business overseas. The primary aim is to ensure that resources are allocated in the fairest possible way and to make the maximum contribution to tackle disadvantage, create jobs and promote economic recovery. Coming from an...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: At the beginning of taking these three Topical Issues matters, I outlined that the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly was abroad on business. The Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, could not make it because of a family bereavement. The option was available under Standing Orders for the Deputy to defer the Topical Issue until the Minister was available and it would have been taken next week...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Did the Deputy raise the first three issues or not? Do I not have a right to respond to them? I have done so.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I replied to the Deputy. Sometimes she accuses people of not replying, but I have.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local government as:The primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level — leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably.As part of...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It would not have been indefinite; it would actually be the first item to be taken next week.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It would not have been.

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The work he has done on the Private Members' Bill concerning bankruptcy has much merit. I look forward to the Government's proposals being published shortly after Easter. I always appreciate Deputy Penrose's insight on housing because he obviously has quite an amount of experience in this area. There are currently two mortgage-to-rent schemes...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The operation of the scheme is closely monitored on an ongoing basis by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Housing agencies are regularly contacted by the approved housing bodies and financial institutions. To date, a total of 2,762 cases have been submitted under the approved housing body mortgage to rent scheme. Of these, 1,897 were deemed ineligible or...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Tyre Disposal (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will bring back the points made by the Deputy to the Minister, Deputy Kelly. I should point out that the tyre working group met on 2 March last to begin the process of the implementation of the tyre producer responsibility initiative. All parts of the tyre industry, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and importers, are represented at the group, which also includes...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Tyre Disposal (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, is overseas and the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Paudie Coffey, was unable to come to the House owing to a family bereavement. I apologise on behalf of both Ministers for their absence. I am pleased to provide an update on the establishment of a producer responsibility initiative, PRI, for...

Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Sit down.

Leaders' Questions (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It was 20,000.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staffing (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy O'Sullivan. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to respond to the issue he has raised, although I am not too sure why I am responding. The Senator's contribution on Ireland and Kerry was very poetic ---

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staffing (26 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I know Kerry very well and go there on a regular basis. It is a very beautiful and scenic part of the country and is doing exceptionally well from a tourism perspective. Its employment figures are going in the right direction, as per recent announcements. To deal with the matter in hand, the Senator will know that the Minister for Education and Skills has outlined the new pupil teacher...