Results 2,281-2,300 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 18:In page 13, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “Opinion of medical assessor 8.The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 300:“Opinion of medical assessor 300A.(1) In determining a person’s entitlement (whether in respect of a decision under section 300 or a revised decision under section...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I refer to the specific issue of letters raised by Deputy Naughten. I can give him a commitment that no further letters will be issued.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to make that clear at this stage because the Deputy raised it so well.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: To put it into context, it was a trial on a voluntary basis to communicate better with the customer. It was a small trial to see whether we are in the best position to communicate with customers. As I said to Deputy Naughten, no further letters will issue and we will review how to deal with the issue from here on. Deputy Ó Snodaigh made several points. The average value of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Not necessarily. The fact is that more than 90% of social welfare overpayments are caused by failure to inform the Department of changes in circumstances. The majority of cases are dealt with in a speedy, efficient and fair manner. In specific individual cases there may be glitches within the system. If the Deputy wishes to point out those specific glitches with individuals, I would be...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I would advise the Deputy to write to the Department-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The detail of the case does not click with me.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will have a look at it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will take it one piece at a time because this is slightly different. This is a recovery of funds where there is an insurance case.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will not go too long. It is a difficult matter. I see Deputy Naughten's point. In a small number of cases, this is relevant. I have just asked my officials about it. It seems to be quite a difficult thorn to grasp and I suggest I have a look at it to see can it be grasped. It is really a small number of minor cases and I am not sure it is best done through legislation. Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: By advertising vacancies of this nature the Department of Social Protection through its Jobs Ireland service is affording the individual jobseeker the opportunity to decide personally whether they are interested in the self-employed vacancy position, rather than excluding potential options. It is important for the Department as a state organisation to endeavour to do its best to protect the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Scheme participants are obliged to notify their employer (CE/Tús/RSS scheme) immediately of any change in their family circumstances. This change could relate directly to the scheme participant (i.e. marriage, civil partnership, co-habiting, divorce, separation or death of spouse), or it could be that their existing adult dependant has a change in circumstances (e.g. finds/loses...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €29 million for the ENP scheme in 2015. An application can be made under the ENP scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Employment Service (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: There is no change in the total amount of funding that is available to the Local Employment Service (LES) network for 2015. Until 31stDecember 2014, all LESs had access to two funds which enabled them to financially assist clients with the cost of certain training and other supports. The Technical Support Grant Fund (TSG) provided for specified training and education supports and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €44.3 million for this scheme in 2015. Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The numbers of JobBridge participants awarded a Training Employment Support Grant (TESG) are only available from 2012 when my Department took over the administration of the scheme. The number of JobBridge participants who were supported by TESG for the period 2012 to end of February 2015 is 1,976.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The objective of the Youth Guarantee is to ensure that young people receive a quality offer of assistance within four months of becoming unemployed. This objective is to be achieved over time by enhancing and prioritising the Intreo engagement with newly unemployed young people, and by maintaining and developing the current range of education, training and employment interventions for young...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits over 207,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment. The initiative provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €29 million for the ENP scheme in 2015. An application can be made...