Results 2,301-2,320 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

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

Kevin Humphreys: The Government's primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last 2 years. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Department officials are in ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the matter raised. Trade union officials, notably SIPTU and IMPACT, will be kept updated on proceedings. A meeting has been arranged for 31stMarch with trade union officials.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: With effect from 3rdApril 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on Community Employment (CE) by an individual is as follows: - 3 years (156 weeks) maximum for persons under 55 years of age. - 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age. - For people in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social welfare payment, for those under 55 years of age...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Flood Relief Schemes (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the flooding and the severe...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (24 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Gateway is part of a suite of interventions funded by the Department that are designed to meet the priorities established by Government in Pathways to Work. It provides short-term, quality work opportunities with local authorities for those who are long-term unemployed. A person in receipt of jobseeker's payment is required to take up reasonable offers of work or training in order to...

Order of Business (12 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: He never left the party.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (12 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits over 205,000 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 local projects scheme through which funding is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (12 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 approximately 70,200 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. Under the legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Pensions (11 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Community Employment Supervisors are employed by sponsors in the community and voluntary sector. Department officials are in ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the matters raised. Trade Union officials, notably SIPTU and IMPACT will be kept updated on proceedings.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 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 approximately 70,200 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. The Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (10 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. Gateway is a Government initiative with Local Authorities which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable opportunities to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. There are currently 1,902 participants on Gateway across all county and city council areas. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Diet supplement administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. During 2013, the Department commissioned the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI) to update their previous research...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (10 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 approximately 70,200 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. The financial...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (10 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, together. Tús, the community work placement initiative, provides up to 8,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. I consider the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (10 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals to bridge the gap between unemployment and the world of work. In the current labour market environment JobBridge provides individuals with a unique opportunity to secure work experience in a new field. The scheme has made very significant progress since it came into operation in July 2011. To date some 37,700 internship placements have commenced...

Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It will, Acting Chairman. However, if I may, I will use the remaining two minutes to respond very briefly to the debate.

Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I very much welcome the discussion we have had today. I was particularly struck by the contributions from Deputies Jerry Buttimer and John Lyons, which were not scripted and were spoken from the heart. When the Labour Party included this legislation in the programme for Government, this conversation was not taking place among members of the public. The debate in the Seanad and in this...

Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-committee on Social Protection pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a).

Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I apologise for the confusion earlier. I thought the previous business would take a little longer. I am delighted to have an opportunity to introduce this important legislation in the Dáil. While the number of people directly affected by the Gender Recognition Bill 2014 will be relatively small, this legislation carries a deep...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Administration (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We do not just rely on the places. There is a high rate of visits by the Department. According to a recent report conducted by the National Youth Council of Ireland, 80% of participants who joined the scheme gained work experience or new skills, which is a high level. There is time. The economy is changing and the opportunities to return to the workforce are greater than they were a few...