Results 2,321-2,340 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I have visited Gateway schemes because I wanted to talk to people who are doing practical work on the ground about how they are experiencing it. The response was very positive. Those involved told me how they were transforming a park in River Valley into a true community facility. It also keeps people very close to the workforce. The 19.5 hour working week allows participants to work...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sure Deputy Wallace welcomes the figures this week that show the percentage on the live register dropping for the first time down to 10.1%. Hopefully we will see it dropping to single digits in the coming months, something many commentators said would never be achieved. The Deputy mentioned the issue of low pay. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and...

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

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. Given that economic circumstances have improved significantly over the past two years, it is now appropriate to review the performance of the various employment programmes operated by the Department. In this regard, as part of the Pathways to Work programme, the Department will during 2015 undertake an evaluation of a number of programmes, including JobBridge. This evaluation will...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I will not take up too much of the Deputy's time on this matter. Displacement has been at a very low level. In his own report, there were about 450 complaints out of approximately 40,000 people participating in JobBridge. He will not convince me that JobBridge has not done an excellent job in the period we have experienced. It has kept people in touch with the workplace, has allowed them...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Gateway is a Government initiative in 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. To date, there have been 1,800 participants in the scheme and funding of the order of €22.4 million is being provided by the Department for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Unemployment Measures (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Under the Youth Guarantee implementation plan, the Department committed to developing a developmental internship scheme for young disadvantaged jobseekers. These young people would have faced difficulties, even during the boom period, in securing an interview, not to speak of a job. Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I represent similar parts of Dublin and he will be aware that throughout the boom,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Unemployment Measures (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy should examine the results of the successful pilot schemes in Ballymun, from which we are learning. Young persons who participate in the First Steps scheme will have supports, including a case officer to assist and provide support in finding employment. The scheme is a wraparound service targeted at the most disadvantaged young people and those who are most distant from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Unemployment Measures (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: First Steps enjoys considerable support in the areas in which it has been trialled, especially among the wider families of participants. Those who are unemployed, as I was at one point, have a responsibility to seek employment. If a young person has a legitimate reason for not participating in the First Steps scheme, a case officer will be available to work closely with him or her. People...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (5 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 of November 2009 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (5 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 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. Rent supplement is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 62 together. 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 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme Data (5 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 56 together. The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas: - Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower; - A social housing...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We are well used to the Deputy heckling Members on this side of the House.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It is normal.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy is old enough now not to be shouting names across the Chamber.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Grow up.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I know the Deputy finds it difficult to-----

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I appreciate Members' contributions, in particular those who made constructive comments on the family dividend scheme. I look forward to further engagement with them on Committee Stage.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The intention behind the dividend is to encourage people to go back to work. When they go back to work, other opportunities arise from networking, promotion and overtime. I always encourage people to go back to work. Deputy Denis Naughten raised various issues about post offices. I would like to see further services being given to the post office system. Mr. Bobby Kerr will come...