Results 2,521-2,540 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank all the Senators who have contributed to the debate on Committee Stage. I personally have found it quite informative. I always enjoy coming to the House and think it a very worthwhile experience. I totally accept that Senators O'Brien and Norris put their amendments in good faith. I met the members of the particular schemes and I see the real cash loss, which is extremely difficult...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Officials in the Department have engaged with COSC, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence in relation to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). In terms of income support, the Department provides a range of income supports including the supplementary...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Community Employment Schemes Funding (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The training budget for Community Employment (CE) in 2014 is €5.896m. The budget for each Division is set out in Table 1 below. Table 1: CE Training Budget by Division Division Training Budget 2014 (€) Dublin Central 644,045 Dublin North 489,362 Dublin South 405,473 Mid-Leinster 395,029 Midlands North 407,158 Mid-West 435,696 North-East 385,903 North-West...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. The Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness published in May 2014 is the Government’s Strategy to bring about an end to involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government recently announced the provision of 260 additional...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Community Work Initiatives (17 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I must disagree. I was listening outside and thought the Tánaiste answered the questions that were put forward comprehensively. I know the Senator is anxious to press the motion, so I will allow that to happen. I do not propose to accept the recommendation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I will use the water conservation grant to install water butts in my house. There are many ways to use it. The €100 will be paid to people as a water conservation grant. They can use it as a discount or as an aid in conserving water on their properties. There are many ways in which that can be done.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sorry. I thought the Senator made his point.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I did not mean to interrupt. I apologise.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: It is dealt with in the Water Services Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: It is later in the week and it is being deleted in that Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Members will have a long-running conversation later in the week on Irish Water but I would say to Senator Mooney that the Department of Social Protection has considerable experience in paying people's entitlements and I have no doubt the professionalism and capability of those in the Department will result in that €100 grant being paid.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I repeat that as a consequence there will no longer be a need for Irish Water to be listed as a specified body in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act for the purpose of using the PPS number. I am sorry, I have a heavy cold, as Senators may have gathered. I know Noel Whelan also. I would not be a good friend of his but he ran with Eoin Ryan for Fianna Fáil in Dublin...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. He should look forward because many people in Fianna Fáil ran in Dublin South East, and many candidates went on to be President, so he might not always be a columnist for The Irish Times. He may be in the Phoenix Park at some stage. The €100 grant will assist people in the conservation measures and I hope it will be used for that purpose. I do not have much more to add...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I always enjoy listening to the Senator's contributions because, invariably, I always learn something. Some of the staff are FÁS employees who have come in to the Department of Social Protection. Some of the additional 15 staff are from FÁS and some are from a reallocation within the Department. There is a great deal of reform taking place in the Department and staff are being...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government recently announced a more modest and affordable system for water charges. As part of this package, the Department of Social Protection will administer a new water conservation grant of €100. Arising from the revised charge structure which is simpler and more affordable, Irish Water will no longer require PPS numbers. As a consequence, there will no longer be a need...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator is probably correct that it is better to get a lot more knowledge out about the review option. The period laid out in the recommendation is not viable because it can take up to six weeks to organise an oral hearing and, therefore, a 60-day element is impractical. We have a very flexible system because, at every stage, it is open to the client to give additional information....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: In fairness, the matter has been debated on Committee Stage in the Dáil and the Tánaiste has given a commitment to Deputies which I will repeat to Senators that the matter will be further examined and when the 2015 Estimates are discussed by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection the Tánaiste will make a full report. At this stage I do not propose to accept the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Norris has just left the Chamber but on JobsPlus that was a briefing document, which was part of the normal briefing to Members before the Bill was published. This does not need to be dealt with in legislation but it is important that it is there for the information of the Seanad. I take Senator Byrne's comments in the spirit they were made. This is an extremely difficult time....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The allowances for PRSI are progressive. By eliminating-----