Results 2,621-2,640 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I am only aware of the claim involving the Waterford Crystal pensions scheme, but I will seek clarity and information for the Deputy. The indications from the officials present is that they, too, are aware of only one case. I cannot provide a figure for liabilities. Liabilities that may arise will be limited to schemes where the wind-up of a scheme took place between 25 January 2007, the...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy was deprived. I hope Waterford Crystal will expand because it is an outstanding business. I want a fair and just settlement to be reached through mediation. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked for a timeframe for completing the mediation process. I hope the dates I provided clarify the matter and the process will deliver an outcome that will be of some comfort to those who...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The amendment provides us with permission to draw down from the Central Fund. The rest of this is under mediation. We need this amendment to go through to ensure that we have permission to draw down from the Central Fund to pay out whatever sums are agreed in the mediation.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I will answer the last question first. The family will be entitled to what they are entitled to under the pension scheme. Whatever is dictated by the rules and regulations in the scheme is what the family and estate will be entitled to. I have been involved in pension schemes throughout my working life and different schemes involved different entitlements which would have applied for my...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. The Tánaiste is not aware of any schemes other than the scheme relating to Waterford Crystal. Deputy Boyd Barrett rightly pointed out this arrangement is under mediation at the moment. I have no wish to comment until the mediation has been concluded. Before the break, Deputy Boyd Barrett made the point to the Tánaiste and she has undertaken some...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I join Deputy Boyd Barrett in expressing sympathy to the families of those who have passed away, especially at such a period. It is always a difficult time when there is financial uncertainty. Deputy Boyd Barrett has my commitment that I will seek clarity on the matter as soon as I can. Will Deputy Boyd Barrett give me or the officials the name of the family? As soon as the matter becomes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Work Initiatives (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Tús, is a community work placement initiative introduced during 2011. It has been established to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed and to support the provision of community service. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The bodies eligible for support from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (3 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who were previously in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment for over 12 months. It is biased in favour of those who are longer-term unemployed and provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months unemployed is recruited and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 166 together. My understanding is that these questions refer to a non-profit organisation which supports advocacy and other services for immigrants to this country. The Department of Social Protection has not provided Exchequer or EU funding to the organisation in question for the periods stated in the questions, nor for any other period of time....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: There are currently no plans to lower the standard qualifying period in receipt of CE-eligible payments from the current 12 month duration, as Community Employment is primarily aimed at long-term unemployed persons, which is generally defined as one year or more on the Live Register. Persons who claim Jobseekers Benefit from 3rd April 2013 can only claim for a maximum duration of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. There are approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients, of which approximately 1,800 are in Donegal. The Government has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that those participants who commenced Community Employment (CE) prior to Monday 16th January 2012 and who have continuous service on CE since that date (no single break in excess of 12 months), may retain their primary social welfare payment (subject to continued eligibility for receipt of same) alongside their CE Personal Rate allowance beyond December 2014, which...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: In July 2008, the Labour Court recommended that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors (LCR19293) and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS, the agency responsible for CE at that time. The Department of Social Protection is now responsible for CE. Notwithstanding the position of this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Applications (2 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that those participants who commenced Community Employment (CE) prior to Monday 16th January 2012 and who have continuous service on CE since that date (no single break in excess of 12 months), may retain their primary social welfare payment (subject to continued eligibility for receipt of same) alongside their CE personal rate allowance beyond December 2014, which...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I commend Deputy O'Dea in that he has engaged fully in discussions and he has graciously indicated he is happy to withdraw the amendments.

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Deputy Willie O'Dea is quite correct; we are all trying to achieve the same purpose, namely, that a stillborn child can be registered. The current legislative proposal covers that aim. As Deputy Willie O'Dea will be aware from his own profession, if one puts solicitors and barristers in a room and asks for advice, whoever pays the price will get the information he or she wants to hear. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Given the scale of unemployment levels, 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, and in particular those who have been receiving such payments for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. JobBridge has made very significant progress since it came into operation on 1 July 2011. As at 20 November 2014, a total of 35,381 internships have commenced with 6,700 participants currently on a JobBridge placement, and 1,933 internship posts currently advertised on the JobBridge website. In County Kerry, there have been a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (27 Nov 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: 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 response sponsored by local authorities; - Comprehensive...