Results 3,281-3,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: That is the point the Deputy is making. I said I would look at it. The point I am making is that when it comes to budget time, there are other competing priorities all the time. I look at these things but in this occasion I did not get an opportunity to change it but it is something on which I keep an eye.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: In terms of engagement in the workforce, we have a number of programmes and we are actively engaging with Ukrainians who are available to work. There are 83,000 who remain in Ireland and the average number of temporary protection applicants per week in 2024 is higher than the 2023 level. There are currently some 17,000 in employment and we continue to engage and work with them to give them...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I am sorry, can the Deputy repeat that?
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I think it remains the same. It has not changed in the past number of years.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I have no problem asking officials to look into it but I will be honest with the Deputy. I doubt there is a lot we can do. There is no harm in asking, and we will certainly do that.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy knows, the fuel allowance is paid to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed, in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payments. When people are on the working family payment, they are working. The fuel allowance is targeted more at those who are not in the...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: It will be towards the end of the year or quarter 4 of 2024.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I understand there are a range of mechanisms to work out how much we pay to the Department of Transport.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: Not that I am aware of, no. It has not changed.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: No, it has not changed.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: That is an issue for the Minister for Transport. Under the free travel scheme, there is no requirement for, or impediment to, transport operators to provide additional services, such as a seat booking service. Some travel operators have introduced an online booking service for customers who wish to guarantee their seat on a particular service. This is a matter for the transport operator...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I hear what the Deputy is saying. It is probably more a matter for the Minister for Transport, but I am happy to take a look at it. I take the point the Deputy is making. I thought the fact that we had extended the free travel pass would be a good addition for many people.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I am happy to get the details from the Deputy on that specific case and we will look at it, if that is okay. We will do that.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I have a note here that states the Estimate in 2023 was €3.2 billion and the actual amount was €3.4 billion. It looks as if it outperformed expectations, and I am glad it did. If we look back at the projections for all the years, it is doing an awful lot better than any of the experts told me it would. I have noticed that myself. It is doing an awful lot...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: Yes.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: It is €5.5 billion.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: That is the case. There were actuarial reviews, as the Deputy knows, on many occasions that painted a very bleak picture. Now is the time to start to make provision because there is no doubt but that our demographics are changing. Our population is getting older and more people are reliant on pensions. That is why I will be bringing through legislation - and I have been through this with...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: -----that they are right. When we look back, they were not always right.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: They did not. We need to add Covid.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024) Heather Humphreys: The Government did have to top it up at one stage.