Results 3,401-3,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I will speak to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's amendments but first, to clarify for Deputy Murphy, I flagged very clearly on Second Stage that I would be bringing these amendments forward. I outlined it then and so, in fairness, that was explained at that stage. What we are trying to do here is bring us in line with other European countries in order that Ireland is not seen as a more...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: We have put a roof over the heads of 75,000 Ukrainians in this country. We have done everything we could do to assist them in the awful plight that they have and had. On Deputy Ó Laoghaire's amendments, I do not propose to accept these amendments. I understand the Deputy's intention here is to link the new payment rate of €38.80 to a person's date of arrival rather to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tax Rebates (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions. In order to qualify, a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Under the law as currently enacted, entitlement to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership.On Monday 22nd January the Supreme Court deliverd its judgment in relation to the entitlement of an unmarried co-habitant to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: A person can qualify to receive a jobseeker's payment once they satisfy all the qualifying conditions for the payment, including being available for full-time work. A person who is attending a full-time course of education will not qualify for a Jobseeker's payment as they cannot satisfy the available for full-time work condition. I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of the State Pension (contributory). He is also in receipt of an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) at the maximum rate in respect of his spouse. The IQA is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, which are also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.The means test plays a critical role in determining if an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency - be that illness, caring, unemployment or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment is currently paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education or who have a disability. The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024 and work on introducing...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.CA had been in payment for the person concerned since 6 January 2011. The overpayment amount in this case refers to an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.The processing target for the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme is to award 75% of applications within 10 weeks. The average number of weeks to award a DA claim at the end of December 2023 was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Reviews (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Sustainable Development Goals (31 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious framework for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. The whole-of-Government...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her question. Public libraries have a key role to play in our cities and towns as hubs for information, recreation and inspiration. They provide welcoming spaces for all as well as access to a wide range of online resources and modern technology. While the provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy and absolutely agree with her. I am a big fan of the libraries just like she is. Her story about bringing her grandchild to the library is great to hear because the library is for everybody. It does not matter if you are young or old, there is something in the library for you. Libraries had the image years ago as slightly boring places, but that is long gone because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I must say I had a good day with the Deputy in Carlow. We travelled around and it was lovely to go to that library. It is an old building that needs to be upgraded. As I say, applications are being assessed and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly. I hope Carlow is successful. I have not had sight of what has come through, to be honest, because applications are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. Nobody will be in any doubt where the Deputy comes from; she is definitely from Carlow. The town and village renewal scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme, more than €156 million has been allocated to in excess of 1,700 projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I will certainly look at the applications, which I expect to come across my desk shortly. I cannot anticipate the outcome but good applications always get money.