Results 3,881-3,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 02 November 2023. It...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. So far this year I have approved funding of over €6.7 million for 150 projects across the CLÁR areas. I was pleased to announce the approval of funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. CLÁR is designed to support a vast array of projects that will benefit people of all ages and abilities such as astro-turf facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the project referred to by the Deputy is being funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) Project Development Measure. ORIS is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of almost €109 million has supported 1,555 projects across...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Killorglin Town Centre Smart Rural Regeneration Project was approved for Category 2 funding of €961,800 from the third call for Category 2 applications under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) in 2022. The lead party for the project is Kerry County Council. The project will develop plans to re-use a vacant building as a multifunction hub for tourism, education,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports improving rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. The scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Since my Department was established in 2017, County Kerry has been allocated approximately €84.65 million through schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Leader Programme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Services Programme. From time to time, due to various reasons,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) 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 over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland. The Scheme has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. TVRS is a key driver...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Community Centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged. With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Budget 2024 provides my Department with the resources to continue our policy and programme priorities in 2024. The gross allocation of €431 million will provide €210 million for capital investment, with the remaining €221 million for current expenditure. These allocations represent a core funding increase of €4 million for capital and €12 million for...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I do not propose to accept these amendments. Regarding amendment No. 1, I refer the Senators to a report already prepared on this matter at the request of Deputy Kerrane, which I laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 27 June 2023. This amendment arose on Committee Stage in the Dáil, where I informed Deputy Ó Laoghaire I would be happy to provide him with a copy of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge the issue raised. Senators Craughwell and Burke have raised it with me on several occasions. I know there are other interested parties here also. They have long-running concerns regarding the payment of class K contributions by public office holders. The introduction of class K for public office holders was a solidarity measure introduced among other income-generating...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: There are. There are 100,000 across the board, and I have checked that. There are other people who use the benefits of class K in the private sector as well, so it is not just ourselves. What we are dealing with specifically is the issue where people who had served in this House found themselves out of a job, with no income and no prospect of a job during Covid. I am well familiar with...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Senators will be aware that the work of the Vincentian MESL Research Centre, which is sponsored by my Department, is an assessment of the minimum income needed to partake in everyday life. The work of the MESL research centre also highlights issues that may be better solved with greater access to services, rather than increases in income. In this regard, having access to secondary benefits...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to inform Senators that I have already committed to a wide-ranging review of means-testing in my Department, which is ongoing. I expect that to be completed in quarter 1 of next year and I hope to have it early next year. The review will cover the treatment of income and disregards across the social welfare schemes generally. It will include the examination of thresholds and...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Senators and take the point Senator Burke raised. That is a case that fell between the cracks and we should look at it. That one was just unfortunate. It is important that we review the means test. It has not been reviewed in a long time. A lot of work has gone into it in my Department, looking at the different assessments for the different payments. There are many different...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Senator will be aware that I responded to a similar amendment on Committee Stage in the Dáil. I committed to looking at this area and to preparing a report for Deputy Ó Laoghaire. I have asked my officials to look at the matter and complete a report on it - I even put a timeframe on it - by June of next year. As the Senator said, I am familiar with this case. While I have...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: No.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: No, I am not accepting the amendment. I did-----