Results 3,901-3,920 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: I will do the report.

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

Heather Humphreys: I will speak on amendments Nos. 8 and 15 together. Is that okay?

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take amendments Nos. 8 and 15 together. I am not accepting them and I will explain why. We just had the biggest report ever on pensions, which is the Pensions Commission report. We responded comprehensively to that by retaining the pension age at 66, introducing the new flexibility to allow people to defer their pension, providing a pension to long-term carers and the small,...

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

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their comments. I will speak to amendments Nos. 13 and 14 together. I do not propose to accept them. The Pensions Commission concluded its detailed analysis of the State pension system in late 2020 and recommended that long-term carers, which it defined as caring for more than 20 years, should be given access to the State pension contributory by having...

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

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their comments. I do not propose to accept the amendment. As I said in respect of similar amendments requesting reports, legislation is not the appropriate vehicle for seeking reports. I understand why the Senator tabled the amendments, however. As they will be aware, pension deferral will only be introduced for those who reach age 66 on or after 1 January 2024 and...

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

Heather Humphreys: The age of 66 remains the core rate and it is the bedrock of our pension system. International experience is that very few people actually defer but we wanted to give them the flexibility as to whether they want to make those choices. The deferred pension is not a higher pension. It is an actuarial adjustment because people are obviously not drawing down their pension and they are working...

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

Heather Humphreys: I met one of the Garda representative associations on the matter. It specifically relates to the Department of public expenditure and reform. Apparently it was some agreement that was entered into some time ago. I may be corrected on that but it was not with my Department. It is a matter for that Department. I am happy to raise it again with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP...

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

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their co-operation. I wish them all well as we head into the Christmas season. It means the Bill will now go to the President and everyone will get an increase on 1 January.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Cost-of-Living Payment announced in Budget 2024 is payable to a person who is a carer under Section 224(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 and who on 27 November 2023 is still providing care to a relevant person under Section 224(1) of the Principal Act. To qualify for the Cost-of-Living Payment, a carer must:Have received or be eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is a payment for those who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance contribution conditions. Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of two years and is classified as a short-term scheme. Only customers in receipt of illness benefit for at least one year and that are also receiving an increase for a child are entitled to the €100 per...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 8,150 active recipients at the end of November 2023. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise the additional challenges that some people with disabilities may experience, including those on the autism spectrum, in securing and maintaining employment. The Department of Social Protection, through its nationwide network of Intreo centres, provides a case managed employment service for all jobseekers with disabilities. A dedicated Employment Personal Advisor works with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 14 September 2023 and will receive first payment to her nominated bank account on 14 December 2023. Her first...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The European Commission made a non-binding recommendation on the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. The Commission did not make a recommendation in relation to long COVID. The decision regarding recognition of COVID-19 is a Member State competence. Recognition as an occupational disease confers different entitlements in different Member States, with employers paying the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. The person concerned has had their Child Benefit entitlement reviewed following receipt of information relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: In August I announced a call for applications for a new programme to support the employment of people with disabilities under the new ESF+ funding. This programme, called WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is a successor to the Ability programme and will run from January 2024 to December 2028. The WorkAbility Programme is aimed at people with disabilities aged 16+...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. The claim from the person concerned was received on 30 November 2023. The form has been returned for completion, as it had...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 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 15 August 2023. It...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473, 498, 502 and 512 together. The terms and conditions of the Supplementary Pension available to retired public servants, including Gardaí, are determined under the rules of the occupational pension scheme, which is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The Department of Social Protection has no role in...