Results 21-40 of 798 for 5 million speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...from the first of May. In the region of 60,000 children are expected to benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing the commencement date forward to May is €21.6 million. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...period up to May 2024. In the region of 60,000 children are expected to benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing the commencement date forward to May is €21.6 million. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...measure. In other cases, it will mean that people will now qualify for a payment for the first time. We estimate that this measure will be of direct benefit to approximately 16,000 lone parents at a cost of some €10 million per annum. The Government also accepted the group’s third recommendation, which was that the liable relative provisions should be removed from the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...pressures, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it is welcome that the two most recent Central Statistics Office, CSO, monthly bulletins have reported a decrease in inflation below 5%, we will all agree that inflation had a significant impact on households and the cost of living during 2023. My Department has been front and centre in the delivery of the Government’s...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Estimate and I am glad to be back again to bring forward this Estimate, which will ensure the progress we have made in recent years continues into 2024. For 2024, gross expenditure of €431 million is budgeted, which consists of €221 million in current expenditure and €210 million in capital expenditure. My Department also has a capital carryover of €20 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (1 Feb 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Future recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. There are currently 343 remote and co-working facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform. Table 1 attacehd sets out the total number of hubs onboarded in each county. My department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is one of several measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since its launch in 2016, over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects supporting towns and villages across the country. As committed in Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy, TVRS priorities are reviewed at the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (30 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Year No. of Cases Value of Overpayments due to Fraud or Suspected Fraud 2018 7,766 €29,740,268 2019 6,963 €31,356,136 2020 5,338 €20,253,317 2021 6,290 €19,014,828 2022 5,597 ...

Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...in this Bill, my Department will no longer assess child maintenance payments in the means tests for social welfare schemes. This will be of direct benefit to an estimated 16,000 lone parents at a cost of €10 million a year. In some cases, this will mean that people receive a higher payment. In others, it will mean that people qualify for a payment for the first time. I only have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (17 Jan 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 930 and 935 together. The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million. Since 2017, people moving from certain long-term disability schemes such...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (14 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...communities throughout Ireland”. The Department has two overarching policies which support delivery of this mission, firstly, Our Rural Future the Government's Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, and secondly Sustainable Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the 5 year strategy (for the period 2019-2024) to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The very...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...communities throughout Ireland”. The Department has two overarching policies which support delivery of this mission, firstly, Our Rural Futurethe Government's Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, and secondly Sustainable Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the 5 year strategy (for the period 2019-2024) to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The very successful...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Priorities (12 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Budget 2024 provides my Department with the resources to continue our policy and programme priorities into 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 18-year-olds each year at an estimated cost of €21.6 million in 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...communities throughout Ireland”. The Department has two overarching policies which support delivery of this mission, firstly, Our Rural Futurethe Governments Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, and secondly Sustainable Inclusive and Empowered Communities,the 5 year strategy (for the period 2019-2024) to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The very successful...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 18-year-olds each year at an estimated cost of €21.6 million in 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Heather Humphreys: .../. Information on future funding calls will be made available on the website in due course, as the details become available. Budget 2024 provides my Department with a gross allocation of €431 million. This will provide €210 million for capital investment, with the remaining €221 million for current expenditure. These allocations represent a core funding increase of...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...many of the social protection measures announced on budget day do not require primary legislation and, therefore, are not reflected in this Bill. For example, this week alone three lump sum payments totalling €230 million are being paid to help with the cost of living. This includes a €300 fuel allowance lump sum to 409,000 households. I am delighted that a lot more older...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: ...related benefit. I have to draw up the heads of Bill and publish them. I hope to get that done before the end of the year and bring the legislation through the Oireachtas early next year. The €5 million we have is to introduce the benefit in December 2024. It is going to take a while by the time we get the legislation through and we move it on. The plan is to introduce it at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 12 together. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring the LIS is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution the scheme makes to connectivity in rural areas. LIS was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following several years with no dedicated funding. Since then, almost €130 million has...