Results 4,521-4,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by people who are homeless. A protocol is in place to ensure a customer-centric and effective approach is applied where individuals and families who are homeless seek assistance and services from the Department of Social Protection in any location across the Country. While the protocol is current, it is under review and an updated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by my officials that this analysis will take some time to compile. My officials will therefore send the requested information directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €409 million for projects costing €560 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2....

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

Heather Humphreys: The Guardian's Payment provides income support in respect of children whose parents are unable to provide for them, through death or other circumstances. Guardians Payment is currently paid in respect of 2,163 children at the weekly rate of €203. As a result of the measures announced in Budget 2024, the rate of Guardians payment will increase by €12 to €215.00 per week,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (7 Nov 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 received in that Office on 05...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department received an application for invalidity pension (IP) from the person concerned on 25 April 2023. Upon examination of this application, he was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 22 June 2023 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and/or appeal. The person in question requested...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Nov 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 significant efforts and resources have been devoted to improvements in the...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 734 together. Currently, PRSI-credited contributions or credits are awarded to former employees only, to cover gaps in social insurance where they are not in a position to pay PRSI contributions, such as during periods of unemployment or illness. Self-employed workers do not qualify for credits as one social insurance payment per annum provides the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 4,100 claims in payment at present. The Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme in 2023. Farm Assist was introduced in April 1999 and replaced Smallholders Unemployment Assistance. The Department publishes the number of customers in receipt of Farm Assist as part...

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

Heather Humphreys: Jobseeker's Allowance is a means-tested payment made to people who are unemployed. Persons aged 18-24 may be eligible for the full personal rate (€220.00) or reduced personal rate (€129.70) depending on their individual circumstances. A full personal rate is payable when participating in an approved training or education course, or when living independently and receiving...

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

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions I can confirm that, at the end of September 2023 there are approximately 161,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Equal Opportunities Employment (7 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of income and employment supports to people with disabilities. These supports remain under review by my Department, as we look to national and international best practice to improve them. As part of our commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, my Department carried out a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Medical Assessors of my department take into consideration all available information submitted in support of the application;Medical report from the treating Doctor(s), which details the diagnosis, results of any tests or investigations, treatment outcomes & complications if any. The medical report also outlines the limitations experienced by the customer and the prognosis.A...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Equal Opportunities Employment (7 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection, through its nationwide network of Intreo centres, provides a case managed employment service for jobseekers with disabilities. The person works with an Employment Personal Advisor with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available. The Department recognises the additional...

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

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I secured a package of €2.3 billion for Social Protection measures as part of Budget 2024. This represents the largest Budget package for the Department of Social Protection in the history of the State and will help to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and families during this difficult period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artificial Intelligence (7 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: At present, my Department makes very limited use of generative AI. An A.I. Chatbot (on the MyGovID platform) is being used at present. This Chatbot provides the customer with advice in real time on how best to use the MyGovID service. In line with “AI – Here for Good”, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Ireland, the Department remains disposed to...

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

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Department received an application for Disability Allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 22 August 2023. The person concerned was awarded DA with effect from 23 August 2023. At that time, the person was assessed with weekly means of €104.17 resulting in a DA payment rate of €144.50. The first payment was made by their chosen payment method on 25...

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

Heather Humphreys: A person's social protection entitlements on coming to live in Ireland depends on the person's individual circumstances, including their age, and contribution history. For example, if they have a recent contribution history in Ireland, they may qualify for a contribution based benefit based on their Irish record. Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement with the United States of...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department which is independent in its decision making functions. When an appeal is received in the appeals office it is registered and as required by regulations, the appeals office then notifies the department that the appeal has been lodged. That notification requires that any file or documents relevant to the appeal is forwarded to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 15 June 2023. On 21 June 2023, the case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to investigate the means of the person concerned, so that their entitlement to pension could be assessed. The person concerned has been awarded the maximum weekly rate of state pension (non-contributory) with effect...