Results 4,541-4,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Nov 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The matter of recognising Covid-19 as an occupational disease has implications beyond my department. I am in consultation with other relevant departments and Ministers, and the responses received are under consideration. My Department is aware of the recommendation that the European Commission made in 2022 regarding the prescription of Covid-19 as an occupational illness. However, the...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Tax Strategy Group (TSG) is chaired by the Department of Finance and comprises of senior officials from a number of Government Departments. It is not a decision making body and the papers produced by Departments are simply a list of options and issues to be considered in the Budgetary process. My Department's 2024 Paper on Pay Related Social Insurance examined, in the main, options to...

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

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is a payment for people 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. The Spring 2023 cost of living bonus was payable to people in receipt of certain long term social welfare payments. For customers in receipt of...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks from September 2023 to April 2024. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. One allowance is paid per household. Qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must...

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

Heather Humphreys: Recipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant. The means test in respect of the increase for a Qualified Adult applies to both contribution based social...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 716 and 717 together. At the end of October 2023, the average processing time for Jobseeker’s Allowance claims was 2 weeks, and for Jobseeker’s Benefit claims it was 1 week. Data on the average processing times for those who were previously self-employed and applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit is not readily...

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

Heather Humphreys: Where a person makes a claim for a jobseeker's payment and resumes their paid employment before a decision is made on their claim, all backdated payments due to the person are paid from the date of their claim application provided that the person satisfies all the qualifying conditions for that payment. I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

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 registered on the 02 August 2023. It...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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 2023 is €95 million. As part of Budget 2024 I was particularly pleased to extend my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are...

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

Heather Humphreys: An individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory). On assessing entitlement to pension, factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension. It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a wide range of income and employment supports to assist jobseekers and employees with disabilities, and their employers. These supports include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme. The Reasonable Accommodation Fund provides financial support for people with disabilities and for employers to help make their workplaces more...

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

Heather Humphreys: An individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory). On assessing entitlement to pension, factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension. It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance...

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

Heather Humphreys: I have one Adviser in the Department of Social Protection. They have returned a Statement of ‘Nil’ Interests to SIPO in respect of each of the years 2020, 2021 & 2022. The deadline for returns to SIPO in respect of 2023 will be January 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (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. An application for DA in respect of the person concerned was received on 19 October 2022...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available to them. Public information campaigns, including advertising in print media, are an important part of this work. All campaigns are developed carefully in collaboration with our media buyer using the best mix of media formats to ensure that...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 766 together. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies. My Department provides assistance to eligible households in the immediate aftermath of emergency weather events under the humanitarian assistance scheme. The humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by my department through...

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

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) on their State Pension (Contributory). The increase for qualified adult 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 source does not exceed the means limit....

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 729 and 730 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that neither myself or officials of my Department, have had any engagement with the government of Israel, any state body of the government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel during the years specified. I can also confirm that neither myself or officials of my Department have had any engagement...

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

Heather Humphreys: In September, I launched the Green Paper on Disability Reform and the associated public consultation. As part of this public consultation, we invite individuals, Disabled Persons' Organisations, and other disability stakeholder bodies to share their views with us by participating in one of our public consultation events or by making a making a written or video submission. Privacy is of the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is a payment for people 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. Customers in receipt of Illness Benefit for at least one year are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus and the January 2024 cost of living bonus. All...