Results 4,981-5,000 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (28 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system, helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (28 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Items for which an ANPs may be provided include:the increased cost of heating and electricity,essential repairs to property and replacing household appliances and furniture,assistance with deposits for private...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 301 together. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported over 2,100 projects with funding of over €59 million. This funding is making a real difference in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Sep 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disease Management (27 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023.The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household. The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 10 March 2023. The application was referred to a local...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) is a means-tested payment made to people who areunemployed and who do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit. A person can work for up to 3 days a week and may still get JA for the other days. JA payments are subject to ongoing review by my Department for any income assessable in respect of this scheme. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 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 6th of July 2023. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on 31st August 2023. The person does not currently have sufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for a payment of Illness Benefit. The person concerned indicated on their application form that they had previously worked in the UK. Their insurance record was requested from the relevant authorities in the UK on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (27 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of €7.85m has been allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme an increase of €0.5m on 2022. I launched the 2023...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: These are all areas that impact on other Departments but I am happy to raise them with the various Ministers to see how we can make our islands more vibrant and have more people living on them. There is a great sense of positivity on the islands at the moment. The islanders see a bright future. Arranmore is a particularly good example. There is a good remote working hub on the island....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 75 together. The rural regeneration and development fund provides funding for the development and construction of significant and transformative capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. The fund is central to achieving the objectives and key deliverables of the Government's five-year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I have visited a good few projects and have seen them first-hand. Delivery is ramping up with the funding from my Department. There is a strong pipeline of projects. I was in Fethard, County Tipperary, earlier in the year where a magnificent amenity has been developed. It is a remote working and community space. It is something else. I have been in Waterford, Kilkenny, Longford, Sligo,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Funding of €409 million has been approved for 215 projects. We have to get the money spent. There is no doubt that there have been delays due to different issues. That is why we now have category 2 funding. It means that people can have all their plans made and planning permission received. They can apply for category 2 funding to get the project ready and then they can apply for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: All I can say is that it is a small grant that makes a big difference in communities. Deputy Griffin is right that it would take a long time to raise €50,000. In this regard, I learned a lesson many years ago when a community group got what was a very small grant in the overall scheme of things. It might have been €10,000, or not even that much. Those concerned rang me up...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy very much for raising this. I am pleased to inform him that I launched Our Living Islands, an ambitious new ten-year national policy designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities, in June of this year. Our Living Islands is the first whole-of-government policy for the islands to be published in 27 years. It is accompanied by the first action plan for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was on Bere Island. In fact, I logged in from that island to attend a Cabinet meeting remotely. I think that was the first time that happened. They actually have really good ideas on the island. I met some of the people in the community. Some of them went all the way to Arranmore for the launch of the policy. It was good to see them there because it is a long...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I will do that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (26 Sep 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Sorry, what are you talking about?