Results 5,241-5,260 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 128 and 152 together. As the Deputy will be aware, there are different statutory bodies in place that make determinations on the employment status of a person for the purposes of PRSI, tax, and employment rights. My Department makes decisions in relation to PRSI; the Office of the Revenue Commissioners makes decisions in relation to tax; and the WRC...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 132 and 149 together. The Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure, including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses. The findings of the research have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 155 and 163 together. The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection has an important role in supporting those who are most vulnerable in society. It is important to note that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is running a public campaign informing people of their rights if they are struggling with utility payments. It also notifies people that providers are willing and obliged to work with them on a payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a number of in-work supports for families with children such as the Working Family Payment and the Back to Work Family Dividend. The Back to Work Family Dividend is a weekly payment to help people with children move from social welfare into employment. The scheme provides up to two years of financial support, for persons with qualified children, who are in or take up...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 137, 157, 159 and 168 together. The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Carer’s Support Grant is available to all family carers providing full-time care and assistance, regardless of means. As part of Budget Measures 2021, I increased the grant by €150 to its highest ever rate of €1,850. It is an annual payment for each care recipient and is paid in a single lump sum. This grant is paid automatically to those in receipt of Carer's...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards winter heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 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. It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Energy Prices (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is acutely aware of the effect of energy costs on low-income households and is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has provided a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 145 together. Following notification of the planned temporary layoff of employees, my Department engaged immediately with Boliden Tara Mines management to support the business and the employees affected. A dedicated team was put in place in my Department to work with the company, sub-contractors and all employees to ensure that they have speedy access...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has committed under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on a Strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. The Strawman also intends to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report, the Pathways to Work report and the findings of the Cost of Disability Report. Work on the Strawman is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is very aware of the affect of energy costs on low-income households and is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has provided a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for meeting the immediate and short-term accommodation needs of persons availing of protection in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Rent supplement is a short-term income support which is means-tested and plays a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Government Strategy “Housing for All” includes a number of commitments to tackle homelessness and it is led by my colleague the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage. Budget 2023 provided a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion which included a range of measures to support families with children. In addition to the lump sum payments and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system is a Programme for Government commitment, and a key priority for me as Minister for Social Protection. Last year, I published 'The Design Principles for Ireland’s Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System', which set out the new system in detail. It envisages that the enrolment of the first AE participants will commence in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Age-related rates for Jobseeker's Allowance recipients were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and to avoid long-term welfare dependency. Where a jobseeker aged 18-24 participates in approved full-time education or training they will receive the standard maximum rate of payment. Age-related Jobseeker’s Allowance rates also do not apply to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) is an assessment of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types. One of the benefits of the work of the Vincentian MESL Research Centre is that it provides an analysis of the different levels of income needed for a wide range of household types, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Indecon Cost of Disability report was prepared following an extensive consultation with disabled people and disability stakeholders. The report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living...