Results 5,281-5,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: I fully recognise the challenges the increased the cost of living has brought to many people and families, particularly one parent families who are a group at greater risk of poverty. That is why, last September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State - comprising measures worth almost €2.2 billion. Most weekly social welfare payments...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Support Services (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person...

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

Heather Humphreys: The number of State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) claims registered, awarded, rejected and pending for each of the last five years, and so far in 2023, are shown in the table below. For the years 2017 to 2022, claims registered, awarded and rejected refer to the entire year, while pending figures refer to claims pending on the 31st December. For 2023, claims registered, awarded and rejected...

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

Heather Humphreys: The key role of my department is to provide income supports where an income need may arise due to unemployment, illness/disability and caring responsibilities. The payments provided are an income support to people who cannot earn, or can only earn a limited income, and who have no other means or resources to rely upon. The main income supports to carers provided by my department are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Support Services (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Bereavement Grant, which was a once-off payment for funeral costs, was discontinued in January 2014. The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716 at a cost of €20.3 million. It is estimated that the cost of reintroducing the grant would be close to €31 million per annum and would increase annually. Accordingly, any decision to reinstate the grant would have...

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

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal...

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

Heather Humphreys: The following means test based schemes are assessed in terms of operational performance: • State Pension (Non-Contributory)• Jobseeker's Allowance• One-Parent Family Payment• Supplementary Welfare Allowance • Carer's Allowance• Disability Allowance• Household Benefits The following schemes which are based on PRSI contributions are also...

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

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. Child Benefit is currently in payment to 655,233 claimants, in respect of 1,230,491 children. At the end of 2022 the total in...

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

Heather Humphreys: Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. The payment is provided for under Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) legislation as appropriate. There were just over 4,000 people receiving...

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

Heather Humphreys: As outlined in previous Parliamentary Question replies, state pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over who have a legal right of residence and habitually reside in the state, and who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or only qualify for a reduced-rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. An Irish state pension...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Websites (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The use of SSL certificates on my Department's websites is strictly monitored by both my Department and the OGCIO. The SSL certificates for my Department’s websites are fully up to date and I understand that there has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tax Code (5 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded the maximum rate State Pension (contributory) with effect from 19th May 2023. The class S contributions paid by the person concerned were included in the calculation for their State Pension (contributory). There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed contributors in recent years without any...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disadvantaged Status (5 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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 important component of policies to encourage school attendance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (5 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. 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. A dedicated project team in...

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

Heather Humphreys: A person in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance may make an application for Disability Allowance. Jobseeker’s Allowance should continue to be paid until a decision, including an Appeal where applicable, is made on the Disability Allowance claim. If the application for Disability Allowance is unsuccessful for failing to satisfy the medical eligibility criteria for receipt of...

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

Heather Humphreys: Last December the Christmas Bonus was paid to approximately 1.3 million pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term unemployed people in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income. Jobseekers are eligible for the Bonus if they are long-term recipients of a jobseeker payment (over 12...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a wide range of income supports for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability. Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a disability, aged between 16 and 66 years, who are habitually resident in Ireland. Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Law Cases (5 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has no role with regard to the enforcement of maintenance orders. In 2020, the Government established the Child Maintenance ReviewGroup to examine and report on: (i) The current treatment within the Department of Social Protection of child maintenance payments, (ii) The current provisions relating to the liable relatives regarding child maintenance, and (iii) The establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Jul 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 there is no record of any appeal in respect of a Carers Support Grant by the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (5 Jul 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 there is no record of any State Pension Contributory appeal by the person...