Results 5,841-5,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period outside the paid workforce, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. Applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, receiving a payment based on whichever method is most...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. Since January 2023, the threshold for the fuel allowance means test for those aged over 70 is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471, 472, 473 and 482 together. Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. There are approximately 4,300 claims in payment at present. The Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme in 2023. The amount paid weekly to a person in receipt of Farm Assist is dependent on a number of factors,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, Government committed to finalising an approach for the benchmarking and indexation of pension payments. A smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments was also recommended by the Commission on Pensions. Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work. Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Section 33 of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, provides that the Minister for Social Protection, after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, shall, in respect of each revaluation year, make Regulations specifying the percentage which will determine the amount by which preserved pension benefit is to be increased in that year. Section 33 further provides that the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of a State Pension (contributory) payment from my Department which includes an Increase for their Qualified Adult. The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable. In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Direct Provision System (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My department administers the daily expenses allowance (DEA) which is paid to protection applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS). The Government has provided €20.15 million for the allowance in 2023. The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. At...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 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 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 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments. Only...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist those aged over 70 years and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full.Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2023 to support disabled people to mitigate the impacts of the rising cost of living:Cost of living double payment paid in October 2022.€500 cost of living disability support grant paid in November 2022.€200 cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am unsure from the Deputy's question whether he is aware of a way in which the automatic enrolment system could be provided at a lower cost to the State. If he is aware of a better way of implementing this major reform of the pension's landscape, I would be glad to hear it. As a note of caution, I would avoid asserting anything that did not have substantive evidential support. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Matters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla. More widely, this Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides for a range of measures including...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an over ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. Payments are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. I am pleased to say that, pending the introduction of the necessary legislation, my Department has already implemented some of the recommended changes on an administrative basis. As a result, my Department is no longer...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence and is just one of a range of supports my Department provides to assist people with their fuel costs. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers. The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The €200 Spring lump sum payment was paid to 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. This lump sum was paid in late April and cost approximately €261 million. The payment was made to primary recipients of a qualifying social welfare payment only. This lump sum is one of a range of Spring Cost of Living supports valued at over €410 million...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection (DSP). CIB provides funding to eight independent regional CIS companies that operate the national network of Citizens Information Centres. Section 7(1) of the Comhairle Act 2000 (as amended) charges CIB with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (23 May 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 amedical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions. The Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention....