Results 5,941-5,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. Such contributors are currently covered for a wide range of social insurance benefits including State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Below is the breakdown of expenditure for the Department of Social Protection's suppliers of cleaning services that were provided in 2021, 2022 and 2023 YTD. DSP Cleaning Expenditure Suppliers 2021 2022 2023 YTD Grand Total Bunzl Ireland   300,680 64,157 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, funds and supports the eight regional companies of the Citizens Information Service (CIS).  CIB informs me that it is currently drafting the CIS Advocacy Annual Report for 2022. This report is expected to be published in late July 2023. With regard to a new strategic plan,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The capital allocation for my Department is primarily used to deliver IT modernisation and carry out refurbishments on the Department’s buildings.  With the exception of Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, all of the buildings used by the Department of Social Protection are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW).  Expenditure on art works as part of significant capital...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Development Plan (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 is the largest National Development Plan ever delivered in the history of the State at €165 billion, with a particular focus on priority solutions to strengthen housing, climate ambitions, transport, healthcare, jobs growth in every region and economic renewal for the decade ahead. While the Plan is a whole of Government...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched in 2021, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department occupies offices in Trinity Point, Dublin 2 and in Government Buildings in Ballina, Co. Mayo.   Cleaning services in Trinity Point are currently provided by 5 Star Facilities, which took over the contract from Accent Solutions in May 2022.The costs associated with cleaning services in Trinity Point for 2021, 2022 and this year to date are as follows: 2021 -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development strategy.   The 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department, which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.  It forms part of Ireland's €10bn Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan. Funding for the programme is allocated to the Local Action Groups(LAG) that deliver the programme at sub-regional area level...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that one project has been the beneficiary of funds from my department under the per cent for art scheme in the past five years.  The details requested are set out in the attached table. Beneficiary of Funds Project Funding Programme Funding 2018(Per cent for Art) Funding 2019(Per cent for Art) Funding...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Duffy. As much as I might like to give him commitments on how the money is going to be spent, I do not think the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform would appreciate my assistance in this matter, but I will certainly raise it with him.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Verona Murphy raised the pollution in Waterford estuary. I will raise that with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and ask him to get the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to look into it. I did not get a chance to read the article Deputy Healy-Rae referred to, but there are pressures on different aspects of our society. However, it is all part of an...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I agree with a lot of what he said. I understand that a number of pilot schemes have been rolled out across the country. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Health and get him to come back to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I am familiar with Waterways Ireland in that it is a cross-Border body and it does a lot of good work in making sure that our waterways systems are kept in good order, as the Deputy will know particularly around Athlone and the Shannon system. The Deputy has asked me some detailed questions. I cannot give her an answer but I am happy to raise it with the Minister and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Cannon knows a lot about ChatGPT and the wider artificial intelligence area. He has raised concerns about it and I fully understand that. This issue is being looked at by the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and we are awaiting advice from the NCSC. I will make sure to raise the issue and the important points made by Deputy Cannon with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy makes a reasonable point and I will certainly raise it with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who has responsibility for this area.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to give the Deputy an update on that particular matter. I do not have details to hand but I am happy to make sure that he responds to the query he has raised.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm it is the Government’s policy to improve vital pieces of infrastructure, and a number have been mentioned in the House. I will raise the issue of the N17 with the Minister for Transport. I appreciate that, as the Deputy said, it is a main artery to a hospital.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. There has been unprecedented investment in recent years in active travel. The Department of Rural and Community Development is assisting by providing better facilities through our outdoor recreation fund. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is committed to increasing the number of people who can safely use bicycles. The Deputy is correct that, especially in rural...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The Government takes full responsibility. I do not agree with her assertions. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, and I all want more gardaí on the street. We want more gardaí on the beat in communities. This is why we are recruiting more gardaí, with more than 300 recruits in Templemore as we speak. We have new classes every 11...