Results 6,041-6,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 134 together. The €200 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. This support was paid on a similar basis to the Christmas Bonus, including to those on jobseeker's payments or Illness Benefit for over 12...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Care Services (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age without their disability and the child must be likely to require this level of care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension is a weekly social insurance payment to those covered by social insurance whose spouse or civil partner has died. To qualify for the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, one must: - be a widow, widower or surviving civil partner; - not cohabit with another person; and - satisfy certain...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (10 May 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 in that office on 30...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Applications (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: One Parent Family has been awarded to the person concerned with effect from 19/01/2023. The first payment will issue on 09/05/2023 at the rate of €346.00 pw to the person's nominated bank account. Communication in regards to this was issued to the person concerned on 05/05/2023.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The €200 Spring cost of living bonus payment was payable to all Illness Benefit customers who had been in receipt of Illness Benefit for at least one year on the 23rd April 2023. The spring bonus was paid to qualifying Illness Benefit customers during the week commencing the 24th April 2023. Any customers that did not receive the bonus at this time, but may be eligible to receive it...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (10 May 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 received in that office on 5 May...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (10 May 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 in that office on 24...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (10 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: In January, I launched the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 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 a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions. I can confirm that the DA payment of person concerned was reviewed following their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The primary responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. While there is no specific hardship fund to support victims of domestic violence my Department provides a range of income supports for those in financial difficulty. Easier access to rent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Information and Communications Technology (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has denied access to the application in question pending a risk assessment of its use and therefore does not use the application to conduct any business. The Department continues to work closely with experts in the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that we follow best practice and advice on all aspects of cyber security. Limited Artificial Intelligence (AI) is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 417 together. The €200 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. This support was paid on a similar basis to the Christmas Bonus, including to those on jobseeker's payments or Illness Benefit for over 12...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (9 May 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 maximum rate of payment. Age-related Jobseeker’s Allowance rates also do not apply to those with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 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. From January 2023, the threshold for the fuel allowance means test for those aged between 66...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Disablement Benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries benefit scheme. It is payable to an insured employee who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease that was sustained on or after 1 May 1967. A person must have been in insurable (occupational injuries) employment, paying PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Reviews (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Section 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 specifically provides for a review of the operation of that Act. In November 2019 the then Minister for [Employment Affairs and] Social Protection published her report under section 7 of the Act. The report contains recommendations to amend the Act as well as recommendations proposing administrative actions that do not require legislation. A copy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Gender Recognition Act 2015, a person who satisfies the conditions set out in that Act may apply to my Department for a Gender Recognition Certificate. The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 May 2023)

Heather Humphreys: “Pathways to Work” is the Government’s national employment strategy, which aims to encourage job creation and reduce long-term unemployment. This strategy sets out the Governments priority to provide employment supports and access to employment opportunities to assist with tackling long-term unemployment. This strategy is working - with the unemployment rate now at...