Results 6,281-6,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: This Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role.  Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 874 to 877, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, referrals to the JobPath service have ceased and the service is now in a run-off phase, with only clients referred up to June 2022 remaining engaged with the service with some 24,000 clients currently engaged with the service, the majority of whom are in the first phase of the service and who may...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The main social welfare schemes for people who are unable to find full-time employment are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker's Benefit and the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance.  These schemes allow a person to work up to three days per week, where they are fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days.  Among the qualifying conditions for both...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. It is also a condition for receipt of Carer's Allowance that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th February 2023.  It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The provision of material reception conditions, including food and health services, for applicants for International Protection who are awaiting a decision on their application is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS). My department administers the daily expenses...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The rate of Illness Benefit payable is based on the applicant’s average weekly earnings from employment during the relevant tax tear. The claim in question commenced in 2022 with the relevant tax year at that time being 2020. The average weekly earnings of the person concerned in 2020 were between €150.00 and €219.99 and, as such, they qualified for Illness Benefit at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is paid over a 6-day working week, and excludes Sundays, regardless of how many days or which days a person works. In the scenario outlined in the question, the individual will receive Illness Benefit at a rate of €220 for week one and €220 for week two.  In week three, the individual is certified as unable to work for two out of six working days and will,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 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 confirm that my department received an application for DA from the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Employment services for people with disabilities are currently provided by 23 EmployAbility service providers across the State on behalf on my Department.  My officials are preparing a procurement process to update current EmployAbility service contracts in order to comply with legal advice from the Attorney General and Chief State Solicitor’s Office and to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: General Practitioner Services (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: One of the conditions for receipt of Illness Benefit is the provision of appropriate medical evidence. The acceptable form of medical evidence is a Certificate of Incapacity which can either be submitted electronically by a GP to the Department by way of an e-certificate or, if this is not possible, a paper certificate known as a MED1 may be provided by a GP to their patient. No...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 888, 891, 895 and 917 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 7th December 2022.  It is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 3 May 2022.  The application for State Pension (Contributory) was received on 11 October 2022. Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). As the person concerned does not have the minimum of 520 full rate paid Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  The Department issued a decision to the person concerned in relation to her Carer's Allowance on 23rd May 2022.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 4th October 2022.  It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Special Investigation Unit FTE Staff  Grade at 30/03/2023 at 01/01/2021 Principal Officer 1.00 1.00 Assistant Principal Officer 7.00 7.00 Higher Executive Officer 56.00 57.60 Executive Officer 40.00 40.00 Clerical Officer ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together. Employment services for people with disabilities are currently provided by 23 EmployAbility service providers across the State on behalf of my Department. My officials are preparing a procurement process to update current EmployAbility service contracts in order to comply with legal advice from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (18 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (18 Apr 2023)

Heather Humphreys: EmployAbility service providers deliver a key employment service for people with disabilities on behalf of my Department.  The current service provider contracts describe the employment service to be delivered, the duration of the contract and the funding available for delivery.  My Department has agreed contracts with 23 EmployAbility service providers for the provision of...