Results 6,441-6,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The State Pension (Contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record. A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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 overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. All civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay social insurance at the standard class A rate. Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: In September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State. The Social Protection measures announced in the Budget amounted to almost €2.2 billion. From 1stJanuary 2023, the maximum weekly rate of the State Pension increased by €12 with proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment. In the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires ongoing continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially over and above the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 145 and 148 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 107 and 110 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Agriculture Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. There are just under 4,400 claims in payment at present. Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme for 2023. I significantly expanded the list of agri-environmental schemes that attract a disregard for Farm Assist, from June 2022. In addition, I announced an increase in the amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) is an office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining ap peals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements and insurability of employment. The Office is independent in its decision making functions. There has been no change in Government policy in relation to the operation of the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Official Travel (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware I recently visited London from 10th March to 14th March as part of the Government's St Patrick's Day programme. While in London I represented the Irish government at a number of St Patrick's Day events and receptions. These included: - a Law Enforcement reception held at the Embassy of Ireland with members of law enforcement from the UK and Ireland, - the St...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Age-related rates for young Jobseeker's Allowance recipients were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and avoid long-term welfare dependency. Where a young jobseeker participates in approved full-time education or training they will receive the maximum rate of payment. In Budget 2023, I announced an increase of all core social welfare payments by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 141 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 an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (28 Mar 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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the SW56 "Introduction to Social Welfare Appeals Office" information leaflet that was previously provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 138 together. Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme in 2023. There are just under 4,400 claims in payment at present. This compares with just over 4,800 claims in payment at the same time period in 2022. The county with the highest number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. All civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay social insurance at the standard class A rate. Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Accommodation Recognition Payment is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It is available to individuals hosting people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have fled the conflict in Ukraine. The rate of payment increased from €400 per calendar month to €800 per calendar month with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Mar 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. Claimants in receipt of Child Benefit will receive an additional payment of €100 in respect of each child in June...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment. It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 126 together. The Department of Social Protection provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse /...