Results 6,741-6,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that Budget 2023 includes a social welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. This extensive package includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment. The Working Family Payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are approximately 48,000 families...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reviews (1 Mar 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. During 2022, my Department completed 7,602 reviews of DA claims.This resulted in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The European Commission added Covid-19 to its list of recommended occupational diseases on its website on 28 November 2022. I would like to confirm there has been no communication between my Department and the European Commission in this matter. Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those who got injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: There are three ways of extending or renewing an expired Public Services Card (PSC). Firstly, customers can arrange an appointment to have their PSC renewed at one of the Department’s Intreo Offices. In accordance with section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has appointed Access Officers who are responsible for providing or arranging for, and coordinating,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (1 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. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 January 2023. It is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those who got 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Transport Costs (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State.  The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIÉ public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 74 private operators countrywide.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel Scheme was introduced in 1967 to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people by taking advantage of free space on public transport services. The Free Travel Scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (1 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. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a supplementary welfare allowance appeal by the person concerned was registered by that office on 12 January...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 23 January 2023. The application was referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) on 24 February 2023 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted their report to the DA section, a decision will be made on the DA application and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years.  The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.  Child Benefit is currently paid to over 640,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those who got 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities. Under the 2018-2022 Library Capital Programme, my department awarded capital funding towards 17 major library construction and refurbishment projects, in addition to funding towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Given the level of detail the Deputy has sought and the volume of capital projects my Department funds, it is not possible to give a full reply in the allotted time frame. My officials are currently compiling the information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We have carried out a number of reviews of the community employment schemes. We have changed some of the criteria, in consultation with them, to expand it and to allow them to keep workers on for longer. There have been a number of good and very positive changes in that regard. It is almost a year since the first Ukrainian refugees came to...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 415 together. Educational sector workers, including special needs bus escorts, who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school breaks can apply for a jobseeker’s payment but must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive this payment. This includes completing the relevant claim application forms and...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384, 419 and 426 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 Benefits (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) 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. An application for Carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 12 October 2022. Additional...

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

Heather Humphreys: To receive Child Benefit in Ireland, parents must be habitually resident in the State. Applicants for International Protection do not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition and are therefore not eligible for Child Benefit. Applicants for International Protection, who are awaiting a decision on their application, are offered accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation...

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

Heather Humphreys: All State Pension (contributory) recipients automatically receive an extra €10.00 allowance per week from the first Friday after their 80th birthday. This extra allowance is not payable on the Increase for Qualified Adult allowance. As the person concerned is the beneficiary of an Increase for Qualified Adult allowance on their spouse’s State Pension (contributory), they are...