Results 6,881-6,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 507,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the HHB package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 Feb 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 outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: On Budget Day last September, I announced the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state. A package that has seen the Government spend more than €2.1 billion on Social Protection measures, including over €880 million in order to provide for a €12 increase to the weekly rate of social welfare payments that came into effect from January 2023. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department currently has thirteen (13) live studies in progress. Details of these are set out in tabular format below: Live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned Expected completion date 1. Survey of employers to ascertain their views of the Department’s employer services. Ongoing on a quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 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. According to the records of my department the person concerned applied for Fuel Allowance on 28 November 2022. The Fuel allowance was awarded from the first payment date after receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An application from the person concerned was received on 17 January 2023. The person concerned was not in receipt of a qualifying payment at that time and was informed that when a decision was made on their state pension (contributory) application, their entitlement to the Household Benefits Package would be re-examined. As a result of the outcome of their pension application, the person...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland – whether it be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together. It is an objective of this Government to provide the necessary supports for our off-shore islands so that those communities can continue to live, and thrive, on the islands. As the Deputy is aware, my Department operates an annual capital funding programme to enable the relevant local authorities to carry out minor capital works on the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below. Live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed. Research scoping paper to carry out a 'Volunteer Managers Skills Analysis Survey'. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cost of Living Issues (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314, 317 and 319 together. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland, including Kildare. We do this by delivering a wide range of strategic interventions and investments throughout the country. In 2022 my Department provided substantial support for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316, 321 and 322 together. My Department continues to liaise with stakeholders in communities around the county including the Local Authorities, Local Community Development Committees, Public Participation Networks and the Local Development Companies to ensure that supports provided are timely and appropriate to the needs of those communities. While...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 320 together. A vital part of my Department's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. In the 2022 Further Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €388.7 million. This funding ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities in Kildare and throughout the country...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Budgets (22 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has provided an allocation of €200,000 for Humanitarian Aid in 2023. Humanitarian Aid is a demand led scheme which means that people making claims and who satisfy the terms and conditions of the scheme will be paid. This provision is included in the 2023 Revised Estimate Volume for DSP which was passed by the Dáil on February 15th 2023. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy is set out below in tabular form. Turnover of Permanent Staff of the Department of Social Protection Year Total permanent staff IN % of Total Permanent staff (in) OUT % of Total Permanent Staff (out) 2020 6200 486 8% 462 7% 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Feb 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 average processing time for all appeals finalised in 2022 was 14.9 weeks. The current* average processing time for an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Feb 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 it is standard practice in the Office to issue an acknowledgement on registration of an appeal notice. Paper/postal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension (WCP) is paid to the husband, wife, or civil partner of a deceased person, and is a weekly pension, available to those who satisfy the required PRSI contribution conditions, either on his/her own record or on that of the deceased spouse or civil partner, subject to certain criteria. The legal context...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Feb 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 an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the Carers Allowance appeal of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Child Maintenance Review Group was established in 2020 to prepare a report on: (i) The current treatment within the Department of Social Protection of child maintenance payments, (ii) The current provisions relating to the liable relatives regarding child maintenance, and (iii) The establishment of a State Child Maintenance Agency. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations...