Results 7,121-7,140 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department reports on targets agreed between the Management Board and relevant scheme areas on a scheme by scheme basis and not on the basis of processing times for means tested schemes compared to those for contributory based schemes. Some schemes such as long-term illness related schemes require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer resulting in longer processing times...

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

Heather Humphreys: Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. The payment is provided for under Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) legislation as appropriate. There were just over 4,000 people receiving...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (9 Feb 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 benefit linked...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 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 Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that all claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (9 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of crucial and locally based community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens in Cavan and Monaghan, and across the country is a priority for me and for my Department. The CWS provides a flexible service to meet the different needs of customers, who may find themselves in a financially difficult or vulnerable situation. It is important that this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (9 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 Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged...

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

Heather Humphreys: I recently launched a public consultation on proposals for a new pay-related benefit for jobseekers which builds on commitments in the Programme for Government, the Economic Recovery Plan and Pathways to Work. A pay-related benefit means that the amount of benefit an eligible person receives when they become fully unemployed is directly linked to their previous earnings, subject to a maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (9 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The development, management and upkeep of pier and quayside infratructure serving island communities, including the provision of car parking facilities and supporting infrastructure at piers and harbours, is entirely a matter for the relevant Local Authority in most cases, and for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the case of Ros an Mhíl. My Department has no role in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (9 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 to 325, inclusive, together. Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 registered Men’s Sheds nationwide, to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: We are currently reviewing the pension entitlement of the person concerned. An application form for state pension contributory has issued by post to the person concerned.  On receipt of the completed form, his entitlement to both state pension contributory and fuel allowance will be examined and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. I trust this clarifies the matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Media (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Between 01 January 2022 and 31 December 2022, 90% of the videos posted on the Department's social media channels included subtitles.  Of the bodies and agencies that operate under the remit of my Department, 100% included subtitles. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that carers may be entitled to a number of supports from the Department. The two main social welfare payments for carers providing full-time care are Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant.  Combined spending on these payments in 2023 is estimated at almost €1.6 billion.  The Carer's Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 17 November 2022. An application for the state Pension (contributory) was received on 31 August 2022. According to the records of my department, the person concerned has a total of 1746 reckonable contributions from 1973 to 2022. Based on this record the person concerned has a yearly aver of 38 giving entitlement to state pension (contributory) at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package of more than €2.1 billion.  This extensive package includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment.  Approximately half of the recipients of Working Family Payment are single adult households so these measures are also of benefit to lone parents. The Working Family Payment is an in-work support...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter confirming the details of her PPSN issued to her on 31st January 2023. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 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, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions. I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of  DA effective from 05...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires 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 for at least 12 months.  An...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 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. I confirm that my Department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) review from the person concerned on 6...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 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 Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25 August 2022.  It is a...