Results 7,261-7,280 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development and the Islands (Further Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As I understand it, there was only one sub-regional area in Galway but then they decided to divide it up themselves. Is that correct?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development and the Islands (Further Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: It is fair to say no funding model is perfect. Galway had €12.2 million in the last programme and it has €12.6 million for the 2023-27 programme, which is an increase of 3.5%. The same argument could be made for another big county like Mayo. All I can tell the Deputy is that last Thursday I announced 46 successful applicants will move to stage 2 and be asked to develop...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development and the Islands (Further Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: There were a good few questions there. I will try to cover them all. The Deputy can come back to me if I leave something out. I will start with the additional needs payments. At the end of December 2022, over 97,000 applications for additional needs payments were processed and awarded. This represents a 63% increase in awarded applications on the same period in 2021. The average amount...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his comments on the humane way in which the Department's staff deal with people. That is much appreciated. There are well over 6,000 people working at the Department and they do their best to help people. As Deputies, we know that from our experiences in our constituency offices. The Deputy is suggesting that people be encouraged into the RSS. All present are aware...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I would not blame the Deputy. There is a lot of stuff there. On page 66 of the briefing, there is an outline that goes back to 2007. It is very interesting to see. The surplus can turn around very quickly. We will publish the report I get. It has to go to the Government and then I will send it to the committee. Is that all right?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Yes but we must include the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and all of that.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, the PUP did.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development and the Islands (Further Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: We all know how popular the local improvement scheme is. I have increased the budget for the scheme to €12 million this year. Last year, due to savings in other areas, I was able to provide additional funding for the scheme. The scheme is a priority, and I know it is well received and welcomed. I do not have a list of the outstanding lanes in the different counties but I think I...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development and the Islands (Further Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: It is planned to use the €20 million of the CCIF and €5 million of the community enhancement programme, although the actual scale of the latter programme will depend on the level of demand under the CCIF as the year progresses. The next call under the CCIF will seek to fund new centres where communities have a clear need. The Deputy has raised a particular centre with me. I...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (1 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The committee is happy to engage with the Deputy on performance budgeting. I will give one answer for the record. I am sorry for not doing so earlier. I know Deputy Ó Cathasaigh asked me about the working family payment budget change. It cost €16.8 million. There are existing and new customers. Some 47,000 families are now benefiting from the working family payment. I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: A Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number) is issued either automatically when a birth is registered or when a person applies for a PPS Number. I can confirm that in 2021, my Department allocated 117,000 PPS Numbers and in 2022 that number increased to 249,000.  This is an increase of 132,000 or 113% over the 2021 figure. The reasons for this increase include: ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An application from the person concerned was received on 24 January 2023.  In their application, the person applied only for the Free Television Licence element of the Household Benefits Package.  A Free Television Licence has been awarded and a letter issued to the person concerned on 26 January 2023.  The person concerned did not apply for the Electricity or Gas Allowance on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned did not have sufficient contributions to qualify for the State Pension (contributory) which is based on the applicants own social insurance record.  The Widows Contributory Pension is currently in payment to them at the maximum weekly rate of €265.30 per week.  This is equivalent to the maximum rate State Pension (contributory).  The Widows...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, legally and habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.  For the purposes of the means-test, at application stage and through the lifetime of a claim, an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (31 Jan 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. The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 16 December 2022.  They were notified in writing on 24 January 2023. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Leave (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Maternity Benefit is a payment made to women who are on Maternity Leave from work or who are self-employed and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. In cross-border situations, where a person lives in Northern Ireland and works here, or vice versa, it is  the State of employment that is responsible for maternity benefits.  So, in the situation to which the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit. Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management (PSMA) Act 1997 and the Guidelines for the 33rdDáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PSMA Act. The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (31 Jan 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. The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide....