Results 7,301-7,320 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. The person concerned submitted an application for fuel allowance on 04 October 2022. Based on the information provided to the Department, the person does not qualify for the allowance as their household consists of people who are not in a qualifying category. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund. This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022.  The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I launched the €15 million Community Centres Investment Fund in April this year to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities.  Funding was on the basis of a competitive assessment process. The fund was oversubscribed and it was not possible to fund all proposals within the budget available. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Breeding (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.  The Act provides a robust regulatory framework for, inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Welfare (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities.  Information up to and including 2021, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie.  The 2022 dog control statistics will be collated in 2023 and when checked and verified will be published on gov.ie. Page 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: 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 Rural and Community Development: Official Travel (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The data associated with air travel for my Department and the agencies under the aegis of my Department is displayed in the tables below.  Data is only available for years 2020 and 2021.  The data for 2022 is not yet available as the Charge Rate is due to be issued by Department of Environment, Climate and Communication shortly. Year: 2020 Department/Agencies ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (31 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (26 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The decision was taken following the lifting of Public Health Restrictions to return to paying Jobseeker payments through the Post Office Network. Payments to the Post office is one of the measures in terms of preventing fraud as it necessitates the claimant attending in person. Measures to combat fraud are regularly reviewed and updated by the Department. In response to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (26 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not have a scheme to fund private medical assessments as this is a matter for the Department of Health. I trust that this clarifies the position.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (26 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Welfare Service (CWS) delivers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (26 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: 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 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Company Closures (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: This is a commercial decision made by the company, but obviously my thoughts are with the workers affected and their families at this difficult time. Under the Protection of Employment Act 1977, employers must comply with a number of obligations when proposing collective redundancies, including the requirement to consult and provide information to employees and their representatives....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Welfare Service is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Applications for Additional Needs Payments are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where it is clear that a person has an urgent or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. An application for IP was received from the person concerned on 20 December 2022. In order to establish his medical suitability for IP, two forms to be completed issued...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 1 December 2022 and will receive his first payment to his nominated bank account on 26 January 2023. All arrears due from 1 December 2022 to 25 January 2023 will also issue to his nominated account on same date. The person in question was notified of this decision on 20 January 2023. I hope this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rental Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Rent Supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Persons with a long-term housing need should contact their local authority where information is available regarding suitable housing supports...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation stipulates that a minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions are required to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). Applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, receiving a payment based on which method is most beneficial to the person. The Yearly Average (YA) method has been in place since...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned submitted an application for State Pension (contributory) on 31 August 2022. They were awarded the State Pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate from 23 October 2022 and informed of this interim decision on 11 October 2022. Following a review of the person’s entitlement to Homecaring credits, they were awarded the maximum rate State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: An application for the increase for living alone was received on 10/01/2023. On 14/01/2023, a letter issued to the person concerned requesting confirmation of their household composition. On receipt of the requested information, their entitlement to the increase for living alone will be determined and they will be notified of the outcome without delay. I trust this clarifies the matter for...