Results 7,761-7,780 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2022)

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.  I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Based on the Department's interpretation of funding/grants, the Department of Social Protection has not funded any projects in Limerick. If the Minister of State wishes to provide a more detailed definition of what he means by project, we will revisit his query.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fishing Industry (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Human trafficking is an exploitive crime that preys on the vulnerable. I have been clear that there is no place for it in our society. We know vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for exploitation reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality. The Government is fully committed to working to identify and support victims of this terrible crime. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no procedures in place currently that allow a member of the public to object to a barrister being appointed as a judge. However, the Deputy will be aware that the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 was published on 8 April 2022, taking into account the outcome both of widespread consultations and key aspects of a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and management of Garda resources and the Garda estate. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters, and cannot comment on them. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were seven Garda Stations closed under the Station Rationalisation Programme in 2012 and 2013 in Tipperary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that the Commissioner is responsible for all decisions related to the Garda Estate and that such works are progressed by the Office of Public Works in close cooperation with the Garda authorities. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however advised by the Garda authorities that no Garda stations have closed in Tipperary Division since 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022 with the International Protection strand closing on the 07 August 2022. This once in a generation scheme allowed eligible applicants the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship. I am advised that the person concerned was not eligible to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Stormont House Agreement, concluded by the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Parties in December 2014, provides for a framework of measures to address the legacy of troubles-related violence in Northern Ireland. The framework of measures agreed include the establishment of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR). Given the cross-border nature of the ICIR, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s vote has a gross expenditure budget of just under €499 million in 2022. Funding is provided for a broad range of goods and service across the country and it is not possible to give a breakdown on a county by county basis for all areas of expenditure, as it is not categorised in this way. The Department's annual appropriation account reflects the total spend...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 to 404, inclusive, together. The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. S.I. No. 442/1998, the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, sets out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs, including strains or crosses of those breeds, have to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Details of funding for Limerick for 2022, as requested by the Deputy, are set out below. My officials are currently collating project details and these will be forwarded to the Deputy when finalised.  Scheme/Programme Limerick Funding allocation 2022 Connected Hubs €464,351 Strengthen and Support Volunteering ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: All applications to the Community Centres Investment Fund are subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines. Category 1 applicants were notified of the outcome of this process in October. Details of successful applicants are available on my department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd. The group the Deputy refers to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am very pleased to bring this year's Social Welfare Bill to Seanad Éireann. The purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the comprehensive set of social protection measures announced on budget day. The Government has been listening to people throughout the country and is acutely aware of the financial pressures that many in our communities are facing. Yesterday, the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Senators for their contributions this evening. In the past couple of years this State has had to deal with a pandemic, an energy shock, rising inflation and a war on our continent. Despite this, employment is now higher than it was before the pandemic and the Government has delivered the highest social protection budget in the 100 year history of the State. I will now respond to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year benefitting 1.3 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments.  The Bonus includes payments to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 75 together. The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseeker's Benefit schemes, 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 designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards their heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs.  The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full.  The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33.00; or if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2022)

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.  One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test.   Following recent representations, a Fuel Allowance application issued to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2022)

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 CA was received from the person concerned on 9 November 2022. CA was awarded on today's date 5 December...