Results 8,141-8,160 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to delivering excellent Customer Service. The Department aims to provide the best possible service, ensuring all customers are served in a professional, fair, courteous and timely manner, and are provided with full and clear information regarding entitlements while having their privacy respected. My officials are currently in the process of reviewing and updating...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As of the week ending the 20thof November, the Live Register, which consists of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit and Credits, stood at some 181,500 claimants. There has been some variation in the Live Register in the recent period. Notably, the Live Register rose to some 180,700 jobseekers following the closure of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) end-March 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2023 (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure, including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses. The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy. Based on this,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household. The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend €1.3 billion this year on cost-of-living supports to help individuals and families through this difficult period. Participants on the Rural Social Scheme are eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment paid last month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those participants with children were also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (29 Nov 2022)

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. All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (29 Nov 2022)

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 housing authorities nationwide and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme supports people in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to develop a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On 27 June 2020, I had the privilege of being appointed as Minister for Social Protection. At that time, the rate of Fuel Allowance was €24.50 per week, payable over a 28 week period. From 4 January 2021, I increased the weekly rate by €3.50, raising the rate of payment to €28.00 per week. I secured a further increase of €5 to the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the means test which applies is satisfied. Carer’s Allowance is primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who look after certain people who need full-time care and attention. While the age and the level of care required by those being...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is my understanding that the question relates to the automatic enrolment retirement savings system and therefore will answer on that basis. Automatic Enrolment (AE) is a State sponsored, quality assured, retirement savings system. It is separate to the State Pension which will remain the bedrock of the Irish pension system. It will be of particular benefit to the estimated 65% of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. ENPs are demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy on 5th June 2012. A letter confirming the details of his PPSN issued to him on 22nd November 2022. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the department, this person concerned lives with someone in receipt of a State Contributory Pension (SPC). A letter issued to the person concerned on 22 November 2022 informing them the Contributory Pensioner must apply for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 02 July 2022. An application for State Pension non-contributory was received in my Department on 09/08/2022. The State Pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment. As such, all recipients of the State Pension non-contributory are subject to a means test. Social welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 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. Fuel Allowance in this case was awarded from 14 October 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing on the 17 November 2022. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 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 (DA) from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term, introduced into our statistical reporting in 2022, used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make Additional Needs Payment (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 435 together. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private...