Results 8,221-8,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: There are a number of payments and pensions paid by my Department to people over State Pension Age. One of these is the State Pension (Contributory), qualification for which is based on a number of criteria, including that of a minimum of 520 qualifying contributions, which have been paid into the Social Insurance Fund. For those who have paid the required contributions at a reckonable rate...

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

Heather Humphreys: State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is a payment which a person may qualify for at 66 years of age if they have enough Irish social insurance contributions. It is based on their social insurance (PRSI) contributions. It is not means tested, nor is it affected by other income. The number of applications registered, awarded, refused and pending each in each of the last three years is shown in...

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

Heather Humphreys: Under current eligibility conditions, applicants must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). Calculation of an applicant’s entitlement to State pension (contributory) is based on their social insurance record from their date of entry into insurable employment until pension age, currently 66 years. Pension entitlement...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together. My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that claims are processed quickly and efficiently. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a higher level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (29 Nov 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. Among the measures introduced for CA in Budget 2023 was a €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (29 Nov 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. Among the measures introduced for Carers in Budget 2023 were: - €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s...

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. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 November 2022. It is a statutory...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department has contracts for cleaning with Grosvenor Cleaning Services and for security with Securway At Risk Security Group (SARS). The cost for these services for 2020, 2021 and 2022 (to 31 October) is set out below. Supplier 2020 2021 2022 Grosvenor Cleaning Services Ltd €3,323,461.10 €4,121,509.82 ...

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

Heather Humphreys: One former civilian driver remains in the employment of the Department of Social Protection on a temporary contract, coterminous with the Minister. Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) was not issued and no case has presented to the WRC to date on foot of changes.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked. This application will be considered as soon as possible. All applications are examined on a case by case basis, on the documentation supplied and as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 23 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has overall responsibility for the Charities Regulator. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has advised that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of their statutory functions under Section 14 (3) of the Charities Act 2009, and neither their Minister nor their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that Unit 5 of Domestic Residence and Permissions division of my Department received email correspondence from the people referred to by the Deputy on 15 November 2022. Following an examination of that correspondence, Unit 5 responded on the 16 November 2022, and provided detailed instructions on how to apply for a Change of Status to that same Unit, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the Judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. The Deputy may be aware that the Government published the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 on 4 August 2022, which will provide a legal basis for the deployment and use of body-worn cameras by An Garda Síochána. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland stated in their report that policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, including operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998, and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, it is the function of the Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU wide instrument and Member States including Ireland cannot deviate from its provisions, nor will guidelines supersede that position. Commencement of section 30 of the Data Protection Act 2018, raises serious matters, including the risk of infringement proceedings and the potential for significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters. On foot of the Deputy's question, contact was made with An Garda Síochána to seek the specific information sought. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 556 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. As the Deputy will also be aware, responsibility for policing the Public Health regulations during...