Results 8,381-8,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy sees what I am trying to do. I am trying to give everybody a chance to get some of the money in the pot.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There is €10 million in the scheme with Pobal. We can get the message out today that to apply to Pobal an organisation needs to be a registered charity or to be a regulated organisation. This is one lot. If organisations do not qualify for this they should go to their local authority and that is it. Pobal will screen them. If organisations are not eligible they will be told to go...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We know the local improvement scheme was suspended and brought back in 2017 by the former Minister, Deputy Ring. We have spent €100 million on the LIS since then and I am aware of the absolute importance of the scheme. I have written to the Minister and I have raised this matter with him at every opportunity, saying that if we could just get a small contribution from his Department,...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On the Monksland project, I have actually visited that project and it will be transformative in that area in terms of remote working facilities. I cannot say why NAMA has not given a decision. I do not want to see these things being held up, and that is the truth. If the money is there, get it spent and get on with it. If our Department can help in moving that along, we are happy to do so.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We are happy to do that. We will see what we can do with the relevant Minister. I think the Minister for Finance has responsibility for NAMA. The LEADER funding issue has been raised with me. I wish to put on the record that the funding allocations for 2023 to 2027, when taken together with the allocations under the 2021 to 2022 transition programme, show that all LEADER areas have an...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: They do get it.

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second time." As Deputies will be aware, the purpose of the Social Welfare Bill is to give legislative effect to the changes announced on budget day. Budget 2023 was framed in uncertain times. As the world emerged from the public health crisis caused by Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and the ensuing geopolitical instability has meant that inflation in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 419, 423 and 437 together. My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 461 together. The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 500,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the HHB, with one package provided per household. The HHB is also available to people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that neither I, nor officials from either my Department or the statutory bodies under its aegis, attended the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department always seeks to ensure that claims are handled quickly and efficiently, understanding the many pressures faced by customers. I am pleased to report that claim processing is up to date, with processing targets met, or exceeded, for all the main scheme areas. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Applications for Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in the Department. The purpose of the ENP is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which cannot be met from any other source and which a person could not reasonably be expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The National Shared Services Office is responsible for payroll administration for all Government Departments. On 21 October 2022 the NSSO issued a communication in relation to the payment of pay increases due under the Building Momentum Public Service Agreement which stated the following: "Phase 2 Revised rates and arrears requiring individual review: Revised rates under the terms of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: A person's marital status does not affect their entitlement to Disability Allowance. Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 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 7 October 2022. It is a statutory requirement of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Marriages (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Firstly may I take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the person concerned on their bereavement. The registration of marriages is provided for in the Civil Registration Act 2004 as amended (the Act). Where a registrar refuses to register a life event, which includes marriage, provision is made for a statutory appeal process. In this case, I understand that an appeal is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. Living alone allowance is payable from age 66, with widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension. As the person concerned is under age 66, she does not qualify for this allowance. However, the person concerned was previously in receipt of living alone allowance with disability allowance, in which case it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together. The person concerned has been in receipt of living alone allowance since 25/03/2011. Their weekly pension payment is €275.30. This is comprised of the maximum personal rate of €253.30, plus €22 living alone allowance. As a result of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (22 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides income supports through contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Invalidity Pension is a contributory...