Results 8,541-8,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 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. The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (10 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children.  The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.  The programme is an important...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (10 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Provision of services for young people is primarily under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and services for older people fall largely under the responsibility of the Minister for Health. My Department’s mission is to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In delivering on its...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period. These measures include the following lump sum payments: - €400 Fuel Allowance lump sum - November double Child Benefit payment - €500 Working Family Payment -...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has two staff members seconded to a Partnership Company which is contracted to provide a Local Employment Service (LES). The individuals were originally employed by FAS and seconded to the Partnership company in 1996 with an allowance to carry out a LES Mediator role. When specified FAS employees were integrated into this Department in 2012, these two individuals came across to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number on 31/05/2022. The application was referred back to the person’s MyWelfare account on 18/06/2022, with a request for proof of his identity. The person concerned was asked to provide an image of either the back of his National Identity Card or of his passport. As a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (9 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 9 September 2022. It is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been awarded a guardian's payment (non-contributory) at the weekly rate of €148.50 with effect from the 18th of March 2022. A decision letter has issued to the person concerned. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of Disability Allowance from 23 February 2000 until 08 November 2022. The person concerned was awarded State Pension Contributory from 07 November 2022. A letter notifying her of this decision issued on 04 October 2022. The Cost of Living Disability Support Grant of €500 will be made to those currently on a Disability Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work weekly payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. Unfortunately, the PPSN provided by the Deputy did not match the other details provided. The department attempted to contact the Deputy to clarify the position. Based on the other information provided a claim has been identified. An application for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of an Increase for Qualified Adult allowance (IQA) on their State Pension (contributory). An increase for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (9 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. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. There is no record of a Fuel Allowance application for the persons concerned. I have arranged...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland.  The Group's Terms of Reference were to consider and make recommendations on: (i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department, (ii) the current provisions regarding liable...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Firstly, may I take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the person concerned and their family on their recent bereavement. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Pensions (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Civil and public sector employees, recruited prior to 6 April 1995, pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D.  Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí, the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service and the class D...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is intended for people with short duration illnesses who will return to work relatively quickly.  The average duration on the scheme is about 6 days. In many cases, the payment is made directly to the employer and the employer tops up the payment to ensure that the person receives the equivalent of their normal salary. People with long duration illnesses are catered...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that there are no civil servants in my Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty/acting allowance.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Photograph, photograph.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 629, 684 and 738 together. I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (8 Nov 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory) is based on a person's social insurance record and the personal rate of payment is not subject to a means assessment. Only the spouse or partner of the claimant is means tested. If a person's social insurance record does not qualify them for a State Pension (Contributory), they can apply for a means-assessed State Pension (Non-Contributory)....