Results 9,121-9,140 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that concerns have been raised recently in local media in relation to the Community Welfare Offices in Trim and Kells. There is, nor has there been, any plan to remove the Community Welfare Services from the Department’s offices in Kells and Trim. Community Welfare Officers continue to meet with customers in the Branch Offices in Kells and Trim and remain available to travel...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (11 Oct 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not possible for my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has made a provision of €75 million for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for the whole of 2022. On 27th September 2022, as part of the Budget 2023 announcement, my department made a provision of €100,000 for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in 2023. In line with the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, Pandemic Unemployment Payments gradually changed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Oct 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 to assist households with their energy costs. Officials in my department are currently managing large volumes of applications for fuel allowance. If the person concerned has recently submitted an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make additional needs payments 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 the customer’s own resources and which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (11 Oct 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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (11 Oct 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. In the case of a decision made by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person of the Department, any person who is dissatisfied with that decision may, by giving notice of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: An application was received for fuel allowance from the person concerned on 08 September 2022 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, the person does not qualify for the allowance as their household consists of people who are not in a qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that concerns have been raised recently in local media in relation to the Community Welfare Offices in Trim and Kells. There is, nor has there been, any plan to remove the Community Welfare Services from the Department’s offices in Kells and Trim. Community Welfare Officers continue to meet with customers in the Branch Offices in Kells and Trim and remain available to travel...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to announce the payment dates for each of the cost-of-living supports which are outlined below: Budget 2023 Measure Payment Date Autumn Double Payment Week commencing 17 October 2022 Double Child Benefit payment 1st November 2022 Fuel Allowance Lump Sum of €400 Week commencing...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Valuation legislation, any building occupied by a Department or office of State is not rateable. This includes my Department's headquarters buildings, Intreo Centres and other offices directly occupied by staff of the Department. Private operators who provide contracted services to my Department engage directly with Revenue. Any liability for commercial rates of is not a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits package comprises of the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Oct 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 30 July 2022. It is a statutory requirement...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Properties (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department operates 13 main offices and 62 Intreo Centres across this jurisdiction. All of these buildings have at least one rest room for staff which can be used by a breastfeeding mother. The rooms have a bed, a chair and a lockable door. All our offices have fridge facilities for use by staff and arrangements are made locally by mothers who wish to store expressed milk. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The travel and subsistence policy of my Department is detailed within the Department’s Financial Policies and Procedures. This policy notes that travel and subsistence payments are governed by the relevant circulars in place by the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure. It also details that the overarching principle is to minimise costs associated with official...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Regulations (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Control of Dogs Acts all dogs must be licensed. An individual dog licence costs €20, the lifetime of dog licence is €140 and the general dog licence costs €400. The general dog licence covers an unspecified number of dogs in the one premises. The individual dog licence and general dog licence are valid for one year while the lifetime of dog licence is valid...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ferry Services (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 805, 806 and 807 together. It is an objective of this Government to provide the necessary supports for our off-shore islands so that those communities can continue to live, and thrive, on the islands. My Department currently manages a large suite of transport contracts that provide safe, reliable and affordable year-round connectivity to the mainland for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department offers support to the community and voluntary sector through various schemes and programmes as set out in the table below. While some schemes have closed for applications this year, it is intended to advertise many of the schemes again in 2023. Scheme/Programme Parameters Open Closed Community Services The Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Properties (11 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to promoting and supporting breastfeeding and expressing breast milk which leads to positive health outcomes for parent and child. The World Health Organisation recommends the continuation of breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. In this regard, and consistent with Circular 31 of 2006 concerning the Implementation of the Maternity (Amendment) Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition. There are currently approximately 1,320 people in receipt of diet supplement. A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by...