Results 9,161-9,180 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The specific details of when the cost of Living double payment and the lump-sum Disability Support Grant of €500 will be paid to, amongst others, persons in receipt of Invalidity Pension are being finalised, together with details of other payments provided for in the recent Budget and will be announced early next week. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Heather Humphreys: In order to be eligible for the One Parent Family Payment (OFP) an applicant must be a qualified parent, as outlined in Section 172 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) of at least one child under the age of 7, who is ordinarily resident in the State. Similarly, to qualify for for the Jobseekers Transitional (JST) scheme a person must be a qualified parent of at least...

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

Heather Humphreys: Firstly, matters relating to the introduction of a tax credit for families who have children with complex special needs is not under the remit of the Department of Social Protection and should be referred to the Department of Finance. With regards to the Fuel Allowance payment, the criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not procured any contracts, subcontracts or services from the organisation referenced.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not procured any contracts, subcontracts or services from the organisation referenced.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (6 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have provided below, in tabular form, the details requested by the Deputy in respect of the agencies under the remit of my Department. All of these, with the exception of Pobal, are State Bodies, and all are under the aegis of my Department. Name Function Establishment Date No of Employees CEO salary Pobal Pobal (formerly Area...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (6 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the maintenance and development of the infrastructure on the island referred to lies primarily with the relevant Local Authority and/or the relevant utility companies. The Government's objective is that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live on all our inhabited offshore islands. My Department recognises that for this to be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 30 June 2022 Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that they were substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 31 August 2022 and was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (5 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 29 September 2022. It is a statutory requirement...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Poverty (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 233 together. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a widows contributory pension at the maximum weekly rate for a person under age 66 of €213.50. In addition she is in receipt of the fuel allowance at the weekly rate of €33.00, with the first payment for the current season on 30 September. The fuel allowance is paid during the winter months .The person concerned is also in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement, and refers to current recipients of Full-rate Carer's Allowance, Half-rate Carer's Allowance, Carer's Support Grant, Carer's Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance as of September 30th 2022. County Full-rate Carer's Allowance Half-rate Carer's Allowance Carer's Support...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Government, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. Rather than fixating on the idea of a single State Pension age, a flexible...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of a means review into her continued entitlement to disability allowance (DA), the person concerned was notified on 21 March 2022 that their entitlement to DA will cease effective from 30 March 2022. Based on the information provided by this person, her current means are in excess of the statutory limit for DA under section 210 and 302(b) of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On 12th September 2022, my Department implemented a formal blended working policy under which staff members may apply for a blended working arrangement, with attendance both in the office and remotely, subject to role suitability and other conditions. As at 30th September 2022, the number of staff members within my Department working remotely on a part-time or full-time basis and who have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Both Ulster Bank and KBC have announced their intention to leave the Irish market and have commenced communication with their customers, including customers of the Department who have their social welfare payments paid into their Ulster Bank and KBC accounts. My Department been proactively engaged in putting in place arrangements to facilitate a streamlined and accessible process to allow...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The Fuel Allowance payment is targeted towards those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can 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 client’s own resources and are deemed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (5 Oct 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that— (a) it ought to be treated,...