Results 9,381-9,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361, 365 and 366 together. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability.  Entitlement to these supports is in general contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work rather than the nature of the illness or disability.  As a result, I do not believe there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Transport (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection and its agencies currently have three motor vehicles: two diesel engine vans and a petrol engine motorcycle. As the energy usage on these vehicles is relatively low, my Department does not consider that there is an economic or major environmental benefit in changing these vehicles at this time. At the end of their life cycle, consideration will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of state pension non-contributory since 12 June 2009. A review questionnaire issued to the person on 20 June 2022 for completion and return, to determine if they were receiving their correct weekly pension entitlement. The completed questionnaire was returned on 27 June 2022. Following on from the returned questionnaire, on 29 June 2022, the Deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Pensions Commission’s Report was published on the 7th October 2021.  It contained almost 250 pages of analysis, consideration and recommendations.  The report established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and it has set out a recommended approach for Government. In the interests both of older people and future generations of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. Recruitment onto the scheme ceased from November 2004. At the end of August 2022, there were 437 JI participants employed by managing agents nationally. The Budget for 2022 is just...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (20 Sep 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, 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 a contribution towards the energy costs of a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my Department. The funding for the programme amounted to around €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme and the Irish Exchequer....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Illness Benefit is a social insurance scheme provided by my Department to those who cannot work due to illness and who have the required number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. The rate of Illness Benefit payable to a person is based on their average weekly earnings while in employment in the relevant tax year. For claims made in 2022, the relevant tax year is 2020. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is in receipt of state pension non-contributory since 12 June 2009. A review questionnaire issued to the person on 20 June 2022 for completion and return, to determine if they were receiving their correct weekly pension entitlement. The completed questionnaire was returned on 27 June 2022. Following on from the returned questionnaire, on 29 June 22, the Deciding Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The pension rate of the person concerned was reviewed. An increase in the rate of payment was awarded and backdated to their 66th birthday. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing. The higher rate of payment and arrears due will be paid on Friday 23 September 2022. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: A comprehensive review of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) was undertaken in the Department during 2021 with the purpose of determining the best future operating model for delivering the service. The review identified substantial benefits to standardising and streamlining the Community Welfare Service and in order to progress this, a national organisational structure was established....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full-year cost of increasing the disability allowance for all recipients to €350 per week, with a proportionate increase for qualified adults is €1.2billion. This costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients. I trust this clarifies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full-year cost of increasing all headline social protection payments to €300 per week excluding disability allowance with a proportionate increase for qualified adults is €4.3 billion. This costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory agency tasked with providing information, advocacy and advice to citizens. These important services are delivered by eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies. The CIB provides funding to the eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. It is very important to note...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Sep 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 (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion to the range of services available under the Treatment Benefit scheme. The new grant announced came into effect on 28 May 2022 and it provides a contribution of up to €500 once every calendar year towards the cost of non-surgical hair replacement, for example wigs and toupees, for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (20 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s non-contributory pension (WNCP) is a residency-based means tested payment. All income and earnings, including pensions, capital and property excluding their own home, is assessable as means. A person is obliged to declare all their income and notify the Department in writing of any change in their circumstances. For the...