Results 9,501-9,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall Social Welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason. Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this person on 10 August 2022. The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 10 August 2022. The first payment will be made by her chosen payment method on 05 October 2022. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Public Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) provide onsite connectivity for community use at publicly accessible premises, such as community centres and sports clubs. They are located in rural and isolated areas including on a number of off-shore islands and support remote working, digital skills training and a range of community initiatives. In the coming months, in consultation with Public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Circular 02/1976 Special Leave provides that a civil servant who has been in contact with an infectious disease must absent themselves for work for as long as is advised by their doctor or the Health Service Executive (HSE). Special Leave for Covid-19 is allowed for civil servants where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19, or a need for civil servants to self-isolate. The information as...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. The Development of Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin is included in the National Development Plan and Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of this project. Officials from my Department and Galway County...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Disadvantaged Status (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331, 333, 334, 337 and 338 together. A vital part of my Department's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €378 million. This funding ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities in Kildare and throughout the country...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy, was published in March 2021. The policy recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. Last year I launched the National Hub Network together with its online booking platform,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together. The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development. I was delighted to welcome the recent announcement that the European Commission has confirmed their approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, which includes the LEADER programme. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (15 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans. In addition, my Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (14 Sep 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 12 January 2018. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 02 August 2019. State pension (contributory) was awarded from 31 January 2019, allowing for the maximum backdating of six months from the date of receipt of the original application. Current social welfare legislation on late claims stipulates that claims received on or after 5/6...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In 2021, a total of 1,573 (4%) applicants resident in the state submitted an application more than six months after their 66th birthday. Current social welfare legislation on late claims stipulates those claims received on or after 6 April 2012 may only be backdated for a maximum of six months. Backdating of a late claim beyond six months will only be considered in circumstances where the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 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 and insurability of employment. In the details supplied with this question the Deputy states that the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) advised that the Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: An application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) was registered for the person concerned on 21/07/2022. In order to complete an assessment of the application, further information was sought from the person on 26/07/2022 and 07/09/2022. The following information remains outstanding: Written confirmation that the person concerned does not hold any savings. Details of the water group...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. The Community Welfare Service (CWS) of my Department delivers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. The CWS is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Insurance Industry (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: IORP II, which became effective from 13 January 2019, sets out minimum standards for the management and supervision of pension schemes, with the objective of ensuring the soundness of occupational pensions and better protections for scheme members and beneficiaries across the European Union. IORP II requirements were transposed into Irish law by way of the European Union (Occupational...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Sep 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. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned was receiving Carer's Allowance and had their payment suspended effective from 30 September...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. The Carer’s Support Grant is fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC. The objective of the Carer’s Support Grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use...