Results 9,541-9,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 24 August 2022. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on the 08 August 2022. Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment....

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

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is both a means and medically assessed payment. The Department commenced a means review of the person concerned in June 2021. In their reply, the person concerned stated that they now have a rental property which is valued at €270,000 and has no out-standing mortgage. Properties other than a person’s principal residence are assessable for means purposes...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel Scheme allows people who are aged 66 years or over, and who are legally and permanently residing in the State, to travel free of charge on most CIE public transport services, LUAS, Local Link, as well as on the public transport services of a large number of private operators in various parts of the country. Certain people under age 66 may also be entitled to free travel if...

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

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment. A review of WFP for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am acutely aware of the increase in cost of living and impacts of inflation and rising costs in recent months, and my Department continues to support communities throughout Ireland to ensure they remain vibrant and sustainable. My Department delivers a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities including sports clubs,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Centres Investment Fund application closing date was Thursday 14th July 2022, and I can confirm my Department received an application from the group the Minister refers to. The appraisal process is currently ongoing. All applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines. Due to the high level of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to embedding remote working into the culture and practices of the Department. To this end, our Blended Working Policy was launched in July 2022 with a view to building a dynamic, flexible and versatile organisation, while sustaining high levels of performance, productivity and innovation. Our policy applies widely across the organisation and is underpinned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas. Earlier this year, I launched the 2022 Scheme with a budget of €15 million to support outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The measures being funded under this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 191 projects have been approved for funding of €279 million for projects costing €379 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin, which is included in the National Development Plan. As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was instructed by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour. Galway County Council collated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Site Acquisitions (14 Sep 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has no role in the transferring of property between the HSE and Mayo County Council and therefore has no information on this matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Welfare Services (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The additional needs payment is not a new scheme and it comes under the remit of the general supplementary welfare allowance scheme operational guidelines. A briefing note with information on the additional needs payment has issued to all staff in the Department, setting out the role of community welfare officers in assisting customers with cost-of-living expenses. It directs community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has carried out extensive work on the policies surrounding means-tested schemes over the past year and I have also made commitments in regard to further reviews. Means tests are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. In particular, I have introduced a number of changes to means testing that provide for higher income...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, the Deputy and I have discussed these issues. He raised an example of somebody on the disability allowance whose elderly parents have been living frugally in order that they can leave an asset behind, when they pass on, to their disabled child. They may then find that the asset, or their savings as the case may be, has an impact. I take the Deputy's point and, as I said, I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Payments (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate the Department has carried out numerous reviews of policies surrounding means-tested schemes over the past year and the Deputy has given me a list of suggestions. In line with a commitment in the programme for Government and the rural development policy, a review of the means assessment disregards for the farm assist has been completed and a key recommendation from the review was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Welfare Services (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this question. The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country remains a priority for me and my Department. It is important that the community welfare service, CWS, remains accessible, flexible and responsive to meet the varied needs of vulnerable people, particularly in a time of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Welfare Services (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The community welfare officers across the country are a great resource to the Department of the Social Protection. In my experience, I have always found them to be exceptionally helpful. They have always gone beyond the call of duty in trying to help people who need support at particular times in their lives. As Deputy Doherty is aware, we started a very active media campaign to make...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is acutely aware of recent price increases and their impact on low-income households and those who are dependent on social welfare. For this reason, the Government did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges but acted early. Overall, the tax and spending measures we have introduced to ease the burden and provide support to those most in need have amounted...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am very aware of the importance of people having access to the community welfare officers. That is why we have had a very comprehensive media advertising campaign to make people aware that this payment is available. I have run radio and social media advertisements. I am sure the Deputy has heard them. We want to raise awareness and get the message out through our constituency offices....