Results 9,581-9,600 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (14 Jul 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. It is clear from the Commission’s work that State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive implemented in March, people fleeing the war in Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of the supports and services, including income supports and employment services, provided by my Department.  This means that they can work in Ireland and access social services and the full range of social welfare supports. As of 11th...

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

Heather Humphreys: Treatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners. The following are the entitlements under each of the schemes. Dental Benefit The department pays the full cost...

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

Heather Humphreys: Applicants for social assistance payments are means-tested.  A means test is a way of checking if a claimant has enough financial resources to support themselves and determine what amount of social assistance payment, if any, they may qualify for. A maximum rate is payable where a person has limited or no means, and tapering applies to the rate payable to those with modest or more...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 135 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Pathways to Work 2021 - 2025, the national employment services strategy, was launched in July 2021.  Stated simply, the goal of Pathways to Work is to ensure that as many opportunities as possible are filled by people who are unemployed or who are out of the labour force.  This includes those whose jobs were lost due to COVID-19, those already on the Live Register pre-pandemic...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year. This year, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment has been increased by €100 for the 2022 scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has introduced a range of measures to support families with the increased cost of living.  Just last week, we announced changes to three initiatives to assist families with back to school costs at a total additional cost of €67 million. As a result, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, is being increased by €100 for each eligible child...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability, the largest of which is the Disability Allowance scheme. As at the end of May there were almost 155,800 people in receipt of this payment, with expenditure on Disability Allowance for 2021 at €1.8 billion. An estimated €4.8 billion was spent on illness, disability and...

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

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment.  This payment is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.  Working Family Payment is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is engaged in a process, since 2019, of reviewing and expanding public employment services across the State.  It has had well in excess of over 140 engagements with the community sector during this process.  My officials have also engaged with and met the trade unions SIPTU and Forsa to hear their concerns regarding the interests of their members who are employed in...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that I will be considering a range of options for Budget 2023 over the coming months, taking account of available resources. It is important to emphasise that the Government takes a range of data and research into account in formulating its budget.  The last two Budgets have seen a series of evidence-based increases in some social welfare payments...

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

Heather Humphreys: The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide.   Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla-funded service providers.  This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast track...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 149 together. The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs.  The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full.  The payment is made...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks - or 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 qualifying households with their energy costs.  The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The criteria...

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

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.  This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical examination, a means test and Habitual Residence conditions. My Department periodically reviews claims to ensure there is continued...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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 scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Jul 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 Office is committed to enhancing its operations to deliver an efficient and effective appeals service to its customers.  To support this goal a programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rights of People with Disabilities (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.  Therefore it is very clear that the findings in the research have implications...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 an accessible, flexible, and responsive service to meet the varied needs of vulnerable people, particularly in a time of crisis or emergency. My Department...