Results 9,721-9,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: Recipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment.  A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant.  The means test in respect of the increase for a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. In furtherance of this commitment, my Department continues to focus on strategically developing the national...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides supports for organisations such as the one referred to by the Deputy under a number of schemes, depending on the exact works being completed. They include the following: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) - The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Pensions (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm there are no staff abated under the Department of Rural and Community Development in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, my Department currently manages a suite of contracts covering 26 transport services to 19 separate off-shore islands. These lifeline services ensure that the island communities can avail of reliable, affordable, year round connectivity to the mainland. Contracts for these subsidised passenger and cargo services are procured by the Department of Rural and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy was launched in early 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. In furtherance of this commitment, my Department’s focus to date has been on strategically...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: When the State Pension (Transition) was in place, it was a scheme allowing those who were retired to receive a transitionary payment between the ages of 65 and 66 years. The maximum personal rate was equivalent to the then maximum rate for the State Pension (Contributory). Eligibility was based on PRSI contributions and credits and payments were calculated based on the Yearly Averaging...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated cost of providing an extra month Child Benefitis shown in the table below: Rates Cost of an Extra Month €m €140 current rate 170.4 €150 (€10 increase) 182.6 €155 (€15 increase) 188.7 €160 (€20 increase) 194.8 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who wish to pursue self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long-term unemployed and is payable for a 24 month period from the commencement of the new business. I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 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. Over the long term, Ireland’s social welfare system has performed strongly in protecting our most vulnerable citizens. In 2021, social transfers reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 38.6% to 11.6%. This represents a 70%...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 included a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report. The Cost of Disability research report was published by my Department in December 2021, which will feed into...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In the sad circumstances outlined in the question, legislative provision has been made for this scenario. Social welfare supports can be availed of by the appointment of an agent on behalf of the person. Section 244(1)(b) of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides for the appointment of a nominated Agent, subject to medical certification of the payment recipient as being so...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My department is committed to do everything we can to assist people with disabilities to further their education. In March 2021, I signed new regulations which will allow those in receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) to accept stipends associated with PhD scholarships. The new disregard applies to Disability Allowance recipients and their spouse/partner who have been granted a stipend...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. Disablement Benefit is a benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The qualifying criteria for the Fuel Allowance scheme are outlined in detailed guidelines that are available to all staff...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 27 June 2021 and their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 18 June 2021. There is no record of receipt of an application for State pension (non-contributory). Under current eligibility conditions for State Pension (contributory), an individual must have 520 full-rate paid...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Assistant Secretaries General and Secretary General are paid in line with Civil Service salary scales. These scales are most recently outlined in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 15/2022 available here: gov.ie - Circular 15-2022 - FEMPI Pay Restoration 1 July 2022 (www.gov.ie). The salary for the Minister for Social Protection is as set out in the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 357 together. Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. It is a targeted payment to people dependent on specified long-term social welfare payments. The purpose of this payment is to assist those households most in need with their energy costs. Taking account of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs. Taking account of the fact that the Fuel Allowance is a household based payment and that qualification is not just...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jul 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type...