Results 10,201-10,220 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. The fund supports groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.  Groups were also able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”.  The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Local Authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children.  The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.  The programme is an important component of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive implemented in March 2022, people fleeing the war in Ukraine have been granted status to avail of the supports and services provided by my Department.  Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing the war are eligible for financial support.  Initially, they are being paid on a temporary basis under the Supplementary Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important that a person in receipt of a Social Welfare benefit or payment informs the Department of any change in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement.   Payments such as Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance are not payable in respect of periods where a person is absent, whether temporarily or permanently, from the State.  However,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 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 April there were in excess of 155,600 people in receipt of this payment.   Following Budget 2022, the Disability Allowance personal weekly rate increased, in January, to €208 per...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition.  There are currently approximately 1,370 people in receipt of diet supplement at a cost of €0.75 million in 2021. A review of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has engaged directly with the customer concerning the matter referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the record of the individual referred to by the Deputy has been updated on my Department's systems and that an officer of my Department contacted her on 27th May 2022 to confirm that the record referred to by the Deputy had been updated. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) with effect from 14/04/2022.  This claim is currently being assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing. The person concerned applied for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) with effect from 13/04/2022.  In addition to a number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 21 February 2022. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to making decisions on entitlement as quickly as possible.   In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process.  Before a decision can be made on entitlement to disability allowance (DA), evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: A Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is a unique reference number that helps a person access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland.  When applying for a PPS Number, a person must provide evidence of their identity, the reason they need a PPS Number and their address. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a PPS Number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On an ongoing basis, and as part of the normal budgetary cycle, my Department actively monitors key economic indicators and also takes account of research data including that of the Minimum Essential Standard of Living from the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. The social impact of budget measures is also assessed using the SWITCH model developed by the ESRI.  It...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: One of the most important measures in the National Social Enterprise Policy 2019-2022 calls for improved data relating to the extent of social enterprise in Ireland and the areas in which they operate. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The rural regeneration and development fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 191 projects have been approved for funding of €278 million for projects costing €377 million. Calls for applications to the fund are sought under two categories – category 1 and category 2....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I will go back very quickly, starting with Deputy Stanton. A sum of €400,000 is being provided to every local authority. We have just kicked off this new scheme and naturally we will look at and keep it under review. To be fair, if a line is drawn from Dublin across to Galway, the greatest increase in jobs recently has been south of that line. A lot of employment is being created....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. That is something I will leave with the local authorities. They acquire the sites and we just provide the funding. That said, I am happy to raise it with them. I am meeting all of the CEOs of the local authorities in the next few weeks and I will mention that to them.