Results 11,121-11,140 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Registration Service (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The provisions governing registration of solemnisers are contained in Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended. This Part sets out that only members of a religious or secular body, or members of staff of the HSE, may become a Registered Solemniser. A religious or secular body must apply to the General Register Officer by nominating a member of that body to perform marriage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recognised the challenges of rising prices last October in Budget 2022 when we brought in a package of tax and social welfare measures worth over €1 billion. Last month, the Government agreed a further package of €505 million, including the €200 energy credit and a lump sum payment of €125 for those in receipt of the fuel allowance. Budget 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 90 together. Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, legally and habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means-test, at application stage and through the lifetime of a claim, an applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for Back to Education Allowance on 03 December 2021. This application was refused on 21 December 2021 on the grounds that it was a late application as the submission date was significantly beyond the requirement that it be no more than 30 days following the commencement of the course. The person concerned requested a review of this decision. The decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres, including South Leinster CIS which...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home. Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) ceases to be payable when a child reaches age 16 years. Disability Allowance (DA) can then be paid from age 16 if the qualifying conditions for that scheme are met, even if the child is in fulltime education. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. A decision as to whether or not a person is eligible to receive a DA payment can only be considered on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been awarded a widows contributory pension at the weekly rate of €213.50 with effect from the 22nd April 2022. In addition they have also been granted the qualified child increase at the weekly rate of €48.00 each for the two children. Payment will commence into the nominated bank account from that date. The Widowed Parent Grant of €8,000 has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department currently has 58 Branch Offices at various locations throughout the country. The Castlepollard office is one such Branch Office. Each contracted Branch Office is operated and managed under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office. Branch Office Managers operate on a contract for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been in receipt of a monthly Diet Supplement since February 2014. My officials have advised the Diet Supplement payment for January 2022 was not collected at the post office and the payment subsequently expired. No further payment issued beyond the date of expiry. Following your representations my officials have reinstated the Diet Supplement payment and a payment...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I answered him last week on it but I will tell him the latest anyway. I understand they sent a proposal on Friday evening - I do not know what time it was sent at - but this is Tuesday so it has taken them a long time to get the proposal here. I am happy to look at it and I will certainly engage with my officials. The Deputy should remember, in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection has a fund - the urgent needs payment - that is available for those who are experiencing difficulty. Such people should go to their community welfare officer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The community welfare officer is available to help them. I do not want to see anybody in dire straits. That is the safety net. If anybody is in difficulty, they should go to their community welfare officer. If there is a specific instance, the Deputy should bring it to my attention and I am happy to talk to her.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 478, 480, 482 and 490 together. Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned was receiving Carer's Allowance payment and had their payment suspended in September 2021 as they failed to supply information requested by the Department. A letter issued to the person concerned on 21 September 2021. There was no right of appeal involved as a decision could not be made on their claim until the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Work is ongoing on the compilation of the 2021 Annual Statistical Report on Social Welfare Services, which will include detailed expenditure and recipient breakdowns on a scheme-by-scheme basis in respect of 2021. The 2021 Accounts of the Department are due to be finalised at the end of March 2022, and as outlined on gov.ie/dsp/statistics, the Annual Statistical Report is expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to note that the two schemes already have many similarities, but that differences exist that reflect the background to both. Disability Allowance was introduced in 1996 and replaced the Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance which had been administered by the Health Boards. While the Blind Pension is a unique scheme in that it is the only social welfare payment which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Parent's Leave and Benefit are currently available for five weeks to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 and must be used within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption. Parent’s Benefit is paid at €250 per week - the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefits. Provision was made in Budget 2022 to increase the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (29 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Following the Deputy’s representation and given that the overpayment dates back to 2018, I have asked my officials to undertake a full review of the overpayment assessed against the person concerned. My officials will write to the person concerned detailing how the overpayment occurred and with the outcome of the review within the next two weeks. I trust this clarifies the matter.