Results 11,281-11,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance ensures that the 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. As part of Budget 2022, I announced a number of expansions to the eligibility criteria for the Fuel Allowance payment. The weekly means...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government commits to introducing a pensions automatic enrolment (AE) system.  A key objective in establishing this system is to address the low proportion of employees in Ireland with supplementary pension cover, which includes both occupational and personal pensions. According to CSO figures, the rate of active supplementary pension coverage is around 56% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: People arriving from Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of income supports from the Department of Social Protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.   A reception centre has been set up in Dublin Airport where officials from my Department and from the Department of Justice are available to meet people fleeing the war in Ukraine. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: To receive Fuel Allowance an applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying DSP payment, satisfy a means test and satisfy the household composition test.  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 those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is prioritising the allocation of Public Personal Service numbers, or PPSNs, to people arriving from Ukraine and the immediate provision of income supports.  A fast track approach in processing these supports has been put in place which includes a simplified decision making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow people access to public services....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Young people on lower rates of jobseeker payments can avail of the full adult rate if they participate on any of the large range of education, training or employment programmes available through Intreo and the ETBs.  This payment structure was deliberately designed  to giving young jobseekers a strong financial incentive to engage in education and training or to take up...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (22 Mar 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.   I introduced important changes for victims of domestic violence so that the standard rent supplement means test does not apply for an initial three month period.  After three...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the support provided by host families willing to provide whatever assistance they can, including the offer of temporary accommodation to people arriving from Ukraine. On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to the mass influx of persons fleeing Ukraine as a consequence of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 58 together. The Cost of Disability research findings are significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that this issue will not be addressed through income support alone.  The research has implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.  The Commission's Report was published on 7th October 2021.  It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently progressing a significant expansion in the provision of employment services.  To date, only contracts for phase one of the Intreo Partners - Local Area Employment Service (LAES) have been awarded.  This phase saw the procurement of LAES for four lots across seven counties, in the Midlands and North-West.  These services will focus on clients farthest...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 85 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection is prioritising the allocation of Public Personal Service numbers (PPSNs) to people arriving from Ukraine and the immediate provision of income supports.  A reception centre has been set up in Dublin Airport where officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice are available to meet people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 86 together. My Department is currently undertaking a significant expansion of employment services.  In particular, specialised employment services for those farthest from the labour market - currently available in just twelve counties - will soon be available State-wide for the first time.   In the first phase of this procurement,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 63, 74 and 76 together. On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to the mass influx of persons fleeing Ukraine as a consequence of the war.  This means that people arriving from Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of income...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Pathways to Work 2021-2025, the Government’s national employment strategy, was published in July of last year.  The strategy outlines 83 commitments aimed at reducing unemployment back to, or below, pre-pandemic levels and to support inclusive employment outcomes for those who, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, faced disadvantage in the labour market. One such group...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.  An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: EURES Ireland, which is part of the Intreo service of the Department of Social Protection, hosted its first online on-line recruitment event on Tuesday 15th March 2022 from 10am to 2pm.  Jobs in Ireland 2022' was the first of a number of recruitment events planned for this year to support employers in finding suitable candidates for their vacancies while also supporting the mobility...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artists' Remuneration (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 69 together. The Arts and Culture Taskforce recommended the introduction of a pilot basic income scheme for artists.  This was reflected in the National Economic Recovery Plan.  Budget 2022 included an announcement of €25 million to pilot a new Basic Income Guarantee scheme for artists.  My colleague the Minister for Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.  With regard to income supports my Department provides a range of schemes to assist with energy costs. ...