Results 11,441-11,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments with the cost of their heating needs. The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At present, there are 6,756 staff employed across the Department of Social Protection. The highest and second highest paid civil servants in the Department are the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary. Both are paid in line with Civil Service salary scales. Civil Service salary scales apply to staff employed in my Department. These are most recently outlined in Circular 04/2022...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Medical Aids and Appliances (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Eligibility for a hearing aid grant under the Department's Treatment Benefit scheme is based on the person satisfying certain PRSI conditions. In order to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their winter heating needs. It is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one allowance is payable per household. The main eligibility conditions for receipt of fuel allowance are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance is a weekly payment payable to persons who have a disability, illness, or injury that is expected to last for more than one year, who are substantially restricted from doing work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience, and qualifications. Persons must additionally be aged between 16 and 66 years, and satisfy a means test. Information in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 at the weekly rate of €33.00; or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments; and is paid over the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 26 November 2021. Under social welfare legislation the decision of the Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In parallel with the Intreo service, our contracted public employment services - including JobPath, paused and resumed activation for new referrals during 2020 and 2021 in line with public health advice. In December, in light of the continuing adverse impacts of Covid-19 and on foot of extending the period of consultation with the relevant stakeholders, it was agreed to extend all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: All jobseekers referred for the assistance of the employment support services, including those referred to the JobPath service, are asked to complete an assessment of their skills, qualifications, and work experience for the purpose of agreeing a personal progression plan. The personal progression plan typically contains a schedule of activities, actions and job-focused targets, taking into...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Jobseekers Benefit scheme provides a statutory income support payment to individuals who have lost work and are unable to obtain full time employment. To be eligible for the payment, a person must satisfy all of the qualifying conditions which include that they must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. A person may be regarded as not being available for work if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring there is an appropriate and positive environment for addressing any concerns of staff in relation to wrongdoing in the workplace. It has an internal policy and procedures to deal with all submissions under protected disclosures that arise. The policy is published on www.gov.ie. The number of submissions received under the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The free travel scheme is available to all persons aged over 66 and those under the age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State. The scheme permits those who are eligible to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, LUAS and a range of transport services offered by some 80 private operators countrywide. The number...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy, clearly recognises the transformative effect that remote working can have for employers and employees all across the country.  In recognition of this, my Department continues to invest heavily in the establishment and development of remote work hub facilities through various funding streams.  In May last year I launched...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work and visit.  In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2021 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. At present there are 177 staff employed across my Department.  The highest and second highest-paid civil servants in my Department are the Acting Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Social Enterprises are businesses for social good which operate across a wide range of sectors, from social services to the circular economy. They are businesses which trade on an ongoing basis, but any profits are reinvested to support the core social or environmental purpose. The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland (2019 – 2022) aims to develop social enterprises both in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was made aware of the issue regarding the build-up of sand at the pier in Magheroarty last week.  The recent storms have led to greater volumes of sands being deposited at the pier, making it difficult for vessels to moor at the pier during low tides. Donegal County Council, who are responsible for the upkeep and access to the pier, have informed the Department that they...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has not received any protected disclosures since its establishment in 2017. A Protected Disclosures policy, developed in line with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, is in place and available to all staff in the Department. 

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (3 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the activation process is to support jobseekers along a pathway to sustainable employment. The approach is to help them to develop and pursue a Personal Progression Plan (PPP), including steps to identify and compete for suitable employment opportunities, to take-up relevant work experience, topursue upskilling and training programmes, to set up their own business, to return to...