Results 11,601-11,620 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the highest in 14 years and meant that some 1.4 million people, including over 700,000 pensioners, received a €5 increase in weekly payments, and more if they have dependents. In addition to improvements in core social welfare rates, there were a number of targeted measures designed to support those most vulnerable to poverty, including...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. It is estimated that up to 400,000 households will benefit in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy...

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

Heather Humphreys: Deserted Wife’s Benefit is a social protection payment introduced in 1973 made to women who were deserted by their husbands.Entitlement to payment is based on social insurance contributions paid by either the woman or her husband.The scheme closed to new applicants with effect from 2 January 1997, on introduction of the One Parent Family payment. Following the decision of the Appeals...

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

Heather Humphreys: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability itself but on the extent to which a person’s capacity to work is restricted by illness or disability. In all cases a deciding officer of my Department...

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

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) is a demand led scheme acting as a safety net within the overall social welfare system to provide assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. The maximum basic weekly rate of payment from SWA is €206. There are increases available on this rate for adult and child...

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

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (22 Feb 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 policies to...

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

Heather Humphreys: The application referred to by the Deputy is on my Government phone. The application is used on occasion, usually for transmitting videos for social media use in relation to my Department’s work. The 'disappearing messages' function is not activated.

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

Heather Humphreys: My officials in Coolock Intreo Centre have not been made aware by customers of any issues with queues outside the building nor have any complaints been received by my Department. The Coolock Intreo Centre is located in the Northside Civic Centre, in which a variety of other public service providers including the HSE, MABS and the Citizens Information Centre are based. There is a...

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

Heather Humphreys: Following an investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector, the details of an estimated overpayment of State Pension (Non-contributory) arising from previously undisclosed capital were communicated to the solicitor administering the estate. The solicitor has been in contact with the Social Welfare Inspector since this communication and has now requested that a formal decision on the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Following notification from jobseekers allowance (JA) regarding the spouse of the person concerned and their commencement of employment, a review of the disability allowance (DA) was carried out. Departmental records show that both parties are living at the same address. On 17th August 2021, a request for information regarding their spouse's earnings, which was required in order to carry...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance Scheme is designed to assist pensioners and other welfare-dependent householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their winter heating needs. The fuel allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses and is not intended to meet them in full. It is means-assessed and is paid only to customers who meet all the qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disabilities Assessments (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Assessments of medical eligibility for Disability Allowance (DA) are based on medical reports and other evidence furnished by the applicant and the applicant’s treating physician. Under Social Welfare legislation , it is a deciding officer (DO) who decides upon any and all questions in relation to a person’s eligibility for DEASP schemes, including DA. In arriving at his or...

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

Heather Humphreys: In 2019 and 2020, the Institute of Employment Studies and Social Finance undertook a review of all contracted employment services, including EmployAbility. The review and proposed changes to the EmployAbility procurement model are under consideration though significant changes is unlikely before contracts starting in 2023. The review did recommend, amongst other things, competitive...

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

Heather Humphreys: The case is one of the most serious incidences of fraud that has been detected in many years. It was the inspectors and seconded Gardaí in my Department who secured this prosecution following an extensive investigation. My Department uses a range of measures to ensure that fraud is identified, prevented, and minimised. Where it is established that a fraud has occurred, such as in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Advertising (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not subscribe to the publication referred to by the Deputy and it is not distributed to staff.  No payments relating to advertisements or other matters have been made by my Department to the company concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 922 together. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.  The Fund has, to date, allocated funding of €277 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €375 million. Calls for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ferry Services (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 924 together. My Department fully understands the importance of the Dursey Island cable car service for island residents, the local farming community, and the impact the withdrawal of the service will have on tourism in the region. It is important to note, however, that Cork County Council are wholly responsible for the provision of the cable car...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established on 15 December 2021 with a meeting co-chaired by myself and Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD, involving participation from all key State stakeholders, including ComReg and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland. At the first meeting, Minister of State Smyth and I to set out our priorities for the coming period, which...