Results 11,701-11,720 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Birth Certificates (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The provisions governing registration of a birth and the particulars required to be registered are contained in Part 3 and the First Schedule of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended. The surname chosen by the parents at the time the birth was registered can only be changed where the birth is being re-registered at a later date to include the father's details or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in work support which provides additional income support to employees, on low earnings, with children.  In order to meet the qualifying and continuous entitlement condition for receipt of WFP, an applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in fulltime employment as an employee for no less than 38 hours...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 27 August 2021 and applied for an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) with their State pension (contributory).  An IQA is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Pensions (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The insurability of public service employees, including local or other public authority workers, is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) and Statutory Instrument No. 312 of 1996, Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (the 1996 regulations). Public servants recruited on or after 6 April 1995 are liable for Class A...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability  Domiciliary Care allowance can be paid in respect of qualified children up to age 16 years.  A total of 3,402 children ceased being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2021 as they reached 16 years. The number of  these children who subsequently went on to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Feb 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.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.  The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 27 January 2022.  Under social welfare legislation the decision of an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's allocation in 2022 for rural and community development is €378 million. It is too early, as yet, to give a breakdown figure as regards the allocations for works on Achill Island in 2022, as no allocations have been awarded for this year. However in 2021 I provided funding to the following projects for works on Achill Island: - Dooagh Loop Walk was awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the Government recently announced schemes designed to lessen the impact of the rise in the cost of living currently being experienced by all sections of our society. One such announcement, made by the Department of Transport, includes a €54 million package that will see an average fare discount of 20% for those availing of PSO public transport services from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year. An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. With the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Isolation (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Addressing the issue of rural isolation cuts across Government Departments, with ongoing actions being progressed including those aimed at enhancing community policing, rural transport links and tackling social inclusion. A vital part of my Department’s mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. Addressing the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 349, inclusive, and 351 together. A vital part my Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities. In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350, 352 and 353 together. My Department funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.  My Department was allocated €378 million in the 2022 Revised Estimates, this ensures that we are in a position to further...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. The LEADER programme is delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 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: Library Services (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme which is investing some €29 million in 17 projects, the My Open Library service and a Small Scale Capital Works programme, between 2016 and 2022. The Libraries Capital Programme has eight completed projects and five more are under construction. €3 million was provided by my Department under a Small Scale Capital Works...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of 'Our Rural Future',the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. I launched the 2021 Scheme with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Despite the cancellation of the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, I was delighted to see that the entry to the 2021 competition was very strong and the competition continues to reach out to all parts of our communities. I particularly want to thank all the Tidy Town groups for implementing the changes we introduced to the competition...