Results 11,721-11,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. The measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised, if appropriate, each year.  Over 160 projects were...

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. The Local Improvement Scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: There is no record of a claim for the living alone allowance having been received in my Department from the person concerned.  In order to have entitlement to the allowance examined, a completed application form must be received.  I have arranged for a living alone application form to be posted to the person concerned.  When...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, 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 must...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The following table details the foreign travel episodes arranged for the persons concerned and undertaken from 1 January 2018 to date. Purpose Number Travelling Destination Departure Date Return Date Total Cost Presidential  delegation 1 Athens 20/02/2018 24/02/2018 €504.82 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The qualifying criteria for the widow’s pension depend on whether a person is claiming the Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension.  Each pension is payable to a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner, whose spouse or civil partner has passed away. To qualify for the Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit scheme is available to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. It is also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable. Those who are eligible can avail of dental, optical and hearing services under the scheme. €109 million was spent on the scheme in 2021. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 August 2021.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. Those papers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (16 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 from this payment in 2022.  The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  The allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 January 2022.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. Those papers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or being claimed as a qualified adult...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of this customer's Jobseekers claim, a revised decision was made, and an overpayment assessed by a Deciding Officer of my Department, which was notified to the customer.  The customer subsequently appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The appeal is under consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) which has received a submission...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed and is payable for a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I do not currently have any Ministerial Garda drivers employed in my Department.  The appointment of civilian drivers in my Department are made in line with the Government guidelines “Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil” and the “Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 33rd Dáil’’. I...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have not undertaken any foreign travel since my appointment as Minister for Rural and Community Development on 27/06/2020. Minister O’Brien has not undertaken any foreign travel since his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development on 27/06/2020. The cost of Ministerial foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development does not have any Ministerial Garda drivers or civilian Garda drivers in its employment.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for their invitation to attend here today to discuss the 2022 Revised Estimates for the Department of Social Protection. As we face into 2022, we must be conscious of how far we have travelled in overcoming the challenges that Covid-19 presented both for society and the economy, as well as for our people. We have experienced and dealt with...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has been doing a blend of remote working and in-presence work during Covid. About 50% of the staff were working from home and the other 50% were in the offices because, obviously, the nature of the service we provide meant people had to come in. The HR department continues to engage with staff because there is a policy and we want to find the solution that works both for the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We have been engaging with all of the PUP recipients, particularly those who went onto PUP prior to it being reopened in December of last year. We have contacted every single one of them and offered them our services. Some of them at the time were waiting for their sectors to reopen and some were waiting because their jobs had not come back. We have engaged with them and we continue to do...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have some figures on the basic supplementary allowance. My apologies; the first question was on the PUP so I will begin with that. The amount paid in PUP this week was €15.2 million. I can provide the committee with a full sheet giving a detailed breakdown of who is on the payment from the different sectors. The main sector is accommodation and food services, in which the number...