Results 11,781-11,800 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 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 16 December 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 were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The numbers are based on the industry classification (NACE) of the last known employer on my Department's administrative systems, and includes persons in the motion picture, programming and broadcasting industries. I am advised that my Department does not have this data available in relation to the Employment Wage Subsidy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned is a customer of the Local Employment Service (LES), a contracted third party provider of employment services. My officials have spoken to the person concerned and will address her concerns.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At the time of receipt of the claims made by the two people concerned, the Department received a very high volume of Enhanced Illness Benefit claims. While 92% of the 37,500 weekly claims received in January were processed within a week, some claims required further examination by a officer of the Department. The Enhanced Illness Benefit claims concerned have now been awarded, and arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation stipulates that a minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions are required to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). The person concerned reached pension age on 9 October 2021. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 24 August 2021. According to the records of my Department, they have a contribution record of nil full-rate paid social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 511 together. The issue of family maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the people concerned. Social Welfare legislation provides that some or all of the cost of One-Parent Family (OFP) payments are recovered from the other parent. These "liable relative" provisions are set out in Part 12 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to assist the Deputy with the information requested; however, this should not be construed as an interpretation of the law, which is solely a matter for the Courts. Section 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended (the "Act"), provides, amongst other things, that the Minister may make regulations for any purpose in relation to which regulations are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned made an application for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance on 26th November 2021. This application was refused on the grounds that the proposal was not a new enterprise as the person had previously been self-employed in this sector in the locale, and that there was a risk of displacement as there are many other similar businesses in the vicinity. My officials...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The rate of Illness Benefit payable is based on a person's average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year. For claims made in 2021, the relevant tax year is 2019. The person concerned qualified for Illness Benefit at a rate of €134.20 per week as her average weekly earnings in 2019 were between €150.00 and €219.99. For 2022, the relevant tax year is 2020; the current...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Urban Development (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns.  This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.  It  contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (15 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 current scheme prioritises 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: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a capital budget of €192 million in 2022, with the National Development Plan providing for total funding of €962 million for the period 2021 to 2025.  This funding supports a wide range of schemes including, for example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Town and Village Renewal, the Local Improvement Scheme, public libraries and the CLÁR...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of supports to communities and groups nationwide in both urban and rural areas, helping citizens to participate in the development of their communities and providing funding to improve facilities. Administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in each area, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides funding to community groups and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like any other business, they pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated are re-invested into achieving their core social objectives. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Birth Certificates (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I would inform the Deputy that an order for a birth certificate was placed with the HSE's online certificate service. I am advised that the request was processed by the HSE and the certificate issued last week. I trust this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 30 December 2021. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 5 October 2021. Under current eligibility conditions, an applicant must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for State pension (contributory). Credits cannot be used to satisfy this condition. 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by my department. I can confirm that my department received an application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on 10 December, 2021. It is a condition for receipt of a CSG that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Staff (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection currently has 88 civil service staff working across the INTREO local office network in County Wexford providing a range of services on all Social Welfare Schemes. The Pensions Authority or Citizen’s Information Board do not have any employees based in County Wexford.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned will reach pension age on 26 February 2022. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 15 November 2021. Social welfare legislation stipulates that a minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions are required to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). Credits cannot be used to satisfy this condition. 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Treatment Benefit scheme provides for a free annual dental examination and an annual scale and polish treatment, subject to a maximum co-payment of €15. Based on the available information, the person concerned will qualify for Treatment Benefit as a dependent spouse on her spouse's PRSI record. In order for a formal approval of eligibility to issue to her dentist, she should...