Results 12,441-12,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of digital hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages as well as the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators. My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting the development of digital hubs and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, €255million has been approved to date for 164 projects worth a total of €347 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The revitalisation of vacant and derelict properties is being addressed by a number of initiatives delivered by my Department in line with the commitments contained in Our Rural Future and as part of the Government's Housing for All. In April, I announced investment of €81 million for 25 landmark projects under Category 1 of the RRDF These projects will combat dereliction, increase...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: EU Programmes (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland has a much higher percentage of its territory and population living in rural areas than the EU27 average. Our Rural Future 2021-2025, Ireland’s rural development policy is cognisant of this and highlights the need for a flexible approach to address the needs of different rural areas in a meaningful way. The policy recognises the reality that many medium and large towns are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ‘Our Rural Future’ is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains 152 measures for delivery across the whole-of-Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authorities (7 Dec 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: This Government continues to be committed to maintaining the post office network and for An Post to remain in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. My Department’s support for An Post is equally apparent. We are in the process of renewing the contract for cash payment services with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 381 together. My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first phase of procuring new employment services. This phase involves the procurement of regional employment services for seven counties in the Midlands and North-West across four lots, which aims to be operational from January 2022. Procurement for the second phase, which will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families. It is intended to be a short-term payment for those awaiting assessment of a primary social welfare payment. The records of my Department reflect that the person concerned applied for a SWA with effect from 01/10/2021.On 05/10/2021 the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for customers in receipt of certain social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. BTEA is an administrative scheme approved by the Government. The person concerned applied for Back to Education Allowance(BTEA) on 26th...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Through the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Government recognises the importance for people with disabilities of participation in employment. As part of the Strategy, my Department is committed to improving employment outcomes and removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities. The supports provided by the Department of Social Protection have been designed to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits the Government to use this research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. This matter is significantly wider than the income support system which is why a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. This Department spent a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has issued a letter with details of the Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) of the deceased individual referred to by the Deputy to the solicitor concerned on 30th November 2021. My Department has put in place a dedicated email address, PPSNPROBATE@welfare.ie which solicitors can use to submit PPSN applications and Probate/Estate queries regarding PPSNs....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme must satisfy several conditions, including commencing the first year of a course of study. In the case of jobseeker payments, a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (7 Dec 2021)

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 protected...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Applicants for State pension (contributory) with a yearly average of 40 or above were not affected by the September 2012 changes. Applicants who were assessed with a yearly average within the 40-47 rate band continued to have entitlement to 98% of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). Applicants assessed with a yearly average of 48 or over continued to qualify for the maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Household Benefits Package is paid to over 482,000 households at an estimated cost of €265m in 2021. Of this cost, €174m relates to the electricity allowance element. The Household Benefits package is a contribution towards the running costs of a household, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 16 December 2019 and has not yet applied for State pension. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them, together with an application form for State pension (contributory). If the person concerned has any additional information to add to their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: On 29th November I announced the publication of the Social Welfare Bill which will enact Budget 2022 measures. Included in this Budget Bill is provision for an extensive expansion to the list of Agri- Environmental schemes which will qualify towards the disregard of €2,540. The measure will support the Government’s climate change agenda and will act as an incentive to farmers...