Results 12,501-12,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Effective and efficient ventilation has been identified as a protective measure against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic along with other key infection prevention and control measures.  The majority of offices in my Department are naturally ventilated and staff have been encouraged to keep windows open subject to acceptable comfort limits and to keep air conditioning...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (2 Dec 2021)

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 dependents. 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 Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages and make them more attractive places to live, work, socialise and raise a family. Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €93 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,340 projects in over 800 towns and villages across...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas, which will deliver on the National Strategic Objective of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities. The funding from the RRDF will also further the aims of Our Rural Future, the Government's 5 year...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I introduced the Streetscape Enhancement Measure this year as part of a commitment in  Our Rural Future. The initiative, introduced under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, is being delivered by Local Authorities and funding of €7 million was allocated at the outset. Approximately 120 towns and villages the length and breadth of the country are benefitting...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established in 2017.  The costs sought by the Deputy are only available from 2018 due to separation of budget lines and office relocation arising from the Department's establishment.  The table below sets out the amounts paid for gas and electricity by my Department in our offices in Dublin and Ballina for the years 2018 to date. Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department currently has offices in Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo.  The HVAC system in Trinity Point is mechanically controlled and draws in fresh air from outside to provide ventilation to the offices.  The system is operating satisfactorily and no upgrades are currently planned. The Department's offices in Ballina are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. There is a reduced payment for young people who are living at home. I will check out the issue on somebody who is homeless. If the Deputy wants to give me the specific details of that case I would be happy to follow it up and come back to him.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government contains a number of actions with respect to gender recognition.  My Department is engaged in progressing these actions.  These follow recommendations contained in the Report of the Review Group for the Gender Recognition Act, which was completed in July 2018. The previous Government signalled its intention to legislate to give...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There is a wide range of benefits available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions.  Entitlement to such benefits is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria relevant to the scheme being applied for.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that in-person appointments continue to be available at all Intreo Centres and that all of these centres are open 5 days per week, as are our branch offices.  Offices are open for walk-in service each morning and for appointments all day to 5pm. If a person wishes to make an in-person appointment for any of the Department's services, they can contact...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Paternity Benefit is a payment to employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). The benefit is payable at the rate of €245 per week for two weeks in total. Since the introduction of the scheme approximately 2,200 claims have been received per month and claims have been processed on average within...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Section 241 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) provides that it shall be a condition of any person’s right to benefit that they, inter alia, satisfy the Minister as to their identity. The Act also provides (in section 247C) that a person in receipt of any social welfare benefit must satisfy the Minister as to their identity, when requested to do so. The list...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The eligibility criteria for Invalidity Pension (IP) do not permit people taking up employment. However there is a Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme (PCB) which can be used by individuals in receipt of IP who wish to enter the workforce for a period of time. The person concerned was advised of the availability of PCB but opted not to apply for it at that time. The changes to regulations...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the committee for the invitation to meet with it today to present the 2021 Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Social Protection. I am seeking a Supplementary Estimate of €473.5 million for 2021. The purpose of this is to address a shortfall in funding for my Department that is partially needed to fund the Christmas bonus for Vote 37 social assistance recipients....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The performance of the PRSI has been good. That shows that people are getting back to work. With regard to the extra spending on the non-contributory State pension, domiciliary care allowance and back-to-work family dividend he mentioned, the impact of the Christmas bonus is built into those increases. For example, spending on the non-contributory State pension for...