Results 12,821-12,840 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Proposed Legislation (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together. My Department has, for some time, been examining how best to introduce a scheme to indemnify private land owners in upland areas who allow access to their lands for recreational purposes. This is a complex issue and my Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as has been proposed would require legislative provision and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Table 1 - National Hubs Mapping Exercise - Digital Hubs Identified by County Dublin 63 Galway 42 Mayo 32 Cork 31 Kerry 26 Tipperary 25 Donegal 22 Leitrim 21 Limerick 18 ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Development Plan (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that last month the renewed National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 was launched. It is the largest National Development Plan in the history of the State - €165 billion - with a focus on priority solutions to strengthen housing, climate ambitions, transport, healthcare, jobs growth in every region and economic renewal for the decade ahead. While the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) 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. The initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s five year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland. This year's scheme closed to applications on 16 July...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 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, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €252m for projects costing over €343m. A guidance document detailing the Fund's objectives is issued before each call for applications. Subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Nov 2021)

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. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. The Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities Measure (Measure...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (9 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas. Applications are received by the Department from Local Authorities and Local Development Companies. This year's scheme is closed to applications. This year the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Child benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with expenditure of more...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Food Poverty (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is the designated managing authority for the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) and has responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland. Support provided through FEAD aims to help people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion by addressing their most basic needs. FoodCloud is the department's primary partner organisation...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 669 full-rate paid contributions, 325 credited contributions and 892 HomeCaring Periods from their date of entry into insurable employment until pension age. The person’s pension entitlement has been assessed under both the yearly average and aggregated contributions methods. Based on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned had been awarded State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate from their 66thbirthday, based on their contribution record as held by my Department. Following a review of their contribution record for the social insurance years 1971/72 to 1976/77 an additional 213 full rate contributions have been awarded. The person’s pension entitlement was re-assessed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The current contract term for Birr Job Club is from 1 Jan 2021 to 31 Dec 2021 at which time it shall expire. My Department has met with Birr Job Club to inform them that this contract will not be renewed beyond the end of this year, as employment services will be delivered by the new Regional Employment Service in Offaly in 2022. My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There are no Project Ireland 2040 cross-border infrastructure proposals or projects under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cross-Border Co-operation (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The EURES Cross Border Partnership Ireland – Northern Ireland is concerned with the coordination of employment services across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland (Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim). It supports frontier and cross border workers, jobseekers and employers in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Border region. Up until 31 December 2021, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30 July 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 Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work family benefit which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. My Department, as part of the overall Government response to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, put in place supports, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), for individuals who lost their employment as a direct consequence of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) also being satisfied, the State pension system already provides significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. This is provided through the award of credits and/or the application of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (4 Nov 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The €7 million Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, which is a commitment in Our Rural Future, is designed to make around 120 of our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike. Property owners are being part funded to improve the facades of buildings, carry out artwork, and install features such as canopies and street furniture. The...