Results 13,461-13,480 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Agriculture Schemes (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together. Farm Assist is a social assistance support payment for farmers on low incomes who satisfy the scheme’s statutory conditions, including a means test. Recipients retain the advantages of the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme, such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2021 Further...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government commits the Government to use the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland. The report has been received and my Department is considering it in detail. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance (DA) is a payment for people with an injury, disease or disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue, for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is ‘substantially restricted’ in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable. Legislation provides that the scheme is subject to a means test, which takes account of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 461, 463 and 465 together. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA) can return to education and training. They have the option of applying for back to education allowance (BTEA) or remaining on their DA while attending their course. While on BTEA they can apply to SUSI for the fees only portion of the maintenance grant. They can also commence part time employment and any income from it will not be means tested...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. Approximately 136,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The full year cost of the scheme is estimated at €18 million. The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Dormant Accounts Fund (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: On 16 September 2020, I announced a funding allocation of €5 million under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 and a Call for Applications to support initiatives under the heading of "Measures to Support and Improve Employment (incl. self-employment) Opportunities for Carers and Persons with a Disability”. There were three measures under which organisations could apply: ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In relation to the customer concerned, the Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) has carefully reviewed her application for Free Travel Companion Pass including all medical evidence and additional evidence received from the customer's GP today. The CMA has conveyed his medical opinion to Free Travel Section who will be in contact with the customer within the next couple of days. I trust this clarifies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Employment Service provides a local service and facilities to support unemployed people to enter or return to work. The services include: - Referral to the mediation service, career path planning, career guidance and placement services. - Referral to local State and voluntary services for training, education, Job Clubs and other social services. - Information on the range of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel Allowance and the Christmas Bonus are paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. The reason Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance or the Christmas Bonus is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My officials have advised that a PPSN application was received on 27/9/21 in respect of the person concerned. The person concerned has been contacted and requested to provide a copy of her national identity card so that her application can be processed. On receipt of the requested documentation her application will be progressed and confirmation of her PPSN will issue to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (5 Oct 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. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. She was notified on 17 September 2021 of this decision,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A State pension (contributory) recipient can claim an increase on their pension in respect of a qualified adult where the eligibility conditions for this means-tested payment are satisfied. A qualified adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the pensioner who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that pensioner. An Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is payable at the maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. The report referred to by the Deputy related to allegations of maltreatment of persons in custody over 40 years ago. My predecessor as Minister for Justice, Mr Gerry Collins, responded to these allegations at the time and these matters were debated in the House. The debates can be viewed on the Oireachtas website. Similarly, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together. As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána is responsible for policing the criminal offences in the public health regulations made under the Health Act 1947. The Health (Amendment) Act 2020, which amended the Health Act 1947 to provide a new system of fines under the Act were introduced by the Minister for Health in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 provided for a wide-ranging reform and modernisation of land law and conveyancing law. Part 8 of the 2009 Act introduced changes to the law concerning prescriptive easements, including rights of way, based on the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. A prescriptive easement is a right acquired by long use, as of right, by a property...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, representatives of the Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Project have gathered a considerable amount of material relating to this case, and I know the Deputy has taken a very close interest in this application. As the Deputy will also be aware, in early 2020 the then Minister for Justice and Equality engaged an expert on nineteenth century trial law in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has made significant progress on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government to date. The details requested are outlined in tabular form below. Programme for Government Commitment Update Enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Revenue Commissioners (5 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that the agencies under the Department of Justice have no issues to report, and have not made any settlements with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any issue in the past five years.