Results 13,801-13,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Office of Public Works (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am not aware that the OPW has any function in relation to the repair of roads generally although the Deputy may wish to contact the OPW directly in respect of the specific road he refers to. My Department funds the Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, which is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1612 and 1613 together. The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce delivered more than 70 targeted actions over the three year period of its work programme, between 2016 and 2019. Among the targeted actions delivered by the Taskforce and its member organisations were large telecommunications infrastructural works; the introduction of the Broadband Officer...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1614 and 1615 together. Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Emergency Services (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has received an application for funding from Cork County Council, the local authority responsible for the helipad, in relation to this matter. I understand that my officials are awaiting further information from the local authority in relation to the works concerned and once this has been received a recommendation will be submitted for approval.

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

Heather Humphreys: The Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.  My Department commissioned an external review of the Walks Scheme to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Work is continuing on the development of the new Islands Policy. My Department is currently engaging bilaterally with relevant Government Departments and Agencies to discuss the issues raised by island communities through the public consultation process and to assess how they might be addressed. I expect Departments and Agencies to provide input and expertise on elements of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1619 and 1620 together. I am not aware of any attempt to hack my phone.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Freedom of Information (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 19 July 2017 and has received the following FOI requests since that date: Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 (at 06/09/2021) Total received 14 58 79 58 32 Granted 4 14 31 14 6 Part-Granted ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commissions of Investigation (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm, that my Department, which was established on 19 July 2017, did not have any commissions of investigation conducted in the timeframe in question.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Appointments (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that Ms Katherine Zappone has not held roles, formal or informal, in the name of the Department of Rural and Community Development or associated agencies, in the lifetime of this Government.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The services mentioned by the Deputy are not part of the portfolio of applications issued on Department of Rural and Community Development mobile devices and are not used to transact Departmental business.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1089, 1097, 1100 to 1102, inclusive, 1111 and 1113 together. Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State. The focus throughout this exercise is the customer,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: To date the total expenditure by the Department of Social Protection on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment since its introduction in March 2020 is approximately €8.3 billion. The total expenditure to date on the Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant since its introduction in August 2020 is approximately €8.7 million. I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a key policy initiative under Pillar 2 of the National Recovery Programme, launched by Government on 1 June 2021. It is also a central measure of the Government's new national employment services strategy; Pathways to Work 2021-2025. This sets out the national framework for activation and employment supports to assist persons, whose...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: It is not possible to provide the information requested within the timeframe available. The data requested are being compiled by my officials and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as they are available. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested, in work, family payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings, with children, relative to their family size. WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid employees with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to pursue employment. In order to satisfy the qualifying and continued...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094, 1095, 1096, 1112, 1119, 1122, 1124, 1125, 1134 and 1187 together. Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State. The focus throughout this exercise is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 17,700 active recipients at the end of June 2021. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Employment Services (LES) provide a one-to-one employment assistance and advice service primarily for the long-term unemployed. Referrals to this service are managed by the local Intreo Centre and are based on a replacement rate dependent on the speed of movement of clients through the LES and on the agreed capacity of the relevant service provider. Referrals to each LES are also...