Results 121-140 of 5,521 for speaker:Heather Humphreys in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Not too many measures are universally popular but I think that everybody absolutely supports the hot school meals programme. I have always been a firm believer that it is not possible to beat a hot meal in the middle of the day. I visited St. Thomas's Junior National School in Lucan with the Taoiseach last week. We saw the children getting their hot meals. They were all sitting down...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I say to Deputy Murnane O'Connor that the hot school meals programme is running in 31 schools in Carlow, covering 5,639 children. In response to Deputy Wynne, Ennis Community School was brought to my attention. I was obviously very conscious the amalgamation, involving some DEIS and some non-DEIS schools - that was the secondary school. We were able to provide that support and solution...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Regarding dietary standards, healthy eating guidelines are set out for the suppliers. They must meet certain standards and I would expect them to do that. There are intermittent inspections by my Department in different schools. It is up to the to the principal and teachers to make sure the appropriate food is coming in because it is being paid for.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I will deal with Deputy Tully's question later. I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for raising this matter. I am committed to addressing the cost of disability and improving outcomes for people with a disability. I announced a number of measures to support people with disabilities in budget 2024, including a €400 lump-sum payment in November, a Christmas bonus double payment in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Payments (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: One of the main findings of the cost of disability report was that there is a broad spectrum of disabilities. We all recognise that some people need more support than others. We all recognise that. There are some people with moderate disabilities who are able to work and some with profound disabilities who we know will never be able to work. That is the reality. The Cost of Disability...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over 1 million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel for 2024 is €103.5 million. As part of budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend access to free...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take questions Nos 9 and 15 together. The objective of the school meals programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding. I recently...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this. I propose to take questions Nos. 11 and 48 together. In budget 2024, the Govemment decided to extend the payment of child benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or have a disability. This was one of my key priorities in the budget. With many children now starting primary school at age five, together with the increase in pupils doing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It was originally planned to take effect next September so I asked my officials to expedite the work on this. Some work needs to be done when we change payments. The IT systems have to be updated. We got the legislation passed last month, the systems are ready to go, and it will take effect from May. I would say to the parents whose children just turned 18 in February, for example, to...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I have listened intently to all the suggestions and views that have been put forward. There are some areas of difference. Some are quite fundamental to the Government's agreed design. It is fair to say that there has been a broad welcome from all sides of the House for the core idea of auto-enrolment, which is to find a way to provide...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Twenty-five years.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: You were Sinn Féin.

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: We consulted extensively. The Deputy is wrong.

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is wrong. I will give him a list of-----

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important issue of supports for disabled people. I launched the consultation process on the Green Paper last September. It is very important to say that this is all Green Paper ever was - a consultation document - and I want to be very clear about that. Based on the feedback we have received to date, it is clear to me that there are significant...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: You would want to watch them Border boys.

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Auto-enrolment has been spoken about in Ireland for 25 years. I believe it was the late Seamus Brennan who first raised it. I am delighted at long last to be introducing the legislation in the Dáil which will give effect to auto-enrolment in Ireland. Today is a major milestone and it is the culmination of years of policy...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Tairgim: Go n-ainmneoidh Dáil Éireann an Teachta Simon Harris chun a cheaptha ag an Uachtarán mar Thaoiseach. I move: That Dáil Éireann nominates Deputy Simon Harris for appointment by the President to be Taoiseach. The first time I came to the Dáil was on 9 March 2011. Like any first-time TD, I was nervous. I was finding my feet and trying to get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (5 Mar 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy has been on to me many times about this. We have spent a lot of time when it came to Inis Oírr. They carried out simulation exercises and they did that in Cork. It went on and on.