Results 14,221-14,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, my Department recently published the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which redefines policing to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable and supports the human rights of all people throughout Ireland to be and feel safe in their communities. It does this by making prevention of harm, protection of people who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise the ongoing pain of the O'Farrell family on the tragic loss of their son and deeply sympathise with their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (8 Jul 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, my Department engaged an expert on nineteenth century trial law in Ireland for their expert opinion on the safety, or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the construction of the new Garda station at Macroom is to proceed on the basis of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which also includes the construction of a new Garda Station in Clonmel. I am advised that planning permission for the new Garda station in Macroom has recently been approved. An Garda Síochána continues to engage with my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda was commissioned last year by Minister Helen McEntee following a number of violent incidents in Drogheda. The purpose of the Scoping Report was to gather and assess information relating to ongoing challenges and community needs in Drogheda, and to identify actions to support communities and connect...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In April of this year, Minister McEntee announced an initiative to expunge previous convictions for ‘sale of sex’, or prostitution offences. This is a significant step in recognising and responding to the needs of victims of sex trafficking, and those forced to provide sexual services. The expungement has not yet taken place because in order to do so, legislative amendments...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: If the Deputy could provide further details about the matters referred to, I would be happy to make further inquiries on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the apology that was made by the Garda Commissioner and the Commissioner has assured me that when someone calls 999 now, they can expect and trust that An Garda Síochána will help. That should of course always be the case. As the Deputy will be aware, the Policing Authority, at the request of Minister McEntee, is overseeing the Garda review of this matter, and this work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion in 2020 and of €1.952 billion in 2021. This has enabled sustained ongoing recruitment into the organisation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The introduction of the new Garda Divisional Policing model, announced by the Garda Commissioner in August 2019, gives effect to a key recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The approach outlined by the Garda Commissioner is intended to addresses the challenges of modern day policing and has my full support. The new operating model includes restructuring...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Common Travel Area (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Common Travel Area (CTA), Irish citizens and British citizens in each other’s State have the right to access social security benefits on the same basis as citizens of that State. This includes reciprocal arrangements for Social Insurance schemes, Social Assistance schemes and Child Benefit. The Government is committed to ensuring that the reciprocity of social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 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: Voluntary Sector (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 255, inclusive, 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 deadline for the submissions of tenders for the first phase has just...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Housing Provision (8 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: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Jul 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. My department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 10 March 2021. The application was awarded on 1...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The appeal of the person concerned along with the file and submission papers, will be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office this week. Should the person concerned wish to provide additional information to the Department this will also be considered. An Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (8 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, provides funding to The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) - the national service for the development, promotion and delivery of sign language interpreting services to the Deaf community in Ireland. The Remote Interpreting Application was a six-month pilot project developed by CIB and SLIS, and...