Results 1,421-1,440 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106, 131 and 135 together. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Data (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3m for exceptional and urgent needs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 123, 129 and 130 together. Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 60,000 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015. I am fully...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: In order to qualify for a jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A jobseeker claim may be reviewed at any time in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: JobPath is a new approach to employment activation to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. In Dublin 15 the referral of jobseekers from the Blanchardstown Intreo Centre is about to commence. In Dublin 24 referrals began in December from the Tallaght Intreo Centre and some 280 jobseekers had been...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy – particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. The primary aim of the scheme is to give unemployed people the opportunity to secure work experience and prove their competence to prospective employers. To date, JobBridge has attracted the voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Community Employment (CE) Sponsoring Organisations are responsible for ensuring that all relevant health and safety requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005, and any subsequent enactments are adhered to. Non-compliance with this legislation may be deemed non-compliance with the CE Agreement. Furthermore, directors and senior managers carry particular responsibilities under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (2 Feb 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €38.8 million for this scheme in 2016. End of year records show that under the 2015 BSCFA scheme, payments were made to over 153,000 families in respect of some 281,000...

Topical Issue Debate: Redundancy Payments (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her question. She can rest assured that there will be an awareness of that within the Intreo offices, certainly of the 350 people who lost their jobs in the Xtra-vision stores. The priority of the Department is to ensure that the workers receive their statutory redundancy and other wage related payments due at the time of liquidation. I give the Deputy an undertaking...

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy knows the rules and regulations around this. He said a substantial amount of documentation was submitted but he is not quite sure where it is. If the file is with him, he can send it directly to my office and I will ensure a review is carried out. From looking at the information I have, it seems outstanding information was to be provided. If that could be provided, it would...

Topical Issue Debate: Redundancy Payments (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. This issue arose on Leaders' Questions and the Order of Business today. It is a very difficult time for the staff who have lost their jobs in this manner. My heart goes out to them. It is always very difficult for families when redundancy crosses the doorsteps. I thought of it very clearly today, when I read in a newspaper what had happened to the workers. My...

Topical Issue Debate: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Indeed, the Department makes exceptional needs payments in respect of funeral expenses. There is no better Deputy than Deputy Durkan to understand the constraints and the information that it is necessary to provide in this regard. For some time I have been concerned about the difference in funeral expenses throughout the country. I remember looking at the matter closely. Deputy...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: There was no agreement.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: She can speak for herself.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: It is.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Data (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Tables giving the details requested by the Deputy are set out below in this reply. JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy – particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. The primary aim of the scheme is to give unemployed people the opportunity to secure work experience and prove their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Applications (28 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme is a non-statutory scheme which provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. In order to qualify for BSCFA, an applicant must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, one of which requires the applicant’s household income to be within the...

Topical Issue Debate: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (26 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The Revised Estimate makes clear the Government's commitment. It commits €85 million to the farm assist scheme, which is significant. The record of the Government in assisting and supporting farmers right across the country is second to none. As we move from recession to recovery, there is an opportunity to review how we can support communities nationally. On...

Topical Issue Debate: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (26 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not wish to be too early in wishing you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the very best, as I believe the election is not to be held until the spring. I am still working out what the interpretation of the Irish spring is, but the daffodils are up in my garden so perhaps the spring is very close. However, I do not wish to make light of the issue the Deputy raises as it is very important. ...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Obesity Levels (26 Jan 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and giving me an opportunity to set out the position in respect of this matter. In the first instance, I wish to clarify that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government does not have a role in imposing...