Results 14,461-14,480 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement. A comparison is given between the 12 month period from June 2020 to May 2021 and the preceding 12 month period from June 2019 to May 2020 showing the percentage change in the average number of monthly scheme applications over the period for the standard Social Protection schemes. Scheme ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: At the end of May 2021, 187 people aged 100 or older were in receipt of the State Pension Non-Contributory, while 143 people aged 100 or older were in receipt of State Pension Contributory.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. I am advised that there is no current application registered for the person concerned for CA. If the person in question wishes to make an application, she should complete and return an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU wide instrument and Member States including Ireland cannot deviate from its provisions, nor will guidelines supersede that position. Commencement of section 30 of the Data Protection Act 2018, raises serious matters, including the risk of infringement proceedings and the potential for significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the apology that was made by the Garda Commissioner last week 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the apology that was made by the Garda Commissioner last week 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. Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious issue. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. I welcome the apology that was made by the Garda Commissioner last week 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. An Garda Síochána wrote to the Secretary General of my Department on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is working to improve data quality, specifically with regards to the PULSE system. The primary work to improve data is with An Garda Síochána, with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) undertaking reviews to see if it meets standards for national statistics. As the Deputy may be aware, the CSO undertook a review of the...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I was not foisted anywhere.

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This emergency Bill seeks to bring the clarity required by business, local authorities and the Garda as the Government continues to support an outdoor summer. In line with public health guidance, Government policy is to have a gradual reopening of the hospitality sector, beginning with outdoor hospitality. Unfortunately, as Deputies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Notification of a change in their circumstances was received from the person concerned on 7 May 2021 and a review was opened on their disability allowance (DA). The file has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and who are unable to find full-time employment. These statutory schemes allow individuals to work up to 3 days a week and retain access to a reduced jobseekers payment. Jobseekers Benefit is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided for under the Jobseekers Benefit scheme, has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. This new benefit payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Leave (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has responsibility for family leaves such as maternity leave and parental leave. Where such leave is provided for in statute, my Department has responsibility for payment of any associated benefit. As such, these matters fall to be considered by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated expenditure on Disability Allowance in 2021 is €1.8 billion. The costings sought by the Deputy are contained in the table below. Increase Cost (€m) €5 42.7 €15 128.3 €20 171.1 The costs shown above include a proportionate increase for qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. DA is structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their own employment ambitions, be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Work Supports (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was introduced on 1st October 2018 and was open to applications from that date. YESS was targeted at young jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aimed to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The July Jobs Stimulus set out the Government investment plan of €200m investment towards training, education, skill development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and job search and assistance measures; these measures aim to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors. Building on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The new Benefit Payment For 65 year olds has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment and is designed to bridge the gap for people who are required to or who choose to retire at age 65 but who do not qualify for the State Pension until they reach age 66. Those retiring at age 65 should meet the required PRSI conditionality for the payment, having recently left...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (30 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure to support qualifying employees and the self- employed who lost employment due to the pandemic. Government recently announced, as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, that PUP will be extended beyond 30th June 2021 until February 2022. This is to allow the impact of the lifting of restrictions to...