Results 14,741-14,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Further Revised) (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I will get back to the committee on that. I do not have the figure off the top of my head.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Proposed Regional Employment Service: Discussion (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank members for their contributions. When I started this process I had the same concerns as they do but, having put a huge amount of work into this and having consulted extensively with the providers, I am satisfied that this request for tender will meet the needs of the one person I am most concerned about in all of this, namely, the person who is unemployed and looking for a job. I...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Proposed Regional Employment Service: Discussion (16 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chair for his contribution and I also thank the Deputies for outlining their issues. I do understand those issues, by the way. My officials will attest that the questions the Deputies have asked me were the same questions as I asked my officials. I want to be clear that this initiative is not about profit but about the service we provide to those people who need assistance in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Birth Certificates (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Due to the recent cyber-attack on the HSE, the facilities to register live events and to issue civil certificates has been interrupted. Request for certificates can be made to the General Register Office. Officials of the General Register Office have made contact with the family concerned and have arranged for the issue of the required birth certificate. My understanding is that the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Abhaile Service is the national State-funded mortgage arrears resolution service aimed at helping people who are in serious mortgage arrears. Established in mid-2016, the service is designed to support insolvent mortgage holders and is provided free of charge with the aim of helping them to find workable and sustainable mortgage solutions and keep them, wherever possible, in their own...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I understand the Deputy is referring to a press release relating to the ongoing public procurement process for a regional employment service for four lots across seven counties in the North-West and Midlands. While I am constrained on what I can say during a live procurement process, I wish to highlight my Department's extensive engagement with ILDN and individual contracted employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Resource Centres (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department plays no part in the provision of funding to family resource centres. Funding for such centres is a matter for Tusla which comes under the aegis of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: 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. The programme is an important component of policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme for those aged 18 to 66 years and the age conditions is aligned with that paid under the Jobseekers supports. There are no plans to amend this condition. Once a person who is in receipt of PUP reaches 66 years of age their claim for the payment is closed as separate arrangements are in place for this group of customers....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Disability Awareness Support Scheme (DASS Grant) provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers. The training to be delivered must, for example, provide clear and accurate information about disability, address questions that employers/employees may have, and cover anti-discrimination / equal opportunities legislation. The value of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Haulage Industry (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long-term unemployed and is payable for a 24 month period from the commencement of their new business. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 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. An application for CA was received from the person concerned in respect of her parents on 30 April 2021. CA was awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The below table details Child Benefit recipients by county for the period January 2018 to May 2021 inclusive.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Persons in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work are eligible for Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) for a period if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition. The personal rate of payment of PCB is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together. Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows individuals with a reduced capacity for work to return to employment or self-employment. In order to qualify, the person must be in receipt of one of two underlying schemes: Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension. People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (for a minimum of 6 months)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 855, 860 and 884 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The question of extending the duration of maternity leave would be matter for consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has responsibility for the payment of any associated maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides an independent, confidential, free issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person using the service. The NAS adheres to professional standards and it has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year costs of increasing the Carer's Support Grant by €75, €150 and €225 respectively are outlined in the table. Increase Estimated Additional Cost €75 €10.8m €150 €21.5m €225 €32.3m These costings are based on the...