Results 15,741-15,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tax Credits (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In order to establish a person’s entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory), a completed pension application form must be lodged with the Department and the social insurance record of the person concerned examined by a deciding officer. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not, to date, lodged a pension application form with the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Insolvency Service of Ireland (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Insolvency Payments Scheme operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984, which derives from EU Directive 80/987 and associated amending Directives (Directives 87/164, 2002/74 and 2008/94). Responsibility for this legislation transferred to the Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment on 14 October 2020. As provided for within...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of entitlement to Disability Allowance (DA) of the person concerned, it was found that he had means in excess of the statutory limit from 21 April 2021. Based on information provided to my Department, a subsequent review of his entitlement has been carried out and he has been awarded a reduced rate of disability allowance (DA) from that date. The person concerned will also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: JobsPlus is a subsidy paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. Employers can avail of JobsPlus when filling new positions or positions that arise as a consequence of natural turnover and receive a subsidy of €7,500 or €10,000 per employee. The value of the grant is dependent on the age of the new employee and their duration...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy’s question relates to 'standard private pension products'. In terms of the Pensions Act, 1990, as amended, this refers to standard Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). Personal Pension Plans (PPPs) / Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs) and other retirement related investment products are regulated by the Central Bank. Any questions with respect to these are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to ensuring that State pension (contributory) claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. The operational target for State pension (contributory) claims is to have 90% of timely applications awarded (where qualified) by entitlement date, currently the applicant's 66th birthday. The State Pension Contributory Section in my Department processes pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under current eligibility conditions, applicants must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment over a person’s working life. Calculation of an applicant’s entitlement to State pension (contributory) is based on their social insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (21 Apr 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 approx. 994,000...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since 2016, my Department has allocated almost €68 million to nearly 1,000 projects through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). Earlier this year I announced details of 226 projects to the value of almost €15.8 million that were approved funding under ORIS 2020. The scheme invests in physical infrastructure that underpins recreational activities based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland's new Rural Development Policy, is an ambitious framework for the sustainable development of rural Ireland for the next five years. The vision of the policy is for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development. Our Rural Future contains over 150 commitments across Government, for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2569, 2571, 2581 and 2588 together. The increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes. Remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Faoi láthair, is ar mhaithe le díolacháin ticéid atá na h-oifigí atá luaite sna conarthaí agus is faoin gcomhlacht farantóireachta atá sé na socraithe cuí a dhéanamh le spás stórála a chur ar fáil cois céibhe le gur féidir ábhar a stóráil, go háirithe agus seirbhís lastais...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2572 to 2574, inclusive, together. Each year my Department publishes annual statistics on gov.ie in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities, including those that relate to dog breeding establishments. This information is collated from annual returns received from all local authorities. Information up to and including 2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million to be allocated over the period 2014-2020. The programme, which is co-funded by the EU, is based on a local-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. The programme supports projects from local community groups and businesses which, amongst other objectives, promote economic development, social inclusion and the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ‘Our Rural Future’, the new Rural Development Policy, contains over 150 commitments across the whole-of-Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development. As part of the development of the Policy an extensive research and consultation process was undertaken to identify the issues that matter most to people living and working in rural areas. Amongst the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Welfare Services (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The organisation referred to in the Deputy's question received funding from POBAL under the Dormant Accounts Fund. This funding has since been disallowed under the Dormant Accounts Fund process. A recovery process for funds received is ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is just one of a number of initiatives funded under my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. This Programme also includes the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, CLÁR and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Local Authorities are central to the delivery of these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the National Strategic Objective in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities. The Fund provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Air Services (21 Apr 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In 2017 my Department undertook a public consultation process whereby it sought submissions from interested parties in relation to the future use of both Clifden and Inishbofin airstrips. On foot of that consultation my Department is in discussions with the HSE with a view to the use of part of the Inisbofin site to locate a Health Care Centre for the island, a facility for which the Island...