Results 16,081-16,100 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas. These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: All procurement within my Department takes place in the context of national procurement guidance, and national and EU requirements and regulations. My Department has not awarded any contracts over €25,000 (excluding VAT) which were found to be non-compliant with these requirements over the period 1 January 2018 to-date. I would note that during this period there have been two...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no meetings or engagement between this organisation and my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity at publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country. Sites are provided with a wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the NBP in the State intervention area....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: COVID-19 has affected communities across the country and the Government has addressed the question of supports for businesses on a national basis. A range of specific supports have been put in place to support the hospitality and tourism sectors. These include: - A reduction in VAT from 13.5% to 9% until 31 December 2021 - The “Stay and Spend” tax credit initiative - A...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tourism Industry (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. As part of this objective, my Department engages with a wide variety of organisations and stakeholders to improve access to mobile phone and broadband services throughout rural Ireland. Late last year, officials at my Department were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas. These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Micro Credit Scheme (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Personal Micro Credit Scheme (PMC) provides for small scale loans, known as "It Makes Sense" loans, ranging from €100 to €2,000, by Credit Unions to borrowers in receipt of social welfare payments who may have difficulty accessing low cost credit. Currently 107 credit unions at some 281 locations are participating in the Scheme. An Post facilitates the repayment of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. My Department received an application for Invalidity Pension from the person concerned on 19/11/2020. The application was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of the person concerned was recently reviewed by the Department. One of the qualifying conditions of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme is that a person must have lost their employment as a direct consequence of the pandemic. As the person concerned has provided the Department with a letter from her employer confirming that she is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The contract in question awarded in 2019 has a value of €80k per annum (excl. VAT). There are three full time people with disabilities working on the contract with two or three additional staff available to assist during busy periods, if required. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (25 Feb 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. 990,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) had an informal meeting on 17th July 2020 at which Ireland was represented by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English T.D. On 13th October 2020 responsibility for EPSCO transferred to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the Departmental transfer of function order S.I....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The company referred to is currently providing services to the Department under Local Employment Services (LES) and Jobs Club contracts. These services are engaged to supplement the provision of employment services to those most distant from the labour market. This year, the company in question is one of 22 different contractors providing Local Employment Services (LES) in a network of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (25 Feb 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. I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 10 August 2020. It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The issues raised by the Deputy in relation to the withdrawal of a bank from the Irish market and income sources for the purposes of financial products are within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. There are a number of factors that impinge on the length of time a person continues to receive Carer's Allowance. The continued entitlement to CA varies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: During the pandemic, the Department has continued to avail of existing contracts where it was possible to do so. Due to the difficulties in securing goods, and the urgent requirement for some services, there were fourteen contracts to the value of approximately €1.3m awarded without a competitive process in 2020. No contracts for Covid-19 related goods and services have been awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: While the Department used existing contracts where possible, it was necessary due to the difficulties in securing goods, and the urgent requirement for some services, to award fourteen contracts for Covid-19 related goods and services without a competitive process in 2020. No such contracts have been awarded to date in 2021. Details of the breakdown of goods and services are set out in the...