Results 16,281-16,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1045 and 1046 together. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as cycleways, walking trails, blueways and mountain access routes in rural areas. Since 2016, my Department has invested almost €55.2 million in over 920 projects across Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, my Department has invested almost €93 million in over 1,300 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. A budget of €20 million has been allocated for an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year - an increase of €5 million, or 33%,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas. The 2014-2020 LEADER programme for Ireland had an allocation of €250 million, including a contribution of approx. 63% from the EU. Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Remote, or connected working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to pursue careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live in their local communities. It also has the potential to encourage more people to move to the regions, to provide increased trade for local businesses and to revitalise our rural towns. A number of Government Departments and agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first premises to be connected in the State intervention area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). They are publicly accessible premises, such as community centres, libraries and sports clubs in more isolated or remote rural areas, including some of our off-shore islands. At this point, the majority of sites for inclusion in the BCP...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (10 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first premises to be connected in the State intervention area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). They are publicly accessible premises, in more isolated or remote rural areas, including some of our off-shore islands. The BCPs will make onsite broadband access available for a variety of uses, such as remote working, remote study,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my Department, a maximum rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 9 September 2020. A letter issued to the person concerned informing him of this on 22...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In a state pension entitlement review following the death of the recipient, the Department, for reasons of confidentiality, can only correspond or communicate with the legal representative or personal representative of the deceased. According to the records of the Department, the person on whose behalf the Deputy is enquiring is not the named executor or personal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal in respect of the person concerned was registered by that Office on 25 June 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. The file papers were received from the Department on 30 October 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that it is currently not possible to facilitate in-person oral hearings due to Covid-19 restrictions.  However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department's policy is to consider for prosecution all cases of fraud against the social welfare system. In considering which cases to prosecute, the Department applies defined and recognised practice standards, set by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Social Welfare Legislation cases finalised successfully in Court - 2018-2020   Year  2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A review was carried out on the means of the person concerned and they were awarded an increased rate of disability allowance (DA) with effect from 13 May 2020. A letter informing them of this decision issued to them on 28 May 2020. A further review of the entitlement of the person concerned was carried out on 1 February 2021 and it was found that she had an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working on the introduction of a payment for 65-year olds who are required to or choose to retire at age 65, with a view to implementation in the near future. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level.  My Department has a provision of €96.5m in supports under the BTEA for 2021. To continue to receive a BTEA payment, a student must continue to satisfy the conditions of their primary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 19,700 active recipients as at 31st January 2021. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 267 together. The third call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on 1st December. My Department received 66 applications to this call and I understand that an application was received relating to the Knocknagree Community Hub, submitted by IRD Duhallow CLG. The application process for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: WiFi4EU is a European initiative, funded by the European Commission and co-funded in Ireland by my Department.  The initiative aims to support the development of wireless broadband by providing a high-quality internet service, free of charge, in public spaces such as main streets, public parks, libraries, museums and other public areas of high footfall. Under the WiFi4EU scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (4 Feb 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.   The impact of the NBP rollout will be transformational for rural Ireland in terms of supporting both local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Walks Scheme (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: On 4 December 2019 my Department announced the first phase of the Walks Scheme expansion, with the addition of 10 new trails.  The intention at that time was for these trails to come onto the scheme over the course of 2020, Payments to landholders for the maintenance of walks under the Walks Scheme are based on a programme of works agreed with each...