Results 16,741-16,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 372 and 373 together. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension cases under review and the number of reviews commenced per quarter in 2020 is not available in my Department Reviews of claims in my Department take place in a number of circumstances as follows:- - If...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) section in the Department has a dedicated review team who process reviews under a number of categories including: - Reviews carried out on foot of customer requests following a negative decision. - Reviews carried out as part of the appeal process - Reviews as a result of referral by another area of the department. - Scheduled medical reviews. Statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to a person's previous average weekly earnings. Last November, I secured Government approval to extend the 2020 earnings reference period for employees to September 2020. This change, which is effective from 2 October, meant that people who only commenced employment after February 2020 but were laid-off in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated cost of a Christmas Bonus in 2020 for Working Family Payment would be €6.75 million. The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. In recognition...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs. The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Deciding Officers are appointed by the Minister under Section 299 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Section 300 of that Act allows a Deciding Officer to determine if a person qualifies for a social welfare scheme, and where the person qualifies, the weekly rate of entitlement to be awarded. Deciding Officers apply fair and equitable assessment in all claims they process. They...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on 19 October 2020. File papers were received from the Department on 9 November 2020. The appeal was subsequently referred on 23 November 2020 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented. A decision will issue to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Prior to the pandemic youth unemployment in Ireland stood at just over 10 percent in Q1 2020 based on the CSO’s Labour Force Survey data, with approximately 20,000 persons aged under 25 on the Live Register. By Q3 2020 these figures had increased to 20 percent and 25,000 respectively. Moreover, if we include PUP recipients in the figures, by the end of November, over 47 percent of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments, including Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) and the State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC). Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment reflects the fact that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income. Short-term schemes, including Maternity Benefit, do not qualify for the Christmas Bonus. In recognition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An allocation of €500,000 was provided under the Government's July Stimulus Package for the development of Inis Oírr pier. The development of a business case for this project is ongoing between the Department and Galway Co. Council. Once this business case has been completed and the necessary approvals are received at Departmental level and from the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The table below outlines the current vacancies in the Charities Regulator, and the length of time each post has been vacant: Role Vacant Since Director of Legal Affairs & Registration (previously Director of Regulation)-Principal Officer equivalent November 2018 Information Governance Officer – Higher Executive...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Measures being funded through this year's programme are - Measure1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (a) Meals on Wheels and linked...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department funds the Libraries Capital Programme that will invest around €29m in 18 projects, as well as the My Open Libraryinitiative. In 2018 the Department provided almost €250,000 under the programme to Kerry County Council for the purchase of a new mobile library. It is not possible to fund a second mobile library for Kerry County Council under the Libraries Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Measures being funded through this year's programme are: Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (a) Meals on Wheels and linked...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since my response to the Dáil question on 17thNovember 2020, I and my officials have met with representatives of the Local Authorities and Local Development Companies - who are key parties in the delivery of the LEADER Programme - to hear their views on priorities for the Transitional Programme. These were constructive engagements and there was a strong degree of consensus on the type...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of public library services, including the provision of library premises, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Mahon/Blackrock and the surrounding areas is a matter generally for Cork City Council. My Department has had some preliminary discussions with Cork City Council...