Results 16,761-16,780 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to the end of 2020. €225 million of this funding has been allocated as core funding to each of the individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver LEADER. The remaining €25 million is available for schemes to be delivered at a national level and is allocated as projects are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together. My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". A key part of achieving this mission is regularly reaching out to organisations in the community and voluntary sector through consultation, engagement and outreach...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Co Kildare, and I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which have provided financial and other supports to community groups and organisations. These supports enable economic growth and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 Revised Estimate provides almost €375 million in funding to my Department this year, with an allocation of €199.7 million for rural development and of €170.6 million for community development. Many of my Department's funding programmes are open to rural community-based groups. The Community Services Programme is of particular importance, with funding of over...

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

Heather Humphreys: A vital part of the Department for Rural and Community Development's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. My Department has developed strategic interventions, funding programmes and supports which target and address basic issues of social and or economic deprivation in rural and urban communities throughout the country. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Isolation (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 703 together. Addressing the issue of individual isolation in communities has become more important than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue of isolation in communities cut across the work of a number of Departments, and this is reflected in ongoing work on community policing, rural transport and social inclusion, among other areas. ...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 701 together. A vital part of my Department's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Co Kildare. In support of that mission there are a number of key objectives: - creating conditions to support increased economic opportunities and local employment in all areas of the country -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 700 and 702 together. My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Co Kildare, and I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which have provided financial and other supports to community groups and...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Libraries Capital Programme provides for an investment of some €29 million in 18 major projects, the My Open Libraryinitiative, and a Small Scale Capital Works Programme, between 2016 and 2022. Three major developments have already been completed under the programme with Kevin Street Library (Dublin) opening in 2018, Athy Library (Kildare) opening in 2019 and North...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind words. As Senators know, the purpose of the Social Welfare Bill is to give legislative effect to the changes announced on budget day. The Estimate for the Department of Social Protection in 2021 is €25.1 billion. This is more than €4 billion larger than the Department's budget day allocation for 2020. Much of that additional...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank all of those Senators who have contributed, including Senators Lombard, Craughwell, Ardagh, Wall, Warfield, Burke, Boylan, Dolan, Buttimer, Kyne, Currie, Cummins, Murphy and Ahearn. The social protection system is designed, as we know, to help people and ensure there is a safety net and baseline of income support, and that nobody falls under. Like all Members of the House, I meet...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: We need to consider the matter using an Oireachtas committee with which I am happy to engage and lend my support. However, it is important that the issue has cross-party support. Senators Ardagh, Warfield and Wall raised the issue of the pensions commission and the pension age. The pensions commission has been set up and is comprised of 11 very capable people from various backgrounds,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Government has agreed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will continue in payment until end March 2021.  This extension provides certainty to people, including those in the arts and entertainment sectors, that access to PUP remains available. PUP is payable to the self-employed where there has been a significant reduction or collapse in trading income as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to employees and self-employed who have lost their employment as a direct consequence of the pandemic and who satisfy the qualifying conditions of the statutory scheme. In the case of student nurses taking up clinical placement, the Department has clarified that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable to those student nurses who were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,633 active recipients. 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 available to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Christmas Bonus is being paid this week to long-term 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to confirm that the person concerned is currently in receipt of  Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The person concerned  is due two weeks arrears from 16/10 – 29/10, a total of €700.  I am advised that these arrears will be in the nominated bank account of the person concerned early next week. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) pays professional membership fees where it is considered necessary for the performance of an officer's official duties, or in instances where there is a legal requirement that an officer be on the register of a professional body/association, or if membership enables an officer to keep abreast of developments in a particularly relevant area of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is charged with progressing the development of a new National Policy for the Islands.   Prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic my officials had been engaged in a process of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of the policy.  This consultation was carried out through public meetings on the islands. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. My Department does pay fees for some employees, for particular professions , as appropriate.  This year my Department has paid professional fees for four employees to the value of €822.93 as set out in the...