Results 17,061-17,080 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. In March of this year, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to three of the six individuals referred to by the Deputy. Letters with details of the PPSNs issued on 24th November 2020. Officials of my Department have contacted the Deputy's office and the remaining individuals regarding the outstanding applications so that we may proceed to progress their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit. As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The inclusion of social considerations has been specifically allowed for in the 2014 EU Directives on Public Procurement. The Office of Public Procurement (OGP) sets out, in its Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement, the key factors for policy departments and contracting authorities to be aware of when contemplating and planning the use of social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Applications for the increase for living alone and fuel allowance, received from the person concerned on 6 November 2020, together with the telephone support allowance have been awarded. Notifications of the awards issued to the person concerned on 12 November 2020. An application for the household benefits package was received on 18 November 2020. This too has been awarded to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Christmas Bonus will be paid next month 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 of most of their income. In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is subject to age-related rates of payment for persons under 25 years. It is also a means-tested scheme and, in accordance with the legislation governing entitlement to JA, what is known as benefit and privilege is assessed where a person is living at home with parents who are working. The person concerned was awarded a JA payment with effect from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that officials of my Department have contacted the Deputy's office regarding the Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) applications for the individuals referred to by the Deputy so that we may proceed to progress their applications. Upon receipt of outstanding information, these applications will be processed without delay. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the individual on 9th November 2020 with details of the PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Internationally and in Ireland research consistently indicates that the provision of a personal advisory/case management service to unemployed jobseekers is an effective method of supporting jobseekers to secure and sustain employment. In Ireland this personal advisor/case management service is provided directly by the Department’s own staff and also by staff employed in contracted...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. The total allocation for LEADER next year is €44 million. This allocation will be used to fund existing projects as they come to completion and submit payment claims. It will also fund new projects to be approved under a new Transitional Programme and will support the administration costs of the Local Action Groups who deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that Social Clauses, through public procurement processes, have been implemented by my Department and also by one entity under its aegis. Public Libraries, which my Department has policy responsibility for, issued a call for proposals to library authorities in December 2019 for the provision of sensory facilities and equipment in public libraries. The call advised that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and resulting phases of public health measures, has greatly impacted economic activity in the State. Young people are particularly affected by the current crisis, given their tendency to work in sectors most greatly impacted (retail, hospitality, tourism and arts). I am acutely aware of the reliance on these sectors to provide employment opportunities for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as Disability Allowance, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes. If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Education Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection operates the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), a monthly payment for a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires ongoing (continual or continuous) care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. While the Department does not provide any specific supports to sup-groups of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The procurement of supplies and services is essential to support my Department and bodies under the aegis of my Department in providing high quality services to the public, in a cost effective and efficient manner. The tables below set out details of contracts over €25,000 for my Department and those bodies under the aegis of my Department that were found to be non-compliant with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Council (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 552 together. I am pleased that the Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment. As the Deputies will be aware, I announced on Budget Day that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit (24 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. My Department provides a number of income supports to carers such as Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the...