Results 17,141-17,160 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Commission on Pensions (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that the Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions in fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment. As the Deputy 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 Government commitment.  In this regard, it will remain at 66...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).  At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily suspended the SAFE registration...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (19 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. Letters issued to the individual and to the solicitor concerned on 17th 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: Carer's Allowance (19 Nov 2020)

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 can confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 27 July 2020....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Live Register (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As of 15th November 2020 there are currently 72,470 on the Live Register whose claim has commenced in 2020, of which 66,273 can be assigned a sector via their last employer based on the current data available to my Department. The requested information is listed in the table below for this cohort. Sector Number Percent A Agriculture,...

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

Heather Humphreys: To the end of October, my Department had processed 1.3 million Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) applications in respect of over 800,000 people.  Of these, over 766,000 people received at least one PUP.   The sectorial breakdown for everyone who has received at least one PUP is set out in the attached tabular statement. This sectorial breakdown is based on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In October 2018, my Department launched a Town Centre Living Initiative to explore in a holistic way how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages.  The pilot focused on 6 towns with different characteristics in different parts of the country.   Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, was one of the towns included in the pilot. An independent report on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: 2021 will see continued delivery of key programmes for Cavan and Monaghan and communities across the country. Budget 2021, announced last October has earmarked  €341 million for my Department. This will  support the recovery of the rural economy and enhance community development supports, in particular in the context of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Brexit. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be among the first sites connected under the National Broadband Plan.  At present, there are approximately 200 public access BCP sites scheduled for connection in 2020, in addition to 75 school BCPs.  Up to 100 further public access sites are planned for connection in 2021. BCPs will be located in some of the most rural and isolated areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The question of third-party contracts entered into by agencies under my Department’s remit is an operational matter for the agencies concerned. I have requested the agencies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter.

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank all Deputies who contributed. Although we do not always agree on everything in this Chamber, the interest in this debate shows that there is a strong passion on all sides of the House for rural and community development. As Minister, I have had the opportunity to witness at first hand the vision, commitment and energy which is present in communities across the country. Those...

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Comhairle. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak today on the work being carried out by my Department. At the outset, I acknowledge the work of my predecessor, the former Minister, Deputy Ring. It is worth remembering that when the Department of Rural and Community Development was established back in 2017, it did not even have a building to call...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Registration of Births (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 121 together. Parents are able to register births by submitting a Birth Registration Form, by email or post, to a local office of the Civil Registration Service or via the General Register Office (GRO).  The process is relatively straightforward requiring the completion of the information and declarations requested on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Commission on Pensions (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, 117, 122 and 125 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant is designed to assist self-employed people who had been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or a Jobseeker's Payment and who closed their claim to resume their self-employment since 18 May. This grant seeks to support micro self-employed enterprises, not currently eligible for similar grant funding through other departments. The support...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. My Department's key policy area is in respect of the impact of Brexit on the reciprocal arrangements for social insurance (which includes pensions) and social assistance (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy has been contacted regarding his application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) by officials of my Department so that they may proceed to progress his application. Upon receipt of outstanding information, this application will be processed without delay.   I trust this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice has granted a further extension for permissions to reside in the State that were due to expire between 20th September 2020 and 20th January 2021. The details of this extension were contained in a notice published by that Department on its website on 18 September. The notice stated that "In light of the uncertainties caused by the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The SAFE registration process, which involves the authentication of a person's identity in a face-to-face interview, is the normal method of processing an application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).  At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken in order to comply with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Partial Capacity Benefit allows a person who has been in receipt of Illness Benefit for six months or Invalidity Pension and who may not have full capacity for work, to return to employment and continue to receive a full or partial payment from the Department. The rate of payment is based on the assessment of the person's restriction on capacity for work; either moderate,...