Results 17,161-17,180 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On 1 January 2021, the transition period following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union will have ended and many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship. Strong and vibrant connections are vital with our closest neighbour...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Arrangements for the commencement of the relevant section of the Act concerned are now at an advanced stage.  It is expected that the commencement will happen in the coming weeks. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 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).  Once a person has successfully completed SAFE registration, their Public Services Card, containing their PPSN, is posted to them in about five working days. At the outbreak...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence Services (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Lead responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Since August, I have introduced changes to the rent supplement scheme to make it more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence.  This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 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 HSE and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel allowance, under the National fuel scheme, may be payable to certain households in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Gov.ie website.  Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 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 on 12th November 2020 with details of his PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 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 we may proceed to progress his application. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (17 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. Further to my previous reply in relation to this matter, PQ 32707/20 and PQ 32706/20, I can confirm that the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the Deputy's office has been contacted by officials of my Department regarding this individual's application for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) so that we may proceed to progress her application. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: On 28 October 2020, the person concerned was notified that their application for disability allowance (DA) was disallowed. Based upon the evidence submitted, it was refused on medical grounds and because they failed to supply information which had been requested by the Department. The person concerned was requested to supply bank statements, proof of her current...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Data Protection (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The majority of personal data breaches in 2019 were in the following three categories: 46% - Delivery of correspondence to an incorrect address or to the customer's previous address; 31% -Accidentally including a document or an item of personal data of a customer in correspondence with another customer. 14% - Email errors such as auto population to an unintended address, or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a protocol in place for payments to homeless customers and staff make every effort to assist persons who are homeless so that they can avail of the full range of the Department’s services and income supports. These customers are worked with and encouraged to regularise their living arrangements by referral to the appropriate support agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568, 569 and 576 together. Details of the range of  supports, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, available for the self-employed at this time are available on the Government's website at www.gov.ie/covid19selfemployed. As provided for in the recent Budget, where a self -employed recipient of the pandemic unemployment payment, such as a taxi...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The priority for my Department up to now has been to ensure that payments are being made currently and to date over 3,200 claims have been put into payment in respect of employees at the company referred to by the Deputy.  This work is now complete and work has commenced this week on applications in respect of the period pre-September when the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme was in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Living Alone Allowance (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Budget 2021 provides for a €5 increase to the Living Alone Allowance from €14 to €19 per week giving a total payment of €988 over the course of the year in addition to their primary social welfare payment.  This represents a 36% increase in the value of the Allowance.  The implementation of the increase is scheduled with effect...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2021 (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Lead responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Since August, I have introduced changes to the rent supplement scheme to make it more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence.  This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Budget 2021, I was very happy to secure Government approval that the 2020 Christmas Bonus will be paid this year at a rate of 100%. This bonus payment recognises the needs of people who are long-term financially dependent on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income. In addition, in light of the exceptional circumstances arising from the pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a support to employees who lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19. It is also available to self-employed persons who can demonstrate that their income ceased, or reduced, as a direct consequence of Covid-19, to the extent that they would be available to take up full-time employment. The Covid-19 Pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (17 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 25 July 2019, in advance of reaching pension age in December 2019.  According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 320 paid full-rate Irish social insurance contributions.  Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify...