Results 1,701-1,720 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 22:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “Medical assessor – registered nurse 19. Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (1)—(a) in the definition of “medical assessor” (inserted by section 3 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015)—(i) in paragraph (a), by the deletion of...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We had a very long debate last year on this. We have gone to the market and are constantly trying to recruit. The Department is determined and committed to keeping the number of medical assessors at 25, but we are finding it increasingly difficult to fill those positions. When there is a panel and we go to the panel to offer the position, it is not taken up. There is a problem. From last...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Give me a few minutes before I have to go into the House to see what I am going in for.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: In all cases, full training is given. It is not about that. It is an effort to give a better service. While we have successfully reduced the time from application to payment, and the Department and officials must be thanked for this, this is necessary to ensure that backlog never occurs again when there are particular times of pressure. The nurses would be used in the Department in an...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: If it is okay with the Chair, we can see the screen. Once Topical Issue No. 1 starts, we will know.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The intention is that it is dealt with in an efficient manner, but I reassure Deputy Ryan that in the first instance proper training will always be given and there will be proper supervision. In all cases in this Department, there is a constant review of how things operate. This will be a benefit. The focus is on directly recruiting nurses with experience in the field of occupational...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The nurse would not reject it. The deciding officer makes the decision where the occupational nurse or medical assessor, as it is at the moment, gives an opinion to the deciding officer. Not on all occasions-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: -----is the medical assessor's opinion accepted. In some cases, it is overruled by the officer in the customer's benefit. In all cases the medical assessor's recommendation to pay is accepted, but where there is a refusal to recommend it, the deciding officer is overruled.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will set the rate in regard to the salaries. On the issue of appeals, I have discussed this matter with Deputy O'Dea on numerous occasions. One of the reasons for the level of success in regard to appeals is that we allow additional information at every step of the way. In other jurisdictions, that is not allowed; they only allow an appeal to...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It would be totally wrong and that would be a great way to massage the numbers. However, I am not into doing that. Deputy Ó Snodaigh raised a legitimate point, which was not a reflection on nurses. Nurses are more than capable of doing this. They operate in every area. There have been preliminary discussions and during the suspension, I might be able to check this with the HSE but...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: No, other than the fact that it is anticipated there will be a core team of between five and ten nurses who will be employed by the Department to conduct triage and desk assessments and provide opinions for guidance to the Department's deciding officer to help determine entitlements in respect of various high-volume schemes. There is not a backlog within the Department but we always have to...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: In fairness to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, I do not think that is what he was saying.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As I have just said, the chief medical officer has met with the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for the constructive manner in which he has given his opinions on this issue. This is a movement towards a more holistic assessment of people, which is very important. It is about putting a good, efficient service in place for our...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. I thank all of the members of the committee for their constructive engagement on the matter.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 23:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following:“Budgeting in relation to social welfare payments – amendment 20. Section 290 of the Principal Act is amended—(a) in subsection (1), by the insertion of “, subject to subsection (3A),” after “paid”, (b) in subsection (3), by the insertion of the following paragraph...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: First, I shall reply to Deputy Ó Snodaigh. To be truthful and honest, when the Deputy raised this matter on Second Stage, I was unaware of the Lough payment scheme and misunderstood him. While the personal microfinance scheme may offer an alternative to those who remain in the Lough payment scheme, where their local credit unions are participating in the pilot, it may not provide a...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes, once the relevant regulations are in place. That is the target date. We need this amendment in order to use the household budgeting scheme and then introduce a regulation. Our target is to keep pressing forward with the initiative, which has many moving parts. Originally, I thought the initiative would be far simpler but, unfortunately, this is what happens in many situations.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh, who is quite correct in many ways. Approximately 370 clients have transferred to alternative payment schemes. Approximately 130 clients are still availing of the Lough scheme, as an administrated scheme. The Deputy made some very good points in regard to the Traveller community and I would be happy to look at this again at some stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Is Deputy O'Dea suggesting that the person should continue to receive a payment in respect of the adult dependant?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sorry that nobody has come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh on his proposal because we discussed it when we were looking at the amendments this morning. In the first instance, this relates to legislation which should be dealt with by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. However, there is merit in this amendment because the Department has done something similar in respect of...