Results 17,541-17,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (3 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 person concerned on 30th October 2020 with details of the PPSN. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A self-employed person is eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they have suffered a reduction in their trading income as a consequence of COVID-19 to the extent that they are available for other full time work and satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme. Budget 2021 provides that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a rolling...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Class S contributions paid by the self employed are not a reckonable contribution for Illness Benefit. The Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on the 14th May 2020. She did not did not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions necessary for payment as she was paying Class S contributions in the relevant tax years. However, she is currently receiving...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Social Welfare Inspectors operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with customers. The code requires thatcustomers must at all times be treated equally, fairly, with respect and dignity, as outlined in the Customer Charter. They are required to carry out a range of inspections and reviews including desk-based assessments of customer...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. The LIS is targeted at roads in rural areas. The main condition of eligibility for the scheme is that road...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1572 to 1575, inclusive, together. My Department has not issued any specific instructions to local authorities regarding the ‘contact and collect’ library service. The ‘Plan for Living with COVID-19’, issued by Government, states that all museums, galleries and other cultural attractions, including all public, school and academic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently finalising a new rural development policy for the next five years. The new policy will be forward-looking, ambitious, and will build on the progress achieved through the Action Plan for Rural Development, which concluded in 2019. It will seek to strengthen and build resilience in our rural economies and communities and will identify policy measures for delivery in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enterprise Centres (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Over the last number of years, my Department has funded the development of enterprise centres and co-working hubs through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, including funding for gTeic hubs in the Gaeltacht areas. The LEADER programme can also provide funding for community-based facilities of this nature. In addition, the Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for a specific package as outlined by the Deputy is not available from my Department at this time. However, this year's Town and Village Renewal Scheme included three rounds of funding under an Accelerated Measure which supported smaller scale projects that could be delivered immediately to assist towns and villages in adapting to COVID-19. In total, I have allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department entered into 6 contracts for goods and services between 2019 and to date in 2020 which did not require the use of a competitive tender process due to particular exemptions permitted under the Directive . I can confirm that the signing of these contracts were consistent and compliant with Government procurement guidelines. I have provided below, the details of the 6 contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some communities and Local Authorities have experienced difficulties in completing projects which were approved for funding under various programmes operated by my Department, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. My Department is in touch with Local Authorities on an ongoing basis to review progress in delivering projects...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Local Authorities, National Broadband Ireland (NBI), Vodafone Ireland and the owners and managers of the host sites. BCPs will be located in areas which do not currently have access to reliable high-speed broadband and which will,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Data Protection (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department did not identify any data protection breaches in 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that there has not been any disbursements of capital spending above €20 million on completed projects since the establishment of my Department in July 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of the entitlement of this gentleman, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my department, an increased rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 18 March 2020. A letter issued to this gentleman informing him of this on 19 October 2020. Arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 together. Budget 2021 provides that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses.  This measure applies with immediate effect. Where a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 122 together. The Department’s Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at second or third level.  The main focus of the allowance is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their educational...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned made a claim for Illness Benefit (IB) from 16thJune 2016 to 13thNovember 2017. The IB claim for the person concerned was processed and she received her full entitlement under the scheme. Credited contributions were awarded for the duration of her Illness Benefit claim. This lady has been in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from 17 May 2017 to 5 June 2018 and from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021.  This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019.  The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Enterprise Support Services (22 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Enterprise Support Grant assists eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme to re-start their business.  A once-off grant is payable up to a maximum of €1,000 covering costs associated with re-opening a business that was closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Funding of €12 million had been made...