Results 17,661-17,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, in line with the overall Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moved swiftly at the outset of the pandemic to put in place enhanced and new supports for existing customers and new customers who, as a result of COVID-19, are working reduced hours or who have lost their employment entirely – even if on a temporary basis. A decision was taken in March to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is no record of an application for Jobseeker’s Allowance received from the person concerned in my Department. Should the person concerned wish to submit an application, the easiest way to do so is online at . If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulty while awaiting the outcome of her Jobseeker’s Allowance, it is open to her to contact her local community...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment which may be payable with State pension (contributory). It may be awarded to a person whose spouse, or civil partner, or co-habitant is being wholly, or mainly, maintained by them. It may be paid where that qualified adult’s personal means, from any source, do not exceed a means test income limit - based on the means held...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Training Support Grant (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned contacted Listowel Intreo in April regarding a Training Support Grant (TSG) for an Animal Grooming course that they had started in March. The person concerned was advised that they should have sought approval prior to training commencing. She then clarified that the course had not yet commenced so a TSG application was sent to her. In June following a request a TSG form...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year to recipients of long-term social welfare payments (minimum payment of €20). On an exceptional basis this year, the payment of a Christmas Bonus equivalent to 100% of the weekly payment will be paid to recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and equivalent recipients of jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 March 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face to face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing. My...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18 March 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 750,000 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. Consequently, there are over 1 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. The Department has been developing an automated process,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Seirbhíse Buiséadaithe agus Comhairle Airgid (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Cuireann an tSeirbhís Bhuiséadta agus Chomhairle Airgid (an SBCA), faoi choimirce an Bhoird um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh (an BFS), cúnamh ar fáil do dhaoine, go háirithe iad siúd a bhfuil ioncam íseal acu nó nach bhfuil ach íocaíochtaí leasa shóisialaigh á bhfáil acu mar ioncam, a bhfuil fiachais mhóra acu...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My 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 BTEA has been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: LEADER is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current programming period concludes in December 2020. Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-2027 were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission. However, given the nature of the discussions on the CAP and the wider EU Budget post-2020, there has been a delay in adopting these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Programme for Government (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to address the issue referred to by the Deputy. My Department is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in relation to the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme of some €29m which will support 18 library projects and the My Open Library initiative over the period 2016 to end-2022. My officials have had some initial discussions with Cork City Council regarding a potential new library for Blackrock-Mahon, but to date, no request for funding has been received. The Libraries Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the Deputy is referring to funding available under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This scheme provides funding for Local Authority or community led projects in small towns and villages. However, the scheme does not provide support for individual business owners. The Local Authority may be in a position to provide information or advice to the landowner on grants which...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman and the Deputies for the question on LEADER. I am sorry that I must leave a bit earlier than expected but, as members will know, there is a meeting of the Cabinet. In terms of the LEADER programme, more than 3,400 projects were approved by the end of September that are worth €135 million. By the end of this year I expect the local action groups, LAGS, to have...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I said at the time, we looked at them all. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment now. I would love to be able to say "Yes". We will keep it under review and we will see what appears towards the end of the year. Sometimes projects do not go ahead as quickly as possible. All the time we want to get the money spent and where it is needed in the communities. Obviously, we will keep it...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I know what the Deputy is saying. We are looking at it because we have committed to it. There are other things the LEADER companies can also look at. They provide serval different services in other areas, not just under this programme alone. For example, there are the local employment services. I am expanding that and I hope the LEADER companies will put in their proposals on how they...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I just want to clarify that there is another €40 million for projects. There will be an extra €4 million next year. I apologise for misrepresenting that earlier. There is another €4 million in this year's budget to cover that transition.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is for the transition programme.