Results 18,041-18,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I have also met many of the CE scheme supervisors. For several years now, they have sought through their union representatives the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. CE sponsoring authorities are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, we are engaging with the supervisors and, in fairness, my Department works very closely with them. I am aware there were a number of issues in one scheme in the midlands only a couple of weeks ago and we had direct involvement. We were able to give them the necessary support and information and bring clarification to a number of issues. We want to continue to work with them...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,600 recipients. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Kerrane. The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock. With regard to income supports, my Department provides a range of schemes to assist with energy costs. These...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. She makes a fair point on the impact of Covid-19 on energy costs. Obviously, if people are spending more time in their homes because of Covid-19, it will have a knock-on effect on energy costs, particularly as we enter the winter months. As I stated, the fuel allowance payments will start to be issued from next week. Over 350,000 households were supported by the fuel...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: To follow on from what I was saying, retrofitting will play a major in the Government's plan for economic recovery. The July stimulus package commits to an increase in the SEAI budget of €100 million in 2021. That is a considerable increase. Only today, the Minister responsible for climate action, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced €28 million under the community energy grant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The ESRI is carrying out a study of carbon tax commitments. Its findings will inform the Government on this issue. I have not received those yet but when I do, I will obviously publish them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this matter. Community employment, CE, is an employment support programme targeted at the long-term unemployed. Prior to the recent Covid-19 emergency the number of long-term unemployed on the live register fell steadily as the economy gradually returned to full employment. While this was a positive development, it meant a reduction in the number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy said, the Department has partly funded the excellent and detailed work of the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice for a number of years and it is useful. I met Sr. Bernadette McMahon at my Department's pre-budget forum in July. The work of the Vincentians highlights the importance of services and how they can impact on the minimum income standards needed by households....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Last year, my Department undertook a consultation process with a number of interested stakeholders. The process included discussions with representatives of the community and voluntary sector at the pre-budget forum in July 2019 as well as bilateral meetings with stakeholders. The outcome of those discussions was considered and, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue. Of the approximately 206,000 people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, some 5,900 or 2.8% are members of the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. This represents a 58% reduction from 14,200 claimants in that sector at the peak in May. This reduction in the numbers of people in receipt of the PUP is in line with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: We have been trying to be as fair as possible. The pandemic unemployment payment has been extended until at least next April. It also remains open for applications, which is important. Covid-19 will be with us for some time. The budget is three weeks away. We need to examine the next steps and the future of the PUP as part of the budgetary process. We may need to keep the PUP open for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I understand the difficulties the sector is facing. With regard to the pandemic unemployment payment, the Department has always applied a common-sense approach to the condition requiring an applicant to be genuinely seeking work. To be very clear, we do not expect those who are waiting for their jobs to come back to be looking for work. If, however, people have permanently lost their jobs,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As a former Minister for culture, both the Deputy and I value the work that those involved in the arts and entertainment sectors do. The question is whether I restore the €350 rate specifically for those who work in the entertainment industry. Workers in that sector represent approximately 3% of people on the PUP. I understand the position that they are in but it would be unfair to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, the Taoiseach has spoken about sectoral supports. In that respect my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Martin, has announced the establishment of a new task force for the recovery of the arts and culture sector under the chair of Clare Duignan. It will consider the impact of Covid-19 for culture and the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Rates (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The minimum essential standard of living, MESL, is an assessment, developed by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, VPSJ, of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types. My Department has partly funded the excellent, detailed work of the VPSJ for a number of years, and I find it extremely useful. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future states that the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred. This will require an amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year. I hope there will be cross-party support for this legislation. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am working on the legislation and it is my intention to bring it to the House before the end of the year. I am aware of those who will become 66 years of age on 1 January and I want to make sure that they get their full entitlements when they reach that age in order that they will get their pensions. As I said, we are working on that at present. In respect of the commission on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, the commission on pensions will examine the issue in the round and will consider a wide range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability and intergenerational fairness. In terms of its membership, it is important that we have a broad mix of individuals with expertise in pensions, economics, labour market dynamics and industrial relations, as well as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter. As he is aware, the Government has decided that from 17 September, the pandemic unemployment payment will be paid at three rates linked to a person's pre-Covid employment earnings. Individuals whose prior earnings were €300 or more per week will receive a payment of €300 per week. A rate of €250 will apply to those who...