Results 18,141-18,160 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. In general, the period of participation on CE is for one year. However, CE participants who are working towards a major...

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

Heather Humphreys: The State Pension (Contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record when working. Those with few or no PRSI contributions paid over the years may alternatively qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is a means-tested pension, financed by the Exchequer,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Redundancy Payments Acts provide for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer fails to pay, an application for payment from the Social Insurance Fund may be submitted to the Department. When such a redundancy payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tax Yield (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated additional revenue that would be raised by increasing the two employers’ rates of PRSI by 2%, that is from 8.80% to 10.80% and 11.05% to 13.05%, would be €1.6 billion. This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the rate. Nor does it take into consideration any of the impacts arising from the measures...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tax Yield (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated additional revenue that would be raised by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% for incomes over €90,000 per year and increasing the PRSI rate for incomes not exceeding €90,000 per year from 11.05% to 13.05% while maintaining the lower PRSI rate of 8.80% for incomes not exceeding €395 per week, would be c.€2.6 billion. This estimate does...

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

Heather Humphreys: The payment stopped for this customer as he failed to confirm his continued eligibility as required. To date no further application has been received from him. When a new claim is received it will be examined in accordance with the guidelines. Should he have any difficulties with the application process he should contact his nearest Intreo Centre for assistance. I trust this clarifies the...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is now paid at three rates. Age and sex breakdowns at the payable PUP rates are published each week at . The breakdown by sector is provided in the table below. The Deputy should note that the sector breakdowns are based on the sector of the last known employer and may not reflect the current sector of self-employed PUP recipients. Table 1: PUP...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of this year, Ireland has witnessed unprecedented rise in levels of unemployment. Research published by my Department found that young people in particular have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and are over-represented in the sectors most affected by public health restrictions (hospitality, retail and accommodation). Even though the...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government commits to introducing a Retirement Payment for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseeker's Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work. I wish to assure the Deputy that I have made the introduction of the new Retirement Payment an immediate priority for my Department. Officials...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” states that the planned increase in the State Pension Age next year will be deferred. The State Pension Age will remain at 66 years. This will require amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year. I hope that there will be cross party support for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 to 579, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tables below. The Pandemic Unemployment numbers refer to the week ending 26th September 2020. Table 1: Recipients of specified payments in County Longford by requested age profiles at the end of August 2020 Longford 18 – 21 Years 22...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. As the Deputy is aware, no funding was available for new applications under the programme between 2010 and 2016 due to constraints on the public finances. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a range of different Measures...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. As the Deputy is aware, no funding was available for new applications under the programme between 2010 and 2016 due to constraints on the public finances. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016 it has supported a range of different Measures,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 912 together. In November 2019, National Broadband Ireland was awarded the contract to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to almost 540,000 premises across the State, predominantly in rural areas. This project will be implemented on a rolling basis; however, the Broadband Connection Point (BCP) initiative is designed to bring a measure of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am well aware of the content of the CEDRA report, which made an important contribution to the development of rural policy in Ireland in recent years. The CEDRA report identified, as a priority, the need for an integrated approach to rural development. It recommended, as a priority objective, the assignment of responsibility for the coordination of rural development to a Cabinet Minister....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in November 2012 as an independent expert group to examine and report on the medium-term economic development of rural Ireland. The CEDRA report was published in April 2014. The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development which was published in January 2017 built on, and went further than, the CEDRA...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in November 2012 as an independent expert group to examine and report on the medium-term economic development of rural Ireland. The CEDRA report was published in April 2014. Costs associated with undertaking and publishing the CEDRA report amounted to €20,702.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Our towns and villages have always been at the heart of social and economic activity in rural Ireland. The Government wants our towns and villages to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, and to act as hubs for services and for cultural and recreational activity for their surrounding areas. However, we also recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I recognise that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to rural development. Different rural areas have different needs and require different solutions depending on their local assets, their peripherality, and their population density. There are already some successful initiatives which proactively respond to the localised needs of rural areas. For example, the LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (22 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of our rural towns and villages. Applications for funding are submitted through the Local Authorities. The scheme provides funding for 80% of the cost of the projects being delivered, with the remaining 20% provided by the Local Authority, local community and/or philanthropic donations. Each Local...