Results 18,341-18,360 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is my Departament's policy that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and certain primary payments such as One Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment and Carers Allowance can be paid together where the individual has lost full employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that anyone who was in receipt of Jobseekers Transitional Payment who was also working and loses...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned reached pension age on 2 April 2012. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 7 January 2015. At the time of the person’s application, the qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) required a minimum of 260 paid full-rate contributions and a minimum yearly average of 10. According to the records of my Department, the person had 210 paid...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Records (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 27 November 2018. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this person was substantially restricted in taking up employment and their means exceededthe statutory limit for receipt of DA. The person concerned was notified in writing of this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A policy to introduce the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010. In September 2012, new rate bands were introduced that saw benefits more closely aligned to contributions made and helped the long term sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund, protecting future beneficiaries. In January 2018, a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland (ASI) currently operates 7 Community Employment (CE) schemes nationally that supports and provides employment opportunities for 133 CE participants. In late June, 2020 the ASI contacted my Department to discuss the possible closure of a number of CE schemes operated by it. The Board of the ASI subsequently took a decision to close 3 of its schemes,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 673 to 675, inclusive, together. The estimated full year cost of increasing the Carer's Support Grant from €1700 to €2000 is €41.9 million. The estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit by €5 per week is €17.2 million and €0.7 million respectively. The costs shown above...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year cost of increasing Disability Allowance by five euro per week is €40.9 million. This includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults. This costing is on a full year basis and is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2020. It should be noted this is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Blind Person's Pension (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year cost of increasing the Blind Pension by €9 per week is €0.6 million. This includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults. This costing is on a full year basis and is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2020. It should be noted this is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities obtaining and sustaining employment in the open labour market. The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to hire people with a disability for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department introduced a series of measures to maintain social welfare payments while assisting with social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Fortnightly payments were introduced to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments, so helping people restrict their movements to essential activities only....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is payable to qualifying persons between the ages of 18 to 66 which is consistent with Jobseeker's schemes and other social welfare supports for the working age population. People aged 66 years and over are provided for within the Social Protection income support framework through the State Pension - either the contributory State pension or the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is no record of a disability allowance (DA) application for the first person named. The second person named was refused DA on 22 July 2015 on the grounds that they were not found to be habitually resident in the state and their means could not be established. He was notified of this decision which included his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Direct Provision Payments (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Applicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of Direct Provision operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of the Department of Justice and Equality are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities/services. My Department administers the daily expenses allowance (DEA) which is paid to protection applicants who live in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. If a person is in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Data (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been in direct contact with my Department in relation to this matter and a response has issued addressing all matters raised. The late mother of the person concerned was due arrears of pension for the period from 2004 to 2007. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error these arrears were not paid at the time they were due. Following contact from the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. I am also advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer has power under...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the register of stillbirths, which, unlike other registers, is not open to public inspection. At the time of establishment of the register, in 1994, it was considered that no public interest would be served by having the information on the register open to the public. Also, given the relatively small number of stillbirths each year, it was felt...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (8 Sep 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned will reach pension age on 10 October 2020. Their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 17 August 2020. Since the person has a record of self-employment, their record was checked to confirm if their liabilities as a self-employed person were fully paid. Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as...