Results 18,881-18,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Enterprise Support Services (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Enterprise Support Grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25th June 2020 to re-start their business. A once-off grant will be awarded for 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000 covering vouched costs associated with re-opening a business which was closed due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27 May 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that these were received by that Office on 29...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provided for increases to the State pension age to make the State pension system more sustainable as life expectancy increases. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State Pension (Transition). This measure standardised the State pension age for all at 66 years. The legislation currently provides for increases to the State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that the Department has no record of an application for a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) in respect of this individual. In the event that this person already had a PPSN prior to their residency in the UK, they can confirm their PPSN by calling my Department at 00 353 71 967 2616. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been introduced as a time-limited emergency measure so that payments can be made as quickly as possible to the large number of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The new Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” states that a Commission on Pensions will be established to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with state pensions and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission is to report on to Government by June 2021 on options including the qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through its provision of some services directly to the public and through a network of service delivery companies. During the Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 116 and 118 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 BCP initiative is designed to bring a measure of connectivity to remote and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Programme for Government (15 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A number of Departments have responsibility for investing in infrastructure to support the development of rural town and villages. My Department supports the development of rural towns and villages through a number of measures, and particularly through investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Since the launch of the Town...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic emergency.  As stipulated in the scheme guidelines both employees and self-employed people can apply for the payment if they satisfy a number of qualifying conditions as set out below.  In order to qualify for the payment, an applicant must: - be aged between 18 and 66 years old and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Job Losses (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 provides that employers proposing a collective redundancy must notify the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of the proposed collective redundancy.  The statistics in relation to collective redundancy notifications for June 2020 are -  Redundancy Notifications June ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Definitions (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 7 March 2019.  The application was referred to a social welfare inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. To date the investigating officer has been unable to determine her place of residence.  The person concerned has also failed to supply...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688, 689, 727, 731, 753, 754, 756, 759, 764, 766, 772, 774 and 786 together. The COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and has been extended until 10th August. A two level payment structure has also been introduced to link the pandemic unemployment payment level to prior...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 690, 728, 734, 737, 739 and 781 together. The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are that a person must have been in employment immediately...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The report of the group established to conduct a review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 was published in July 2018. Under legislative proposals to implement some of the recommendations contained in the report, there are no circumstances in which it will be permissible for a child to change gender without parental consent and the current minimum age for legal gender recognition will remain...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 21,200 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 not have accommodation...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693, 695, 777 and 779 together. The COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and which has been extended to 10th August. A two level payment structure has been introduced to link the pandemic unemployment payment level to prior earnings. If a ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is understood from clarification received from the Deputy that the question refers to both employer and employee PRSI charges increasing to 3% or a minimum payment of €315. It is estimated that an increase to the employee and employer rates of PRSI to 3% for PRSI Classes B, C and D would yield additional full year revenue of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 696 and 716 together. The Enterprise Support Grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25June 2020 to re-start their business. A once-off grant will be awarded for 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000 covering vouched costs associated with...