Results 19,101-19,120 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The sponsors of Belvedere Youth Club (BYC) Community Employment (CE) Scheme were previously in receipt of funding from my Department up to 08/02/2019.  The CE Scheme had experienced ongoing difficulties in filling participant places, having a maximum of 3 participants in situ for a prolonged period of time.   Officials of my Department met with the BYC CE sponsoring board on a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The marriage bar describes a rule that existed in most of the public service, and some private sector employments, where women were required to leave their employment upon marriage.  As it was a rule rather than law, married women could either return to work or take up other work, and many did. Most public servants recruited prior to 1995 are not entitled to the State pension,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has developed and circulated guidelines for civil service organisations (Working from Home during COVID-19 – Guidance for Civil Service Organisations), which is intended to assist civil service organisations as long as necessary to address the health and safety risks of COVID-19 and has also commenced work on the development of a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (30 Jun 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). Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process.  This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Employment (CE) programme is a community centred labour market initiative established to help long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable groups to enter the workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment.  Under the CE Programme projects must not displace employment opportunities in the open labour market and, as such, the range of services delivered by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children.  The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.  The programme is an important...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, as part of the overall response of the Department to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, continues to engage with a range of organisations including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, in relation to the income support needs of all families during the ongoing crisis. My Department provides financial supports to families and their children through the Increase for a Qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (30 Jun 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. Where a carer is in receipt of a social welfare payment (other than jobseeker payments or supplementary welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.  This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Bereavement Care (30 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A claim for assistance with funeral expenses under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme is treated as a claim for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP).  An ENP is made at the discretion of the designated officer on the basis of the circumstances of each case and in line with governing guidelines. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned submitted an...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Inspections (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that the first half of 2020 has been marked significantly by the Covid-19 crisis.  For a period from late March until May, while investigations and associated work continued, very few inspectors were carrying out routine inspections in the normal way, due the measures taken to contain the spread of the virus.  Over the last few weeks the inspectors of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Authority (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 405, 434 and 444 together. The national Return to Work Safely Protocol should be used by all workplaces, including restaurants, cafés and pubs in due course, to adapt their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the Covid-19 related public health protection measures identified as necessary by the HSE and the Department of Health....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has introduced a wide range of supports for businesses as the current crisis has evolved.  It is important to note that many businesses are not yet open or may be availing of forbearance measures from their banks. I am satisfied that micro and SME businesses across the economy are increasingly availing of the supports available as our economy and society reopen...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance with Ireland’s employment, equality and industrial relations legislation. It is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department.  The WRC’s core services include the provision of early resolution, mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services, adjudication on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The national Return to Work Safely Protocol can be used by all workplaces to adapt their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the Covid-19 related public health protection measures identified as necessary by the HSE and the Department of Health.  It is operating in parallel with existing workplace health and safety statutory requirements. The Protocol sets out in very...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The IDA’s performance for 2019 has shown that Ireland continued to perform very strongly in terms of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). By the end of last year, total employment in the Agency's client companies stood at over 245,000. Every region in Ireland has seen FDI-driven employment gains and there are now over 138,000 people employed across 724 firms in IDA...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. The launch of the €250m Restart Grant by Government on the 22 May last is an example of how I am...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all businesses and this includes the private trade credit insurance market. As a result of the significant economic shock, there is increased uncertainty regarding the financial performance of many companies in our economy. I understand that the trade credit insurance companies have had to adjust their coverage in response to this...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: To apply for GradStart a company needs to be a client of either Enterprise Ireland (EI), the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) or Údarás na Gaeltachta. Applications from EI clients are processed by that agency, LEO clients by their Local Enterprise office and Údarás clients would apply directly to Údarás na Gaeltachta. There is not requirement in the terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The unprecedented circumstances of the COVID19 global pandemic has resulted in a swiftly evolving landscape for enterprises. The Government has and will continue to use all available tools at its disposal to support businesses and ensure their survival. In that context, I will keep the supports provided under review and continue to support enterprises as they work through the challenges...