Results 1,901-1,920 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

One-Parent Family Payment Scheme: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will finish now. To qualify for the dividend a person does not have to increase his or her hours nor does he or she have to take up a new job.

One-Parent Family Payment Scheme: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: In cases where customers lose financially and are having difficulty increasing their hours, my Department will work with them to offer every possible assistance.

One-Parent Family Payment Scheme: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I support the Government amendment. It is important to remember that in 2011, Ireland was in the midst of an economic recession unprecedented in our history. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien made an offer to Deputy Joe Costello, who has left the House, but I would take him up on his offer if he wants to come canvassing with me in the next general election. I would be happy to explain to people that...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: It is being passed out at the moment.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Registration Legislation (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The solemnisation of marriages in the State is governed by the Civil Registration Act 2004. The parties to an intended marriage are required to give three months’ notice of their intention to marry. The couple provide evidence to the registrar relating to their identity and capacity to marry, and make declarations that there is no impediment to the proposed marriage. The fact that a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am informed by SOLAS that the first-year weekly wages of apprentices vary between €195 and €323, depending on the particular craft involved and the sector of the employment. These rates generally rise substantially in the second year of apprenticeship. The most recent statistics show that there are some 38,200 persons aged 25 or younger on jobseeker’s allowance....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Measures (1 Jul 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted on 4th December 2014. The Act contains a wide range of provisions and these will be put into operation on the basis of an implementation plan involving both procedural and system changes. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible in order that the various provisions of the Act can be commenced. There had been some...

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The report to which he referred was published this morning. I compliment him on tabling a Topical Issue matter on the report so quickly.

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, supporting approximately 67,000 people, of whom 6,400 have been awarded in 2015, at a total cost of €298 million. More than 2,400 people are in receipt of the new housing assistance payment, HAP, administered by the local authorities. Today's report from the Simon Community entitled, Locked out of the Market: The...

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As the Deputy knows, the HAP is dealt with by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. I understand there has been flexibility under that scheme regarding the homeless. I may be wrong and will ask the Minister to contact the Deputy about it. The Minister is to bring proposals on rent certainty to the Cabinet before the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: When Community Employment (CE) was originally set up in 1994, the rationale for having local sponsor groups employ the CE participants was to give these community groups valuable experience of establishing themselves as an employer, paying wages, making Revenue returns, etc., so that this experience could be re-used in the future for setting up other local initiatives and possibly local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rent supplement plays a vital role in supporting 68,000 families and individuals at a cost of €298 million. Over 5,600 rent supplement claims have been awarded in 2015. The Department’s recent review of rent limits points out that the main cause of difficulty for persons renting and seeking to rent is the reduced availability of affordable private rented accommodation. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Funding (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Community Employment (CE) programme is delivered through sponsoring organisations approved by the Department primarily from the community and voluntary sector. These organisations contract with the Department to provide work experience and training opportunities on an annual basis for jobseekers and other qualifying adults. The sponsoring committee members act on a voluntary basis....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Cessation (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: My understanding is that the scheme referred to by the Deputy is the community involvement scheme which is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The community employment programme plays no role in the upkeep of local or other roads.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (30 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that CE supervisors are the employees of private companies. In the circumstances, it is not possible for the State to take over responsibility for funding occupational pension arrangements for employees of private companies, even where those companies are reliant on State funding. This position was confirmed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER)...

Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy is talking down the clock.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (25 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 63 and 64 together. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit long-term unemployed persons from the live register. In the first 5 months of this year, the Department made payments of €8.25 million to almost 3,600 employers in respect of 4,900 employees. Two levels of payment are provided - €7,500...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (25 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: At the end of May 2015, there were 1,423 Community Employment (CE) participants taking part in the dedicated childcare training programme at FETAC Level 5 (Early Childhood Care and Education). The process is not yet completed in the Dublin area. This dedicated training programme is aimed at CE participants who are working directly with children. Overall, it has resulted in a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (25 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. Gateway is a local authority work placement initiative that aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants benefit by being involved in work, work readiness is improved and they are able to apply their existing skills and learn new ones. The scheme is also intended to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (25 Jun 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €44.3 million for this scheme in 2015. In 2014, BSCFA payments were made to over 166,000 families in respect of over 304,400 children at a cost of €42.5 million....