Results 61-80 of 25,281 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million. It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Fuel Allowance is payable to people who satisfy the conditions of the scheme and who either live alone or only with certain qualified people. I can confirm that my Department received an application for fuel allowance from the person concerned on 02 February 2024. An information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 19 February 2024 to complete a Household Composition form, to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The Programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the Programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has not provided any grant-aid to Local Authorities in the years in question. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is responsible for the allocation of Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to people, including those who are returning emigrants, who require one to access public services or take up employment or education. The national average processing time to deal with PPSN applications is currently two weeks. While the PPSN application process is relatively straightforward,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions. I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Long-Term Carers Contributions make it easier for a carer to qualify for the State Pension Contributory. Any period in which a carer is registered as providing full time care to an incapacitated person can be included in their social insurance (PRSI) record. Once a carer has reached a minimum of 1040 weeks (20 years) of Long-Term Carers Contributions, these contributions will be included in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Under current legislation, entitlement to a Widows, Widower or Surviving Civil Partnership's Contributory pension (WSCPCP) is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership. My Department notes the judgement given by the Supreme Court on 22 January, with regard to entitlement to an unmarried cohabitant to WSCPCP. The Supreme Court recognises that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the State pension age of 66. The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at age 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a number of schemes that support community groups across the country. While my Department does not have any record of the organisation referred to by the Deputy having previously applied for funding, they may be eligible for supports through programmes that include the Community Services Programme; the LEADER programme; CLÁR; and, the Social Inclusion Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures with over €70 million being approved for almost 2,400 projects...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that there are not any ISDN, PTSN or copper-based leased lines in use by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Breeding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the provision of an extension to Carlow Town Library is a matter for Carlow County Council. As advised in my response to PQ 2613/24 on 23 January 2024, my Department invited...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The 2024 was launched last week with a record investment of €40 million across 2024 and 2025. Under the terms of the Scheme for 2024, eligible road projects are those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791 and 792 together. Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, represents the Irish Government’s blueprint for the development of rural Ireland. It sets out a range of actions for delivery across Government, and sets the strategic framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies. To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €414 million. The attached table sets out the number of applications...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures with over €70 million being approved for almost 2,400 projects throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants including towns identified for...