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Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (12 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024 I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of...

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Senators Erin McGreehan, Micheál Carrigy, Malcolm Byrne and Aisling Dolan for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill. As Senator McGreehan said, I am pleased to inform the House that the Government is not opposing the Bill. While I realise this Bill does not relate directly to the situation with regard to restricted breeds, in light of the recent tragic incident...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy knows, the cost of disability crosses the remit of a number of Departments, encompassing transport, housing adaptation grants and access to services, including healthcare. Income supports are only part of the solution. The disability groups were not happy with the Green Paper. We have to go back to the drawing board, which we are doing by way of the Cabinet committee. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Meals Programme (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: We wrote a second time to the approximately 1,000 schools that did not respond to us in the first call. Some 600 have come back and we will work with them. We will continue to approach the remaining schools. Obviously, I will need to secure more money in the budget this year to complete the roll-out of the programme. My plan is that all primary school children will have access to a hot...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...pay-related jobseeker's benefit is a major reform of how we support jobseekers in Ireland and will bring us in line with our European neighbours. Pay-related benefit will provide a greater support to people who lose their jobs and find themselves in the position of dealing with that income shock while continuing to meet their financial commitments. We all know that this can be a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Applicants must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance and Blind Pension. Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme paid from...

Seanad: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (28 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It is a pleasure to be able to bring this Bill before Seanad Éireann. I have been very encouraged by the support it has received from across the political spectrum and from stakeholders. Auto-enrolment, AE, has been talked about for more than 25 years in this country. There was a major straw man public consultation on it in 2018. This was followed by a series of Government decisions...

Seanad: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (28 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I will address the issues that have been raised in the time I have. Senator Burke asked about a review of the Bill. Section 43 provides for a detailed review every five years. He and Senator McDowell both raised the issue of the cost to employers. This scheme will be brought in gradually over ten years and the 6% will not kick in until ten...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policies (28 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year. The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together. My Department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability, including COVID-19 and long COVID. Eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Systems Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge the amendments tabled by Deputy Ó Laoghaire, but the auto-enrolment scheme will not be invested in through private pension providers. That will not happen. It will be invested in through investment providers in the same way the NTMA invests the State's money. This will involve the savings of members of the scheme. It is set up in such a way as to protect members. It is...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Systems Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge that Deputy Sherlock only has the best of intentions with amendment No. 22, but I am afraid that, as on Committee Stage, I am unable to accept it. While this amendment might seem like a straightforward proposal and I accept the Deputy's bona fides in tabling it, a range of complexities mean it will require time to determine the appropriate standards that should apply in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (21 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for the development of community gardens is available under a number of my Department's funding programmes. The extent to which the proposal referred to by the Deputy is eligible under each programme will depend on the nature of the activity to be funded. The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department administers more than 90 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. We are fully committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the welfare supports and services available, and to promoting social security as an investment. My Department actively works to encourage take up of benefits and entitlements by promoting...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: .... The protection of civilians must be paramount. It is an obligation under international humanitarian law. Accountability for civilian deaths is essential. Ireland calls for de-escalation by all actors in the region. Regional de-escalation and the protection of civilians and aid workers must remain the priority. We need an immediate and durable ceasefire now, and sustained and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I agree. I go through towns, see vacant and derelict buildings and ask why we are not doing something with these. They are a resource now because they are serviced, they have electricity, sewerage and water. We have been doing a lot of work with local authorities trying to get more people back living in the centre of towns. I am a great supporter of that because I believe there are huge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I have no doubt it is a good community. I will tell the Deputy a story. I was talking to a fellow one day and he asked me: “How come we got no money? How come we did not get any grant?” I asked if they had put in an application and he said “No.” I said that if you do not put in an application, it is not going to fall out of the sky. I appreciate there is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition is a unique volunteer-led programme that makes a hugely positive contribution in communities across Ireland. Ahead of the competition launch each year, officials in my Department meet with SuperValu, the main sponsor of the competition, and with our highly skilled and competent panel of adjudicators. My Department's role is to facilitate the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...grants are successful and popular and have been on the go for a long time, but we had no dedicated fund for community centres. During Covid, we saw how they did not have the same opportunities to raise money. Like a house, if you do not keep doing bits every year, it starts to fall into disrepair. It was important that we be able to provide some assistance. We all know the value of...