Results 181-200 of 791 for 5 million speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (1 Mar 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (24 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...each year as part of the annual budgetary process, and I will as always take these views on board. The social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the highest in 14 years and meant that some 1.4 million people, including over 700,000 pensioners, received a €5 increase in weekly payments, and more if they have dependents. In addition to improvements in core social welfare rates,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (22 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the highest in 14 years and meant that some 1.4 million people, including over 700,000 pensioners, received a €5 increase in weekly payments, and more if they have dependents. In addition to improvements in core social welfare rates, there were a number of targeted measures designed to support those most vulnerable to poverty, including...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the county. A new capital fund for the upgrade of community centres was referred to in the national development plan and an indicative budget of €5 million has been secured for this under budget 2022. It is envisaged that this capital fund will support the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community buildings in urban and rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (17 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 349, inclusive, and 351 together. A vital part my Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities. In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...is no limit on it. People get it as they need it. It provides once-off and regular support to those on low incomes having difficulty meeting household costs. In 2021, the Department paid €42.7 million in urgent and exceptional needs payments in respect of 55,000 claims. Approximately 92,200 payments were made in 2019 and 67,600 payments were made in 2020. It is there and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (15 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In Budget 2022, I was pleased to announce a number of reforms to the Fuel Allowance scheme including an increase in the weekly rate by €5 to €33, and a €20 increase in the weekly income means threshold with both measures implemented with effect from budget night. It is estimated that around 400,000 households will benefit from the Fuel Allowance payment in 2022. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...gas allowance and the free television licence, and is just one of a range of supports my Department provides to assist people with their fuel costs. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on household benefits, supporting more than 484,000 households. As part of the overall welfare budget package of €600 million in increases that I secured for 2022, I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 62 together. The social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the highest in 14 years with approximately 1.4 million people receiving a €5 increase in weekly payments. In addition to improvements in core social welfare rates, the Budget package included a number of targeted measures. This focused approach to supporting those in greatest need is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Artists' Remuneration (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...own employment ambitions, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, a 50% taper on earnings between €140 and €350 is also applied, i.e., 50% of earnings in this band are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earnings above €350 are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 over a full fuel season) from October to April, to 375,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...Department's functions are delivered across three programme areas, namely, rural development including the islands; community development; and charities regulation. Gross expenditure of €378.6 million is budgeted for 2022, which consists of €186.6 million in current expenditure and €192 million in capital expenditure. My Department also has a capital carry-over of...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...rolled out through the local community development committees, LCDCs. The pandemic has shown us the need for more investment in community facilities. The Department has secured an additional €5 million for the community enhancement programme subhead. I am looking at using some of the capital carry-forward from 2021 for this purpose also. I do not have a huge amount of money...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (1 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB. In 2022 the estimated cost of the gas and electricity element of the package is €203 million and will benefit over 476,000 households. The gas and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...(HHB) is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB. It consists of the gas / electricity element of the package (€35 a month) and the free TV licence element. The Fuel Allowance which was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (1 Feb 2022)

Heather Humphreys: ...is paid for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution and other conditions. In Budget 2022 I provided for an increase of €5 in the weekly payment rate. As a result, the rate of Maternity Benefit now stands at €250 per week. The rate of Maternity Benefit is in line with the rates of Paternity Benefit,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (27 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 over a full fuel season) from October to April, to 375,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €323 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Budgets (25 Jan 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Budget 2022, I announced a €5 increase to all weekly social welfare payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment, at a cost of €375 million. The full €5 increase applies to young people in receipt of an age-related reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance. As a result, from January 2022, the rate of payment for...