Results 41-60 of 20,443 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The introduction of an automatic enrolment (AE) retirement savings system is a Programme for Government commitment and a key priority for me as Minister for Social Protection. Implementation of the AE system is well underway, with the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 now having completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and a tender process to contract for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (14 May 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, covering...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (14 May 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: Departmental Data (14 May 2024)

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. In order to qualify, applicants must show that they are habitually resident in the State, that their means are less...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The following bodies operate under the aegis of my Department; The Citizens Information Board, The Pensions Authority, The Pensions Council and The Social Welfare Tribunal. There are no cases relating to the above bodies currently before Scope Section of the Department of Social Protection, for investigation or determination. Scope Section did not make any employment misclassification...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 March...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (14 May 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. A disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a 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: Gender Recognition (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Section 9 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 sets out the conditions which a person is required to meet in order to qualify for a gender recognition certificate. The applicant must meet one of the following three qualifying criteria; Their birth or adoption is registered in the State, They have become an Irish citizen by having their birth registered in the Foreign Births Register...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available to them. Public information campaigns, including advertising in print media, are an important part of this work. The costs of print media advertising for my Department for each of the years 2020 to date is outlined below in tabular form....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Sites (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Whilst the Department of Rural and Community Development does not have a specific remit to address retail vacancy or dereliction, many of the policies and schemes led by the Department contribute to the broader economic revitalisation of rural towns. The Town Centre First Policy, for example, is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since its launch in 2016, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects supporting towns and villages across the country. At the end of April I was delighted to confirm details of the 82 projects that were successful in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Community centres are a vital resource for any community. They are where we go for community activities and events, and for social supports and social interaction. They are home to many of our cultural and sporting clubs. They are also where communities come together in times of difficulty and in times of celebration. I have prioritised the development and enhancement of community centres...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department operates a range of programmes and schemes that support economic and community development throughout the country, including communities on the Beara Peninsula. The targeted investments and supports which my Department provides to regional, rural and local communities through a wide range of initiatives promote social inclusion, rural, town and village regeneration, outdoor...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Sites (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town Centre First Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland. Last February, I launched a new suite of supports which is providing €4.5 million to support broader efforts to regenerate town centres through a bottom-up...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future (ORF) vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development. The Town Centre First National Office is key to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 692 and 693 together. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In furtherance of this, my Department drafts policies and manages strategic interventions and funding programmes that support economic, social and cultural development in both urban and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There have been no cases to date of bogus self-employment in my Department before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection. There are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. These are Pobal, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulator. Similarly, none of these bodies have any cases that are before the SCOPE section of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department uses media buying agencies for purchasing newspaper advertising. The specific amount allocated to each outlet is determined based on the objectives of the relevant media campaign and agreement on the appropriate mix of national and local coverage. The total amount spent on newspaper advertising by my Department for each of the years 2019 to the present date is detailed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 29, 32, 35 and 36 together. The outdoor recreation sector presents huge opportunities for us here in Ireland and I have put in place a range of initiatives to help us drive the sector forward. I launched Ireland’s first ever National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, in November 2022. It provides a strategic,...