Results 141-160 of 16,690 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I always outlined how, to keep the pension age at 66, we would have to increase PRSI. These are small incremental increases of approximately 90 cent per week for the average industrial wage. They will start in October. We are giving certainty for the next five years and I think that is fair. In five years’ time there will be a review. There are always reviews of the SIF and future...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I do not know if we have the data regarding their means. The point of this pay-related benefit is that people are better off. That is the whole purpose of it. It is not our intention to try to reduce anybody's payment. That is not the intention behind this. However, as the Deputy said, there may be some who may fall each side of the band. We can look at this as they present. I am not...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...through the Dáil. If I can get it through before the recess well and good. It sounds straightforward but it is actually complex enough. It is on foot of the Supreme Court judgment that we are bringing it forward. We will get it to the committee as soon as we can.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...of qualifying cohabitant contained in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. That Act was referred to in the Supreme Court judgment. Therefore, we are working along the lines of that Act in terms of-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: .... In fairness to the officials, however, they have done a lot of work on this. We will hopefully be able to allay most of the concerns people will have. We put a fair bit into it because there are a number of different scenarios. We tried to look at how we can do this.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...measure will rise to approximately €500 million extra by 2030. However, it is important to note that this figure is based on current 2024 rates of payment, and would obviously be considerably higher if there are any increases in the rates of payment between now and then. These high-level estimates are based on net costs for future State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...s payment is paid for days of unemployment where a person is not in receipt of holiday pay from their employer for those days and where they also satisfy the conditions of the scheme. Educational sector workers, who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of income supports for people who are parenting alone including the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a means-tested payment. A person may qualify for this payment if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Disability Allowance 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, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions. As previously advised to the Deputy, the financial position of the person concerned had been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...social insurance record. A statement of state pension non-contributory payments has been issued to each of the persons concerned, in respect of the year ending 31 December 2023. Social welfare payment statements are also available on-line and may be requested at www.mywelfare.ie I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Financial Resolution (12 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...) be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution to provide that amounts to be paid on foot of jobseeker's pay-related benefit under the Social Welfare Acts are to be deemed to be earned income for the purpose of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and subject to taxation in accordance with section 126 of that Act.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...a management board meeting that took place earlier this morning where I raised the very same issue the Deputy has raised with me. The answer is that I will have the report very shortly. I am happy to share it with him. He has brought forward a number of suggestions to me and I have asked that they would be included. I know it is something on which the Deputy and I are very much of like...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (12 Jun 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 Appeals Officer dealing with this appeal held an oral hearing in January 2024 at which the appellant attended along with her...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Development since 27 June 2020. I would note that, while my Department engages extensively at European level with regard to EU programmes and on policy issues of relevance to the Department, there are no formal or informal Council formations relating to rural and community development.

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

Heather Humphreys: ...situation with regard to restricted breeds, in light of the recent tragic incident in Limerick, at the outset I wish to extend my sympathy to the family and friends of Nicole Morey. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time. My thoughts are also with those who were injured and hospitalised in Cork last week following a further horrific dog attack. Last year,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: To be fair, we have made changes. We have the long-term carer's contribution scheme. That will make it easier for long-term carers of an incapacitated person or people to qualify for the State pension. If someone has been caring for somebody for 20 years or more, the credits will be allowed towards their pension. I think that is an improvement. There are the family caring periods. There...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...on that. I have brought in many improvements to the pension system. I have kept the pension age at 66 and allowed the flexibility for people to work to 70. They can build up those credits if they are short, so they can get a minimum pension and the pension for long-term carers, which is important. Many people have applied for that. I am delighted because there are many long-term...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...I have been absolutely committed to the school meals programme since I came into the Department. I am delighted the roll-out will soon be finished in primary schools. I always felt that teenagers are probably slightly better able to fend for themselves than the younger children in primary school. That is why I wanted to start with primary schools. I hope the provision will eventually...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...payment in December, a cost-of-living bonus payment in January and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments. The free travel scheme is being extended to people who are medically unfit to drive. In addition, the Taoiseach has placed a major emphasis on improving supports and services for people with disabilities in all aspects of their lives. He...

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...