The Government has announced that the back-to-school allowance is to increase by 100 euros per child, as part of a 67 million euro package announced to help with the cost-of-living crisis. The €67 million package includes €50 million for Social Welfare Measures and an additional €17 million for Education Measures. The announcement was made by … Read more
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced the awarding of a new €4.9 million air service contract for the Aran Islands (Oileáin Árainn). The Aran Islands are set to benefit from a new €4.9 million air service contract which will last until 2026. For the first time, the contract ensures the provision … Read more
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has announced a revamp of the Treatment Benefit Scheme, which will benefit almost 80,000 young people aged 25-28 years old. To date, this cohort has had to be in employment for five years to qualify for State supports for dental, optical and aural treatments. From today, this period … Read more
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has announced that the extra Fuel Allowance Payment will be paid this week, commencing 16th May. In all, over 371,000 households will benefit from the €100 payment. This is equivalent to over 3 weeks of Fuel Allowance for these households. The Government approved the additional lump sum payment … Read more
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announced additional funding under the Dormant Accounts funded Awareness Raising Initiative for Social Enterprise (ARISE) Scheme. Grants totaling €526,000 are being provided to social enterprises, social enterprise networks, and support organisations to carry out a range of awareness-raising initiatives. Social Enterprises create jobs in rural areas and … Read more
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys has doubled the period of time for which Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer’s Allowance are paid for children who are hospitalised. The support will continue to be paid for 26 weeks, as opposed to the previous 13-week period, to the parents or guardians of children under 16 who are … Read more
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced a new €15 million capital fund to support community groups for the upgrade and refurbishment of Community Centres. This is an investment in both rural and urban communities across the country.The Community Centres Investment Fund will support community groups with the upgrade and development … Read more
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has announced that the €125 once-off Fuel Allowance payment will be paid to 372,000 households from today. The payment, on top of regular Fuel Allowance, was agreed as part of the government’s €505 million packages aimed at mitigating the effects of rising energy costs. Households will receive the payment … Read more
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced the launch of the 2022 CLÁR programme. CLÁR provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline. Community Groups are encouraged to consider applying for funding for projects such as the provision of … Read more
The jobseekers will have to collect their allowances from post offices like before as the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced the change today and it initially apply to all new jobseeker applicants, before being extended to other jobseekers over the coming months. According to the Minister, the change … Read more
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced €21.5 million for 27 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country. The funding, under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), is being invested in projects that will rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones … Read more