Results 3,601-3,620 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 586 together. The acronym SAFE stands for ‘Standard Authentication Framework Environment’. It is a standards-based framework for establishing and verifying an individual’s identity for the purposes of accessing public services. This SAFE standard has four levels – SAFE 0 = No assurance of identity SAFE 1 = Balance of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 4 January 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has modified insurance contributions from previous public service employment. Information regarding the person’s pre-1979 contribution record was initially requested from their employer on 24 October 2017 and again on 20 December 2017. A further request for this contribution history has issued on 19 January 2018. Pending receipt of complete information on their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 1 September 2017. The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 December 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: An application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) was received from the person concerned and has been processed by the Designated Person. A letter, outlining the decision of the Designated Person to refuse the application for an ENP and the basis for that decision, has issued to the person concerned. They have also been advised of their right to an independent review of the decision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 27 October 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was awarded the state pension (contributory), together with the increase for living alone, with effect from 16 December 2017, their 66thbirthday. They were notified in writing of this decision on 30 November 2017. The person concerned was in receipt of Disability Allowance with fuel allowance and increase for living alone prior to reaching pension age. They received a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement. Recipients of principal social welfare payments and the number of qualified child increases in payment at the end of December 2017. - Qualified Children Increases Type of Payment Recipients Full Rate Half Rate(1) Other Children State Pension (Non-Contributory) 95,140 3,212 473 State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Further to receipt of an application for Rent Supplement by the person concerned on 4/1/18, the Department requested further documentation which still remains outstanding. On receipt of outstanding documentation, entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed for the period of the tenancy. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Department continually keeps all of its services under review to ensure that they are delivered to the customer in the most effective and efficient manner. There are currently no plans to change the level of services in Dunboyne, Co Meath. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Low Pay Commission, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Neither my Department nor any of the statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department have contracts with the company in question.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 September 2017. The application was awarded to the person concerned on 12 January 2018 with effect from 3 November 2016. The first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 18 January 2018. Arrears of allowance due from 3 November 2016 to 17 January 2018 will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Property Tax Administration (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Local Property Tax is now deducted over 50 calendar weeks, rather than 52. This change was necessary as a safeguard to afford customers the full benefit of the Christmas bonus and the double week payments and ensures that these additional payments are not absorbed by an automatic Local Property Tax deduction. It was also necessary to ensure that customer’s deductions would not reduce...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together. The costings sought by Deputy O’Dea are detailed in the following tables. Table 1: Full year cost of varying amounts in all weekly social insurance payments Scheme €5 increase €10 increase €15 increase €20 increase €25 increase €m €m €m €m €m Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Data (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Maternity Benefit is paid by my Department and is based on payment of PRSI contributions while working. The current entitlement to paid maternity leave is 26 weeks. The following table estimates the cost of increasing the duration for which maternity benefit is paid by one to six weeks. These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Paternity Benefit (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which was enacted in July 2016 introduced a new scheme of paternity leave and an associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit from the 1st September 2016. Since the commencement of the scheme on 1 September 2016, 32,784 paternity benefit claims have been awarded to 31 December 2017. The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: My Department provides a range of income supports for carers including carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant. The financial supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Carer’s allowance (CA) is a primary income support and its means test is one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has made an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA); however, it appears that they are still in receipt of payments from another jurisdiction. The Designated Person has requested that they contact the relevant authorities to close these claims and therefore allow their SWA claim to be processed. I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Remuneration (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I can confirm that once I was made aware of the overpayment of €17,551.25 referred to an arrangement was put in place to repay it at the rate of €1,000 per month, commencing on 5th October 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Self-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment...