Results 4,201-4,220 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Programmes Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested is not readily available and is currently being compiled by my Department. The information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy will be aware that in view of the recent severity weather conditions, I announced that all people in receipt of the fuel allowance would receive an extra payment of €22.50. The fuel allowance is a payment payable at €22.50 per week for 27 weeks (a total of €607.50) from October to April, to over 368,000 low income households. I believe that increasing this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: In order to pay self employed PRSI contributions an individual must make an annual return of income to the Revenue Commissioners under the self-assessment system and must have earnings in excess of the threshold applicable in the relevant year. In the case of the person concerned, he filed the relevant returns and paid preliminary tax in respect of the years concerned; 2002 and 2004. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: 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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 6 September 2017. The evidence submitted in support of this application was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: New Communities Unit (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The New Communities Unit (NCU) of the Department of Social Protection offers assistance to families who are primarily non-Irish, homeless and generally without recourse to any weekly income. With regard to the numbers of homeless non-Irish citizens from the European Economic Area or a country outside Europe that have been seen by the new communities unit by month since January 2015, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Tús is one of a range of supports provided by my Department to cater for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. It provides part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment. However, it is important to note that these placements are not full-time sustainable jobs and are designed to break the cycle of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of state pension (contributory). The person was also awarded an increase for qualified adult in respect of their spouse from December 2008 to August 2016. Increase for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, based on the means of the qualified adult themselves. A person’s...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Reviews (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Section 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 provides for the Minister to undertake a review of the Act. The Deputy may be aware that, in November 2017, I established a group to review the operation of the Gender Recognition Review Act 2015. The group is chaired by Moninne Griffith, Executive Director of BeLonG To, the national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 28 February 2018. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The social insurance system currently provides recognition of the contribution of recipients of carer’s allowance and full-time carers generally, through the system of credited contributions and the homemaker’s scheme. Credited contributions (credits) are awarded to recipients of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: This case is being reviewed by my department and a response will issue directly to the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Development Plan Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: There are two projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 that come under my Department's remit. These are additional ICT modernisation and the refurbishment of my Department’s Áras Mhic Dhiarmada building. In relation to ICT modernisation, my Department continues to invest in projects to modernise its business systems and ICT infrastructure. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The first publication of the Labour Force Survey which replaces the Quarterly National Household Survey (QHNS) was released on 16, January 2018 and is the official measure of unemployment. The most recent data shows that youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31% in 2012 to 12.2% in Q4 2017. Overall youth unemployment has fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 to well below the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer has completed a review of his original decision which allowed the appeal of the person concerned regarding a decision of the Department of 16 September 2016 in relation to their Jobseeker’s Allowance. The effect of that original decision was that the revised means would not be assessed retrospectively for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Tús is a community work placement initiative aimed at providing short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 12 months. The scheme is delivered through Implementing Bodies (IBs), comprising 47 Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: During the Second Stage debate on the Bill, many Deputies expressed the view in relation to the banded hours provision, that the 18 month look back reference period is too long. I indicated that I would consider these matters in the context of possible Committee Stage amendments. There are a few issues that need to be considered. There will be an administrative burden on employers in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: During the Second Stage debate on the Bill, some Deputies expressed the view that the bands are too wide in the Banded Hours provision. I indicated that I would consider this matter in the context of possible Committee Stage amendments once the bands allow a reasonable degree of flexibility. In relation to the width of the bands, it was clear from the public consultation and from the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Organisation of Working Time Act was enacted in 1997. Section 18 refers to ‘work of a casual nature’ but does not define it. This has not led to a regulatory problem of employers incorrectly categorising employees as ‘casual’ in the 20 years since enactment. I do not believe that all casual or flexible working arrangements are wrong and should be stopped...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made an application for jobseekers allowance with effect from 21/2/18. The person concerned subsequently submitted a doctor’s note covering the period 22/2/18 to 22/3/18. During this period the person concerned will not qualify for a jobseekers allowance payment as he does not satisfy the qualifying criteria. The person concerned should contact the local Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (21 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a personal rate jobseeker's allowance, an adult dependent allowance and a child dependent allowance. Entitlement to the adult dependent allowance is currently under review by an officer of the Department following notification of a change in circumstances. If there is a revised decision the person concerned will be notified in writing. I...