Results 5,361-5,380 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1198 to 1200, inclusive, and 1228 and 1254 together. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The Government has provided €49.5 million for the scheme in 2018. The payment rates...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: Ireland's ratification of the ILO Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers (the Domestic Workers Convention) in 2014 did not require any changes to our domestic legislation, as the existing body of employment rights legislation was fully compliant with the Convention.  Therefore, ratification did not change anything in existing employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Job Losses (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I understand that the company in question has indicated it will phase out its operations in Sligo over the next few years.  It has indicated that there will be no job losses this year and that the majority of its workers will remain in employment until 2020.  Nevertheless, my Department has already taken steps to contact the company with a view to advising its workers of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th July 2018.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has partially allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.  The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a carer's allowance appeal was registered in that office on 21st May 2018.It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: This application is currently being processed by my Department. In this regard, the Deciding Officer dealing with the claim recently wrote to the person concerned seeking further details of her employment and of the level of care she provides. Once this information is received, the Deciding Officer will notify the customer of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Designated Officer has not received an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) from the person concerned to date. If the person concerned wishes to make an application they should contact their nearest Community Welfare Services (CWS) where they will be provided with an application form. Alternatively, they can contact the CWS...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Communications (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that a Member of the Houses of Oireachtas or their nominated assistant(s) may still discuss a query in relation to an individual with officials of this Department on the implicit understanding that the constituent has asked the Member to make enquiries on their behalf. Section 40 of the Data Protection Act 2018 facilitates the processing of personal data and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The self-employed have been obliged to pay social insurance since 1988. One of the eligibility requirements for the State Pension (contributory) is that a person's first paid social insurance contribution should be 10 years before they reach state pension age. As such, self-employed people who were over the age of 55 in 1988 could not meet that requirement, and did not qualify for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: On 23 January last, this Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated on a Total Contributions basis, including provision for up to 20 years of a new home caring credit. Legislation has to be drafted and enacted to enable implementation of these arrangements, and a number of options...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: Qualification for Treatment Benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions. The person concerned would need to have paid 260 PRSI contributions at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited at these classes, in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based. In 2018, this is the 2016 tax year. If the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1218, 1233 and 1269 together. Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. Credits are awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness, and their purpose is to help protect the social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned.  The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is an approach to employment activation which caters mainly for people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) to assist them to secure and sustain full-time paid employment or self-employment. The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Jobseekers Allowance payment of €107.70 p.w. and she has been selected for participation on JobPath. In North Kildare the JobPath...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement. I note that this information is published in Open Data format in my Department's Annual Statistics Report, available at .County breakdowns for all Social Welfare benefits are available from 2005 on an annual basis, and from 2016 on a monthly basis. I also note that Respite Care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy is referring to a change in the Finance Act 2013 which provided that the release/forgiveness of a debt relating to land, which is held as trading stock is regarded as (notional) income for tax purposes. The debt forgiveness is regarded as “reckonable income” for PRSI purposes and is liable to PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%. This provision only applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (7 Sep 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 7 June 2018. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities.  The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. Participation on CE is intended to be for a...