Results 7,021-7,040 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (23 Jan 2019)

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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 23 October 2018. The application is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: Since the end of September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of pensioners born on or after 1 September 1946 who were awarded state pension (contributory) on reduced post Budget 2012 rate bands.  Information letters were issued to these pensioners explaining that my Department will contact them again to either inform them about the outcome...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: Social insurance for self-employed persons was introduced from April 1988.  Social welfare legislation provides that where a person who became a self-employed contributor on the 6th April, 1988 and who at any time prior to that date was an employed contributor, the date on which the person first entered into insurance (or the 6 April 1988 if more favourable to them) shall...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. Rent supplement continues its vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 24,300 recipients for which the Government has provided  €132.4 million for 2019. End of year statistics for rent supplement recipients and expenditure for the years 2011 to 2019 and the projected cost for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Brexit Staff (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department’s EU and International section (including Irish-UK Relations) has responsibility for the Department’s response to Brexit.  As part of the Department’s planning for dealing with the UK’s departure the team was expanded by  two senior managers who led the programme of work necessary to ensure that the reciprocity of social welfare rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (23 Jan 2019)

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 increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 14 November 2018 in respect of two care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18th October 2018.   It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection  These...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Employment Schemes Review (23 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank Senator Murnane O'Connor for giving me the opportunity to respond. If thee Cathaoirleach will indulge me, I wish to welcome the pupils from St. Paul's national school in my home village of Ratoath who are in the Visitors Gallery. I welcome them to democracy in action. The Senator will be aware that the Department operates a number of employment support programmes which have a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: In October 2017, the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) initiated an investigation to assess the legal basis for the processing of data in connection with the Public Services Card (PSC) and other related matters.  The DPC provided a draft report on the PSC to my Department in late August 2018.The draft report requested further information and clarifications on a broad range of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: Since the end of September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of pensioners born on or after 1 September 1946 who were awarded state pension (contributory) on reduced post Budget 2012 rate bands.   This work includes all new claimants who were awarded reduced rate state pension (contributory) since the Government decision.  The required...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.  My Department will spend approximately €248 million this year on HHB for over 443,000 customers. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Data (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: During 2018 my Department received 20,122 claims in respect of carer's allowance, it rejected 9,291 claims which did not satisfy the eligibility criteria. The figures provided for appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant relate to appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer, or which were resolved by way of a revised decision in favour of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The table attached provides the appeal processing times for schemes in 2018 broken down by weeks spent in the Social Welfare Appeals Office, the Department and with the appellant. The time taken to process an appeal reflects all aspects of the appeal process including the time spent in the Department reviewing the decision in light of the appeal contentions and/or preparing the appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 January 2019.  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: Dental Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The scheme provides for a contribution towards the cost of a scale and polish or periodontal treatment, in addition to the free annual examination. If the person concerned is the holder of a Medical Card, they should contact their local HSE office which will advise on entitlements under the HSE scheme.   I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (24 Jan 2019)

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. It is a condition for receipt of CA that the means of the person concerned must be less than the statutory limit. Means are any income of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: My key area of interest is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.    Last April I met with the then UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Honourable Esther McVey.  We agreed on our objective in ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Eligibility (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen / women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (24 Jan 2019)

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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 13 November 2018. The application was awarded to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (24 Jan 2019)

Regina Doherty: Rent supplement continues its vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 24,300 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019. End of year statistics for rent supplement recipients and expenditure for the years 2016 to 2018 are provided in the following tabular statement. The strategic goal of returning rent...