Results 7,301-7,320 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Jobseeker claims for people living in County Meath are administered by the Intreo Centre in Navan, our Branch Offices in Trim and Kells, the Intreo Centre in Finglas and in Maynooth. Signing-on for the majority of jobseekers usually occurs no more than once in any 4-week period. Customers can refer tofor useful information on all services provided by the Department and they can also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years.  The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.  Child Benefit is currently paid to almost 623,000 families in respect of nearly 1.2 million children, with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Arts and Culture Capital Scheme Eligibility (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: A pilot initiative to exempt self-employed visual artists and writers from my Departments activation measures was introduced under the Creative Ireland Programme which involved collaboration between my Department and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with the support and advice of the Arts Council.  It was decided after consultation that the pilot would apply to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €57.6 million in 2019 representing an increase of €3.6 million over the previous year.  The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Farm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers.  To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test.  The annual farm assist review form is a necessary part of the normal review process for these customers. Following the Comptroller and Auditor General  examination of the Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Data (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Qualification for treatment benefit (TB), which includes dental, optical and medical appliances (hearing aids), is based on the person having paid the required number of PRSI contributions since starting employment and also having the required number of contributions or credits in the relevant tax year. The number of contributions required to qualify varies with...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Rural Social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen 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 the participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards (TCA2020).  I launched a public consultation on the design of the full TCA to be introduced from 2020 on the 28th of May to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited.  A number of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: In Budget 2019, I announced the introduction of a new social insurance based paid parental benefit scheme which will provide two weeks paid leave to both parents.  The new scheme will be available to parents including those who adopt a child, who are employees or self-employed and who have the required number of PRSI contributions.  This new scheme of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (19 Feb 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 have an entitlement to and are being paid a reduced State pension Contributory under post Budget 2012 rate bands.  Their rate of payment will be reviewed under recently enacted legislation. Last month,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 100 and 104 together. Since late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement on post Budget 2012 rate-bands.  These payments are being reviewed under a new Total...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: In order to qualify for a jobseeker’s payment, a person must satisfy certain conditions including being available for and genuinely seeking work. A recently unemployed person would be regarded as available where they are seeking to become re-employed in their usual employment, provided there is a reasonable prospect of this.  However, if it is the case that there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 108 together. Defined Benefit (DB) schemes are voluntary tri-partite arrangements between employers, employees (or their representatives) and trustees.  Responsibility rests with all the parties for ensuring that the scheme is properly managed and funded to meet the promised level of benefits. Almost all Irish defined benefit pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Local Employment Service (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department commissioned Indecon to complete an independent, evidence–based evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency and of the governance of the Local Employment Services and Job Clubs.  The report was published in January 2019. The key findings of the reports have been noted and any actions taken on foot of this report will help to ensure that my Department continue...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is finalising the new social inclusion strategy with a proposed six year timeframe covering the period 2019 – 2025.  It will have a ‘whole of government’ approach which recognises the shared responsibility across Government to achieve improved outcomes for the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.  The SILC data for 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The processing times for means-tested schemes where available are detailed in the following tabular statement. Scheme Average Time to Award (Weeks) Carer's Allowance  16 Disability Allowance 14 Domiciliary Care Allowance 11 Jobseeker's Allowance 1 One Parent Family Payment 5 State Pension Non Contributory Pension 11 Supplementary Welfare Allowance 1

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, is assessable for means testing purposes.  Specific disregards apply for certain sources of income. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government's position on the recent motion debated in the House on the JobPath service was clearly set out in my contribution at the time.  I note the views of the House on the matter, however, the position of the Government remains unchanged.  My Department has entered into legally binding agreements with the JobPath providers and the Government will honour these...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 103 together. In Budget 2019, I announced a new scheme which will provide a PRSI insurance based benefit to self-employed people who lose employment.  This measure will be introduced later this year and builds on other recent significant improvements for the self-employed such as access to invalidity pension and treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions, age related reduced jobseeker’s allowance (JA) payments for young unemployed people were introduced on a phased basis to tackle high youth unemployment.  Receiving the maximum rate of JA without a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training can lead to long-term welfare dependency from a young age. Under...