Results 9,321-9,340 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I used the word "agreed" as a means of explaining that a person will not be expected to sign a personal progression plan if he or she does not agree with the contents of the plan. I think the Senator was suggesting that some people might be encouraged, coerced or forced to sign personal progression plans, or that some penalty might be imposed thereafter in the event of someone failing to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Is the amendment being moved or withdrawn?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The first point I would make is that there was always a plan in the national childcare scheme to have a paper alternative. It is not new. It is there since the scheme was conceived more than a year ago. It is not a reaction to anything. It is a matter for each public service body that is identified in section 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to determine its own approach,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Are we on amendment No. 18 or amendment No. 19?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: One relates to the PPS number, which-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The amendments will change the requirement for persons presenting for a social welfare payment in respect of themselves or another person, to have their identity authenticated and, consequently, to have been issued with a public services card, PSC. The Senator has read the findings of the Data Protection Commission and at this stage she has probably even read the report. Therefore, she...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Yes, I confirm.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: There have been no cuts.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have been Minister for three years. This is my third budget and I have done nothing but increase the disregard for lone parents every year for the last three years. For the last two years I have increased the qualified child allowance for the first time in 11 years so there certainly have not been any cuts on my watch. I understand why the Senator wants to do this. I am not trying to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: When we spoke earlier, Senator Higgins suggested a date of 26 October for the committee meeting and I agreed. It turns out that is a Saturday so unless it is just the Senator and I-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: We would be on our own. The date issued to me is 7 November.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: We spoke at length on this last week and I explained that while I tend to stick my nose into other Ministers' Departments, I do not have statutory responsibility for training, education courses or literary courses. I cannot do a report on something that is not under the remit of the Department. Even if I wanted to do so, I would not get the support of officials or Government money to do...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: As I said to the Senator last week, we do not own the policy in this regard. We are an agent which acts on behalf of the educational facilities, whether they be skills-based, Springboard, education and training boards, private institutions or educational institutions at second level, third level or thereafter. We are an income support for people who want to retrain through education. We...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank everybody for the speed with which the Bill has passed over the recent weeks. Everybody is aware that we want to commence this on 1 November in the interests of all of the entrepreneurial people whom we serve. It will go to the Dáil next week.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on those current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance payments (which include contributory pensions); social assistance payments (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. The Convention on Social Security which the Government entered into with the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to having sufficient staffing resources at its disposal to ensure that people with disabilities who apply for and avail of the Department's supports and schemes in this area are provided with a quality and timely service in relation to their claims processing. Given the significant number of people seeking these services, the Department needs to scale and manage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment. It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions. The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: A child benefit supplement payment has been awarded to the person concerned for the period 01/05/2018 to 30/06/2019. There is no further entitlement to a supplement from 01/07/2019 as the rate of Polish Family Benefits exceeds the rate of Irish Family Benefits. A letter regarding this decision has been issued to the person concerned. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children, relative to family size. An application for WFP was received from the person (family) concerned on 08 October 2019. The Department has written to them to request further employment-related details. On receipt of the requested details from the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Tús commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the Live Register. It is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is recognised by Government that Tús is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make...