Results 9,481-9,500 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Allowance Data (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I will finish my earlier reply. The scheme conditions include only one fuel allowance per household; satisfying a means test; and satisfying the household composition test. We do not have a breakdown of exactly why people are refused, but it is for one of those three reasons. Someone will not receive the payment if he or she does not satisfy the means test or if there is a fuel allowance...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Allowance Data (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Last year, a number of people made applications for fuel allowance who were only a few euro above the threshold. I find it difficult that we stop such people from getting €22.50 a week because they are €2 or €5 a week over the scheme limit. I looked into perhaps knocking that €5 off and giving them €17.50, or finding some other way to address what I felt...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 78 together by agreement. The introduction of the total contributions approach, TCA, for establishing the level of entitlement for all new State pension contributory claims was signalled by the then Government in the national pensions framework in 2010. At the time it set a target date of 2020 for implementation of the new TCA approach. More...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I can certainly confirm that the proposal issued in the very early days of 2010 by the Fianna Fáil-led Government was a for period of 30 years. What I cannot confirm is Deputy Curran's assumption of what the design will look like because it has not yet been approved by the Cabinet. Therefore, it has not been announced and certainly not sanctioned. Therefore, I respectfully ask the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The TCA in 2012 and 2020 will bear no resemblance to each other. I again ask for the Deputies' patience and indulgence. When I bring the design to the Cabinet and as soon as that meeting is over, the Deputies will know as much as I know today. They should not fall into the trap of making the assumption that it will be exactly the same. The TCA in 2020 will bear no resemblance to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Minimum Wage (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: In developing its recommendation on the national minimum wage the Low Pay Commission assesses various economic indicators such as changes in earnings, exchange rates, employment, unemployment, productivity, international minimum wage comparisons, the need for job creation and the likely impact of the national minimum wage changes on levels of employment, the cost of living and national...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: They are all very giddy today.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the different qualification criteria.  Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (23 Oct 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. In Budget 2019, I announced that my Department would commence a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing Hot School Meals in 36 primary schools for an estimated 7,200 children.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Public Services Card (PSC) was provided for in legislation in 1998 when it was introduced alongside the PPS Number to replace the previous Revenue and Social Insurance number (RSI) and the Social Service Card (SSC).  The PSC acts as an identifier for access to a broad range of public services. In October 2017, the DPC commenced an investigation into the SAFE/PSC process and delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Minimum Wage (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 60 and 72 together. In developing its recommendation on the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission assesses various economic indicators such as changes in earnings, exchange rates, employment, unemployment, productivity, international minimum wage comparisons, the need for job creation and the likely impact of the National Minimum Wage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: On Budget Day, I announced measures to support young jobseekers including the abolition of the age-related rate of payment for 25 year olds, from January 2020. I also announced that the increased rate would be available to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 who are living independently and in receipt of State housing supports including rent supplement and the Housing...

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

Regina Doherty: The new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation includes provision for homecaring periods.  When launching the interim TCA in January 2018, I stated the approach was expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (23 Oct 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: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 79 together. The current legislation provides that where a social welfare payment has been awarded, a Deciding Officer may revise that decision at any stage, where there is either a change of circumstances, or where there was an error in the original decision, or where fresh facts or evidence indicate that the original...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Public Services Card (PSC) was provided for in legislation in 1998 when it was introduced alongside the PPS Number to replace the previous Revenue and Social Insurance number (RSI) and the Social Service Card (SSC).  The Attorney General’s Office advises that the legislation underpinning the PSC is clear and provides a strong legal basis for the existing and continued use of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 73 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently engaging with representatives of CE supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation (LCR 19293).  The focus of this process is to try to resolve the issues relating to pension entitlements of CE supervisors in a cost effective...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: In October 2017 the DPC commenced an investigation into the SAFE / PSC process and delivered its final report to the Department on 15 August 2019.  On 17 September, the Department published the report of the DPC together with a summary of its own response to the findings of the report, and related correspondence between it and the DPC. As stated in September, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: On Budget Day I announced measures to support young jobseekers including the abolition of the age-related rate of payment for 25 year olds from January 2020.  This measure increases the personal weekly rate for a young jobseeker from €157.80 up to €203 and will benefit almost 1,800 young people. I also announced that that the increased rate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Reviews (23 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Section 19 of the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Act 2018 provides that I, as Minister, will arrange to "consult with stakeholders on examining ways in which social welfare rates are increased with the aim of ensuring adequacy for all recipients and shall do so in quarter 1 of 2019". As the Deputy is aware, my Department met with numerous interested stakeholders...