Results 9,681-9,700 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is in receipt of state pension (contributory) at 85.34% of the maximum rate based on their social insurance record, together with half-rate carers allowance and the household benefits package. It is open to the person concerned to apply for the State pension (non-contributory) and/or an increase for qualified adult on their spouse’s state pension (contributory)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I understand that the Deputy is seeking information in relation to available desk spaces in my Department's headquarter buildings outside Dublin city. It is common practice for desks to become vacant temporarily due to staff turnover or structural changes in the Department. At present there are approximately 80 vacant desk spaces available across four headquarter buildings. However it would...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for state pension (contributory) on 17 May 2017, and was awarded a reduced rate pension from 29 July 2017, their 66th birthday, based on their social insurance record as held by my Department at that time. Their pension entitlement was reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach, launched in January 2018, which provides for the award of HomeCaring...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: In Budget 2020, I announced that recipients of Carer’s payments would be allowed to increase the number of hours they can work, study or attend a training course, outside the home, from 15 to 18.5 hours per week. Those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant can avail of this change. This change will come into effect week...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment which can be made, subject to certain qualifying conditions to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. Once a carer is in receipt of Domiciliary care allowance at the commencement of their carer's leave, there is no requirement to complete...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Freedom of Information Data (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department processes a large number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests annually, with 2,443 and 2,510 requests received in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The FOI Code of Practice states that disclosure logs in relation to non-personal requests should be published on a regular basis. The last publication of a disclosure log by the Department was in respect of FOI requests received in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Winter Ready campaign was jointly launched on 6 November by the Minister with responsibility for Defence and Chairman of the Government Taskforce, Paul Kehoe TD, Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD and Minister with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English TD. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Child benefit is generally paid to customers who meet the qualifying conditions and submit the appropriate application form. In a case where a parent in receipt of child benefit dies, it is necessary for the other parent or a guardian to complete a claim form so that a new claim with new payment authorisation details, etc. can be set up and processed. Given the circumstances of the case...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Data (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department’s contracts with the JobPath providers are in compliance with all relevant legislation and any information shared is contractually-based and necessary to provide an employment service. All contracts in place are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland. JobPath providers are contractually required to register with the Office of the Data...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain qualified persons. The seasonal allowance currently runs from October to April and can be paid weekly or in two lump sums, the first in October and the second in January. The person concerned has been in receipt of fuel allowance with effect from 12 October 2012, paid on a weekly basis...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (12 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 23 August 2019. This application was subsequently withdrawn as the person concerned has been in receipt of the Household Benefit Package since 2011. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank all of the Deputies who contributed yesterday evening and today. I am grateful for the positive comments they have made about the small number of initiatives that are in the budget and the changes that they will effect. I thank those who spoke today and yesterday. I attempted to reach the most vulnerable people with the small amount of money I had. Everybody has mentioned how...

Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Genuinely, that is not the case. We said we would not discuss this matter but that is neither here nor there. I am in negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is a legacy issue. I do not mean that to be disrespectful to anyone in the Chamber. It is obviously my responsibility; I happen to be the person in this seat right now and I will do everything I can...

Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 215 and 220 together. The Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The programme is delivered through independent Community...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am pleased that the Government recently approved significant elements of my design of an automatic enrolment retirement savings system which will commence in 2022.  Key decisions have now been made in relation to the target membership, the contribution rates, the policies in relation to opting-out and re-enrolment, the administrative arrangements and organisational approach and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The JobPath employment service commenced in 2015 and, under the terms of the contracts signed with the providers, was to run for at least six years comprising two consecutive phases: phase one entailed four years of client referrals, while phase two entailed a ‘run off’ period during which time no additional clients were to be referred.  The contract includes an option to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services Funding (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The allocation for the Grant to Citizens Information Board in 2020 is €61.67m, as published in the 2020 Budget Estimates on Budget Day.  The cost of increasing expenditure by 8% would be €4.93m.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Data (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together. As the Deputy will be aware the JobPath activation service is to help long term unemployed jobseekers to find sustainable full time work. For the purposes of the departments activation services all long-term unemployed jobseekers on the Live Register, aged between 18 and 61 years old inclusive, are categorised into groups based...