Results 9,761-9,780 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Occupational Injuries Benefit Eligibility (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person referred to by the Deputy (details supplied) was medically assessed for eligibility for Occupational Injuries Benefit by one of the Department's Medical Assessors on 1st February 2019 at which the Medical Assessor determined that the medical evidence indicated the person was capable of other lighter category work. The case was reviewed on 30th July 2019 at which a different...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Household Benefits Scheme (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: As the person concerned is in receipt of Disability Allowance, he may have an entitlement to the Household Benefits Package. An application form has been issued to the person concerned for completion. On return, the person's eligibility for the Household Benefits Package will be examined and the person will be notified of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Rent supplement continues its vital role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting approximately 17,680 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019. In recognition of the on-going rental market difficulties, the Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case flexible payment policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Nov 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. I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Carer's Allowance Applications (21 Nov 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 carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 23 July 2019, in respect of two care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Pensions (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The rationale for the increase in the pension age is twofold, first to recognise that due to improvements in health and work conditions people have the capacity and the desire to work beyond what would traditionally have been seen as a retirement age. Second, as life expectancy increases, to help maintain the sustainability of our pensions system. In order to provide for sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Pension (Contributory) Data (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Homemakers Scheme was introduced on 6 April 1994 to make qualification for state pension (contributory) easier for a claimant who took time out of the workforce for caring duties. It allows up to 20 years (since 1994) spent caring for children under 12 years of age or for an incapacitated person(s) to be disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Benefit Eligibility (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Parent’s benefit is available for all parents of new babies born or children adopted from 1st November 2019 to care for their child. This benefit is family-friendly and flexible, allowing parents to take leave for one week or two at a time. Each parent will be able to take the new paid leave any time during their child’s first year. This is in addition to existing maternity,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Pension Provisions (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establish the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims was signalled by the then Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010. Consultation is a very important part of the development and design of the new pension. With this in mind, I launched a public consultation on the design of the TCA on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Minimum Wage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: As part of Budget 2020, the Government accepted in full the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission that the Minimum Wage be increased by 30c to €10.10. The Commission made its recommendation on the basis of an orderly Brexit. In developing its recommendation on the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission assessed various economic indicators such as changes in earnings,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: 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 Employment Sponsoring Bodies. The contract agreement between the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 4 October 2019 and was awarded maximum rate of pension with effect from 7 November 2019, their 66th birthday. They were notified of this decision on 16 October 2019. The person applied for the Increase for a qualified adult and fuel allowance with their pension. As these payments are means-tested, additional information...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made an application for rent supplement on 18/10/19. My Department advised the person concerned on 24/10/19 that as she resides in a HAP designated area, she must in the first instance make a request for a Housing Needs Assessment with her local authority and also an application for Social Housing Support (including HAP). The person concerned was also advised of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: On 18/11/19 my Department awarded the person concerned an Exceptional Needs Payment of €250. This payment was awarded to meet a need for home heating. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to attend this morning to discuss the public services card, PSC. I am looking forward to the questions of committee members on what is a very important topic. Before discussing the public services card, it might be useful to give a brief overview of the history of the card, the background to the recent report by the Data Protection...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: If I miss any of the 27 questions put to me, I appreciate that they were asked one at a time, I hope Deputy O'Dea will remind me. The advice we took came from our in-house legal team and the Office of the Attorney General, in which there are many legal minds. The Office of the Attorney General also took third-party advice. As a former Minister, Deputy O'Dea will be well aware of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Stop.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: In case the Deputy is not aware of it, there are two investigations that have been commenced by the Data Protection Commission with regard to the PSC. The first investigation had three modules, of which two have been reported upon; the resulting report came from the Data Protection Commission on 15 August. The third module in the first investigation is still outstanding. I am not aware...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: They definitely did get legal advice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am suggesting that the Deputy might query exactly what legal advice was sought. The Minister definitely did not receive any legal advice on the legal status or basis for requiring people when using mygov.ieto have a PSC. I truly believe that challenging the Data Protection Commissioner is okay. I am not sure if the Deputy was here when the House passed the legislation relating to the...