Results 9,921-9,940 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (27 Nov 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.  The duration of the Tús contract is a maximum of 12 months and this ensures that as many people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.  Depending on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (27 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made an application for a Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment on 5 September, 2019. Insufficient information was provided by the person concerned and this, together with a change in address and telephone number, has led to a delay in processing their claim.  The claim is currently assigned to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, I met a number of union representatives and CE supervisors probably before, or maybe arising from, the all-party motion. We engaged in a process over the past couple of months to try to put some proposals to my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to resolve the issue, but not exclusively in respect of pensions. I was very clear...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am not sure whether the Deputy was in the Chamber earlier but, as I stated, we started negotiations with the labour unions and representatives of CE supervisors at the beginning of the summer with a view to finding a resolution to the Labour Court recommendations made in 2008. A number of suggestions are on the table for consideration by both my Department and the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The new Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 will include data from the 2018 EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), to be released by the CSO on 28 November, with any necessary adjustments made to the targets.  It is not expected that the inclusion of this data will have any impact on the timeframe for publication of the new Roadmap.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Social welfare legislation provides that all income and assets belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse, partner or cohabitant are assessable for social welfare means testing purposes. Where a person is informally separated, and living apart from their spouse or civil partner, social welfare inspectors have a key role in investigating and advising the Department’s deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: In early 2019, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore the most appropriate organisation arrangements - which included the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). A series of meetings of the IDG have taken place and a number of bilateral meetings were undertaken with the relevant Departments which included discussions on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department has participated in the National Ploughing Championships over the past number of years and it provides an important opportunity for face-to-face engagement with our customers and the public. In 2019, for the first time, my Department attended as part of the Government of Ireland village.  The central Government of Ireland’s presence at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Treatment Benefit Scheme Data (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The details requested in relation to the number of people who applied for hearing aids under the treatment benefit scheme are set out in the following table. Year Number of Grants paid  Cost euro 2017 11,375 9.43m  2018 14,689 12.74m  2019 to end October 13,185 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Applications (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I can assure the Deputy that the quality of assessment carried out on the cohort of clients with Fibromyalgia is maintained to a high professional level and that there has been no diminishing of eligibility criteria for this illness. The Department’s protocols were developed with the primary intention of assisting Medical Assessors in carrying out their work. As protocols are in place...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The assessment of eligibility for medical related schemes such as Fibromyalgia includes detail medical history, the review of supporting medical evidence and in certain schemes an in-person assessment, where appropriate physical and relevant functional assessment is carried out by Medical Assessors of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, depending on the benefit scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned received an Exceptional Needs Payment of €250 on 18/11/2019 in order to meet a need to provide home heating. The Community Welfare Officer met with the person concerned in relation to her situation and the person concerned outlined that she has made efforts to formalise a maintenance payment and protection order.  According to the records of my Department no...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.  An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to a person who may not normally qualify for SWA but who has an urgent need that cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was awarded fuel allowance with effect from 11 October 2019. As the Increase for living alone was in payment, they were automatically entitled to the telephone support allowance from 11 October 2019. These decisions issued in writing to the person concerned on 25 November 2019, together with details of arrears due.  Their fuel allowance is currently being paid on a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 19 November 2019.  Under current eligibility conditions, the person concerned does not satisfy the household composition test. Implementation of an incoming Budget 2020 measure, where another adult (except the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of applicant) living...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I understand that Deputy Bailey is not available for today's meeting but Deputy Brophy will assist in her absence.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Chair and committee members for the invitation to appear before them. I am seeking a Supplementary Estimate of €100 million for 2019. The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is primarily to fund the Christmas bonus for Vote 37 social assistance recipients. The Christmas bonus will be paid next week. I was pleased that we could restore the Christmas bonus last year,...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have previously stated in this committee that I would like the Christmas bonus to be renamed. I tried to do it this year but because it is mentioned in so many plans etc. I could not do it. There is also a Christmas payment but because nobody gets paid on Christmas people are given a double payment the previous week. The Christmas bonus is not actually a bonus it is a payment that people...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Insurance Fund is in surplus. I plan to release the documentation supporting the new total contributions model when I bring the memo to Cabinet. If everything remains the same, that surplus will be diminished very quickly over the next number of years and we would rapidly end up in a negative that would have to be supported by the Exchequer other funds, notwithstanding any...