Results 10,221-10,240 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for a Companion Free Travel Pass on 26 August 2019. The application was assessed by the Department’s Medical Advisor on 07 September 2019. Based on the medical evidence provided, the application was disallowed on 14 September 2019. The person concerned has provided additional medical evidence to support their claim for a Companion Free Travel Pass. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Dec 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 CA from the person concerned on 31 May 2019. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Programmes (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 299 together. In early 2019, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore how social inclusion schemes might be organised going forward. A series of meetings of the IDG have taken place and a number of bilateral meetings were also undertaken with the relevant Departments. In addition to this, all submissions received...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to the living alone increase my Department pays out a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash on a weekly, monthly or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature. The living alone increase is currently an additional payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have received the draft of the new social inclusion strategy "Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025", and intend to bring it to cabinet committee and government for review and approval as soon as possible. I expect that the new strategy will be published shortly. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Fuel Allowance is a payment made for 28 weeks, from October to April, to help with heating costs during the winter months. I was pleased to announce, as part of Budget 2020, that the Fuel Allowance will be increased by €2 per week from January 2020. This increase will raise the payment to €24.50 per week, benefiting over 373,000 low-income households. The Over 80...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost of providing a single additional monthly child benefit payment to parents on the birth of their first child only is €3.5 million in 2020. This cost assumes the payment of €140, representing an additional months payment in respect of these children. It is estimated that there will be approximately 25,000 first births in 2020. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The organisation in question recently corresponded with my Department requesting clarification on various aspects of the increases to State Pension Age as legislated for in the 2011 Social Welfare and Pension Act. As the Deputy is aware, the organisation concerned is affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) which participates in the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF)....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Justice and Equality is the lead department with regard to Ireland’s Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities. On 3 December, the Department of Justice and Equality published a revised action plan to support the delivery of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy objectives in the coming years. The revised plan (available at: ) sets out a range...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department administers over 80 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that members of the general public are fully aware of the social welfare supports and services available, as well as ensuring key changes are communicated to them. Public information campaigns are therefore an important part...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department administers over 80 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that members of the general public are fully aware of the social welfare supports and services available, as well as ensuring key changes are communicated to them. This includes the use of videos where this is considered the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I ask the Senator to withdraw both of her amendments for two different reasons. One is because there is already a report so I do not need an amendment to the legislation to provide what we have done already during the deliberations and preparations for budget 2020. I would be very happy to share it with the Senator today or in the next couple of days. It helps explain the reason for the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: No, the amendment asks me to produce a report on the impact of the disregard. I already have that report. If the Senator withdraws her amendment, I will give her the report immediately - either later today or tomorrow.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fire Service Staff (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank Deputy Brady for raising this issue in which he has had a long-standing interest. I thank all our fire fighters throughout the length and breadth of the country and acknowledge their hard work, service and commitment. Last Friday, I was fortunate to attend a service marking the 20th anniversary of the opening of my local fire station. Firefighters do tremendous work and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fire Service Staff (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I hear the Deputy's concern and he is genuinely very passionate about this. Wicklow County Council tells me it had to make the decision last year to stop some recruitment intended to try to bring the level back up to what it had been a number of years ago, which was twice as many manning the station as there are now. It has ten and probably should have proficiency of six or seven more. It...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: There is no point in me reading out the history of the school that the Deputy already knows because he outlined it very eloquently. It is a real pity the planning application for this much-needed and wanted school was upscuttled because it is diverse and slightly different from what we have had in the area previously. The temporary accommodation that was sorted out for recent years set the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: No.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I will, of course, bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of the Minister, Deputy McHugh. Lest I did not give him the correct information earlier, the suggested alternative was made by the patron body, not anybody else. It is being actively pursued by the Department. This is not the first time something like this has happened. It happened in my own constituency in 2007. Where there...

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank Deputy Penrose because I know and appreciate he is acting in good faith and I know exactly what he is trying to do in respect of this Bill. I hope he appreciates that both I and the Government share his concerns. The overriding priority for the Government is to provide additional protections for pensioners and members of pension schemes to ensure the future viability and...

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

Regina Doherty: The Department’s capital allocation for the years 2020 to 2022 is outlined in the following table. To date, there is no allocation for 2023-2025. However, this is subject to ongoing review in the context of the annual Estimates process. It is intended that the allocation will primarily assist the Department in delivering additional IT modernisation and allow for the refurbishment of...