Results 10,461-10,480 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Deputy Michael Healy-Rae noted that other people have brought up the question of maternity leave extension. I have said it is not within my remit but I will certainly bring people's concerns to the Minister for Justice and Equality. There was mention of seasonal workers and those who are over the age of 66. With respect, the position with those over 66 arises because the current...

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I beg the Deputy's pardon. The scheme was set up for income lost but not forgone income. It would be incredibly difficult to figure out who was or was not going to get a job. That is not to say the social welfare code does not look after those people. They are all entitled to apply for jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance.

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Deputy for the good wishes. I will provide the numbers in writing because I do not have them with me. Anyone who did not have a PPS number was not entitled to the PUP. Someone needed to be working in-----

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: We have issued 5,000 plus PPS numbers to people, most of whom are foreign students or others from abroad whom we probably did not know about beforehand. In the absence of a PPS number, we have been giving people the supplementary welfare allowance, a weekly payment equivalent to what they require to meet their needs. The task force is working, but I am not aware of anyone who is not...

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Yes.

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I will get that to the Deputy, if not today, then tomorrow.

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The response that was formulated was driven by the Departments of Justice and Equality and Children and Youth Affairs, which are responsible for providing for the needs in question. Safe Ireland and the National Women's Council approached us in recent weeks to say that the supplement had not been working exactly how they had envisaged. They asked whether we could be the direct referral body...

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: They have to be. To be honest, the numbers applying for rent supplement in recent months have not been large. That section is looking after people on the same day they come in or the next day.

Covid-19 (Employment Affairs and Social Protection): Statements (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The supplementary welfare payment does not try to bring everybody up to the €350 payment. Rather, it looks at individual outgoings. For example, the Deputy's household might be different to my household if we were both over 66. We are looking at people as individuals, taking account of their outgoings and whether they are necessary. For example, we might pay for somebody's mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Company Closures (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1176 and 1214 together. Firstly, I would like to say that my thoughts are with all workers faced with the prospect of closure and job losses at this difficult time. With the exception of grocery outlets, the retail sector has been particularly affected by the measures we have had to take in response to the spread of Covid-19.  Having come through a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1177 and 1229 together. The Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is one of a number of measures to provide financial support to workers affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The scheme is operated by the Revenue Commissioners and enables eligible employees, whose employers’ business activities have experienced significant negative disruption due...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Wage Subsidy Scheme (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1178 and 1243 together. The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Basic weekly SWA may be paid to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1179, 1180, 1183 to 1186, inclusive, 1188 to 1191, inclusive, 1251, 1277, 1279, 1281, 1283 and 1286 together. Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The co-ordination of the services addressing the needs of these customers is managed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1181 and 1232 together. The emergency Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been introduced as a time-limited emergency measure so that payments can be made as quickly as possible to the large number of people who have become fully unemployed due to the pandemic. During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1182, 1245 and 1278 together. The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as an emergency time-limited measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. This emergency payment was introduced to support persons aged between 18 and up to 66 years old who have lost their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Given the need to pay the Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment as expeditiously as possible, Section 202 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 was used.  This section allows for the provision of payments in urgent cases by way of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.  The Covid-19 pandemic and resultant immediate economic impact is unprecedented and created an urgent requirement...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1192, 1221, 1222, 1223 and 1224 together. This week, my Department issued COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment payments valued at over €200 million to 585,000 people. Projected expenditure for up to 12 weeks payment is in excess of €2.2 billion. The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, published by the Government on 1 May 2020 sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The procurement of consultancy services supports my Department in providing analysis that contributes to policy development. Details of the consultancy service providers engaged by my Department since the start of this year are set out in the following table: Name of Consultant Details of Consultancy Expenditure Ruth Fitzgerald Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1194, 1210, 1211 and 1248 together. The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a time-limited, emergency income support measure to meet the dramatic surge in unemployment as a consequence of the pandemic.  This emergency payment supports people of working age from 18 and up to 66 years old who became unemployed on or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (20 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Entitlement to disability allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In order to qualify for the scheme on medical grounds a person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be expected to continue for a period of at least a year and as a result of the...