Results 1,781-1,800 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: A lone parent is required to make efforts to seek maintenance in respect of their child/ren from the other parent in order to be eligible and to remain eligible for the One Parent Family Payment (OFP). Both the OFP application and the ongoing review processes for this scheme require customers to provide details of efforts to secure maintenance. Some claims may be referred to a Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The information requested in respect of lone parents who have had their one parent family payment suspended, reduced or removed on the grounds of not seeking maintenance from the other parent during each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017 is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I have recently received the report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection on the position of Lone Parents in Ireland. I would like to thank the Committee for their work on this issue which I know included discussions with a wide range of stakeholder groups and officials from this Department. I have no doubt it will make a valuable contribution to the policy on this issue. The report...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Following the announcement by An Taoiseach on 14 June of the transfer of labour affairs and labour law responsibilities from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Department of Social Protection, the process of identifying the functional areas, staff and resources that will transfer to my Department has begun. This is being done in accordance with the Transfer of Functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19 June 2017 who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and extended to those under 26 in Budget 2014. This is similar to other EU and OECD jurisdictions where such measures feature. These measures were introduced to protect young people from welfare dependency by providing young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Following the publication earlier in the year of my Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme - the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on Community Employment (CE) as outlined in the reply referred to in your question. My Department has been consulting with key stakeholders throughout the country during the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting some 42,300 recipients for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority as outlined in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - Rebuilding Ireland. Under HAP, responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (28 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4 April 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to seeking “to introduce a PRSI scheme for the self-employed and provide a supportive tax regime for entrepreneurs and the self-employed”. Significant progress has been made in the last Budget on extending the level of cover available to self-employed PRSI contributors. Self-employed contributors now have access to treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 to 270, inclusive, together. The full year cost of increasing the weekly rate of Disability Allowance, from €193 to €198.50 per week, is estimated at €41.2 million in 2018. There is an analogous social insurance payment, Invalidity Pension (€198.50 per week), which is paid to people who are permanently incapable of work (subject...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The majority of people who are supported by the social welfare system claim and receive their legitimate entitlement. Following referral of any report of concern that fraud or wrongful claiming may have occurred, an investigation is undertaken. A determination of fraud can only be made after a detailed investigation by a social welfare inspector and the making of a revised decision under...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or pre-determined amounts under the scheme. ENPs are payable at the discretion of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Programmes (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The key areas identified in the confidence and supply agreement which are of direct relevance to my Department relate to: - increasing rent supplement limits by up to 15% taking account of geographic variations in market rents, - including provisions for pension increases, - securing the future of family farms, and - seeking to introduce a PRSI scheme for the self-employed. Actions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 12 May 2016. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 27 July 2016 and of her rights of review and appeal. The person concerned appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Further to PQs 23861-17 and 29433-17, according to the records of the Department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment pertaining to the accumulation of outstanding rent arrears. The person concerned is currently in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement and all payments have been made to date. Her rent supplement claim is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 11 May 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for Family Income Supplement (FIS) on 29 March 2017. However, the FIS application could not proceed at the time as further information was requested from the person concerned. This information has been received and the person concerned has now been awarded FIS and payment will reach the recipient’s bank account next week. All arrears will issue in due...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (29 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 February 2017. CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. The person concerned was refused CA on the grounds that her means were...