Results 1,821-1,840 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to around 626,525 families in respect of over 1.2 million children, with an estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The 2017 payment rates have been increased from €100 to €125 for children aged 4 to 11 years and from €200 to €250 for children aged 12 years and over and attending secondary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed primarily to support second chance education. It is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third-level courses of education in order to improve their employment prospects. Entitlement to BTEA is conditional on having an on-going entitlement to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: Any decision to allow lone parents in employment with children between 7 and 14 years of age to receive both the jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) and the Family Income Supplement (FIS) concurrently would have to be considered in the overall budgetary and policy context and would require Government approval. In this regard, my Department is hosting its annual pre-Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: Successive Governments, and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. My Department’s support for An Post is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The application for carer’s allowance (CA) of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care as required. She was notified on 2 May 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal. To date, there has been no new information submitted which would warrant a review of the decision made in this case. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Brexit Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Department’s EU and International section, including Irish-UK Relations, is led by an assistant secretary. The Irish-UK Relations unit has, at present, three additional staff assigned to it. These are two assistant principals, one on a full-time basis and one on a four-day per week basis, and one executive officer on a four-day per week basis due to work sharing. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Administration (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together. Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to around 626,525 families in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Data (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides employment opportunities for low income farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments. While communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen, participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills. In recognition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 together. To remain eligible for Farm Assist, an individual must continue to satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme including a means test. In April 2017 a review of the means in this case was conducted. The person concerned was found to have weekly means in excess of that allowable under the scheme and a decision was taken to terminate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together. The social insurance system currently provides recognition of the contribution of recipients of carer’s allowance and full-time carers generally, through the system of credited contributions and the homemaker’s scheme. Credited contributions (credits) are awarded to recipients of carer’s allowance where they...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Census of Population Data (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: My Department is highly committed to evidence-based policymaking. To inform our policy and operations across all our business areas, we make extensive use of this full range of Irish and European official statistics, including the Census of Population. Alongside this, we regularly conduct research surveys (see www.welfare.ie/en/surveys) and make analytical use of our own detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The role of Scope insurability section in the Department of Social Protection is to make statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope insurability decisions are based on all available evidence,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The manner in which transfer lists are currently held does not allow for the provision of the specific details being sought by the Deputy. Formal transfer protocols exist only in respect of the Clerical Officer grade. As advised in response to Parliamentary Question No. 2114 which I answered for the Deputy on Tuesday 20 June 2017, each Department maintains transfer lists in respect of...

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Acting Chairman. This is my second time in the Seanad since my appointment. So far, I have not been anywhere else yet. It is a pleasure to be back in the House again. I welcome the publication of the important report, Finite Lives, Dying Death and Bereavement: An Examination of State Services in Ireland, and thank the Seanad for the opportunity afforded to me to discuss its...

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: The main recommendations of the report include developing an integrated strategy on dying, death and bereavement by an interdepartmental committee following a process of consultation. It seeks to improve access to information about end of life services and make life easier for people at a time when they should feel supported by the State. Practical recommendations include the establishment...

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: I thank Senators for all their contributions. They are exceptionally valuable to me. If I was able to do all the things I want to do, in particular for vulnerable people, older people and those who care for vulnerable people, I would probably use up every penny of the fiscal space no matter how big or small it is. Members know that will not be possible but we will fight as well as we can...

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Regina Doherty: Yes, it must be done quickly in order that we can get to the focus of knowing what we need, which is a service that is of a high quality and is well paid in the community in order that parents and vulnerable citizens can stay in their own homes and enjoy the beauty of those around them, namely, their grandchildren, children, friends, and birds in the back garden such as the robins who come up...