Results 2,401-2,420 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Board (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to citizens on a wide range of public and social services. In 2019, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has been allocated State funding of €59.26 million to fund its activities and that of its service...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Where an application for child benefit is made by a person who is not a parent of the child(ren) concerned the Department contacts the parents/guardians of the children for further information and confirmation (or otherwise) of the information provided in the application. In this case, the required information has been requested from the relevant persons and the Department is awaiting their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 953,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment. All income, including private/occupational pensions and capital such as savings and investments are taken into account. A single person, under age 80, can have €348.30 per week income (the equivalent of the maximum State Pension Contributory plus €100) and still qualify for fuel allowance. The person concerned applied for fuel...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 28 February 2019. Their entitlement to this pension was examined based on their contribution history, including their Pre 1979 record which was made available to my Department. I am advised that the person concerned does not have the required 520 full-rate contributions to qualify for a standard State pension (contributory). ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP for the person concerned was renewed on 28 February 2019. At the date of renewal the person concerned had an entitlement to €0.65 per week. However once a person qualifies for WFP they are entitled to a minimum payment of €20 per week. Once...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is qualified for treatment benefits and will be entitled to a grant contribution towards the cost of hearing aids. She will receive a letter within the next few days advising her of the position and confirming her eligibility for medical appliance (hearing aid) benefit. The Audiologist can claim the grant payment directly on-line once the hearing aids have been provided....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Currently, PRSI credited contributions (credits) are awarded to former employees to cover gaps in social insurance where they are not in a position to pay PRSI contributions, for example during periods of unemployment or illness. Self-employed workers do not qualify for credits. The Farm Assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1039, 1040, 1045 and 1046 together. The Fuel Allowance is currently a payment of €22.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €630 each year) from October to April, to over 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €240 million in 2019. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (5 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 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 carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 9...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. In order to satisfy the habitual residence condition, the person must have a legal right of residence in the State. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the jobseeker’s allowance and benefit schemes which provide income support for people who have lost work andare unable to find alternative full-time employment. On 1 November I introduced a new scheme of job-seekers benefit for self-employed people which is based on a person's social insurance record. Jobseekers...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs. The person concerned applied for State pension (contributory) on 6 September 2018, and indicated on the application form that they wished to apply for fuel allowance. In order to ascertain their eligibility for fuel allowance, details of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for a Partnership Government and the National Carers’ Strategy. My Department provides a range of supports to those who are caring for family members, friends or neighbours. These income supports...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Initially, it should be noted that central policy relating to public service pensions rests with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Depending on the sector the person in question works in, their pension scheme may have its own specific qualifying rules and criteria. The interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) arrangements, as announced in January 2018, work alongside the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible and to providing a quality service to all claimants. Please see the following table containing sought information. Scheme Numbers of applications Awaiting Desk Assessment as of 04/11/19 Current Wait Time (in weeks) on Medical opinions as of 04/11/19. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Process (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Social welfare legislation provides that a person can only use their PSC for the purposes of a transaction with a body which has been specified in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). It also provides that only a specified body may request a person's PSC for the purpose of transacting with that body. Credit unions or other financial institutions are not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card Data (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Public Services Card (PSC) can only be requested by a body specified in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, and only where that specified body has a transaction with the person concerned. Specified bodies are, in all cases, required to process and store data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 7 October 2019. The person concerned has been awarded the Household Benefit Package, backdated to the date of award of their Invalidity Pension. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (5 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is a contracted public employment service supporting people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full time paid employment. Two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua, are currently contracted by my Department to deliver the service. The JobPath employment service commenced in 2015 and, under the terms of the contracts signed with the providers, was to run for at least...