Results 2,481-2,500 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The allocation for the Free Travel scheme in 2020 is €95m, as published in the 2020 Budget Estimates on Budget Day.  The cost of increasing expenditure by 10% would be €9.5 million.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Telephone Support Allowance (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost of increasing the telephone support allowance by €1, €2, €2.50, €3, €4, and €5 per week is as follows: Weekly increase Cost of increase €1.00 €6.9m €2.00 €13.8m €2.50 €17.3m ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Qualified Child Increase Payments (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following table: Qualified Child Increase €2 increase €3 increase €4 increase €5 increase Children under 12 years cost of increase €20.2m €30.2m €40.3m €50.4m Children aged 12...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Budget 2020 increased funding for the School Meals Programme by €4 million, from €57.6 million in 2019 to €61.6 million in 2020.  The Budget measure provides funding for an additional 35,000 primary school pupils to receive hot meals in place of the cold lunches they currently receive under the School Meals Programme. The estimated cost...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015 established the Low Pay Commission, which makes recommendations regarding the National Minimum Wage to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.  The annual expenditure of the Low Pay Commission, as outlined in the Commission's three year report published in January 2019 is as follows: ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost of increasing child benefit by €10, €15, €20, €25 and €30 per month is as follows: Monthly Increase Cost of Increase €10 €147.6m €15 €221.4m €20 €295.1m €25 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Justice and Equality has policy responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts.  Any decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.  My Department has responsibility for the payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost of issuing a double child benefit payment to parents on the birth of a child is €8.7 million in 2020. This cost assumes the payment of €140, representing an additional months payment in respect of these children.  It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Payments (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: On Budget Day I announced targeted measures to support young jobseekers including the abolition of the age-related rates of payment for 25 year olds from January 2020.  I also announced that that the full rate of payment would be available to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 who are living independently and in receipt of State housing supports including...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Advocacy Service (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides an independent, confidential and free, issues-based representative advocacy service that works exclusively for the person using the service and adheres to the highest professional standards. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Bereavement Leave (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The death of a child is a tragic event for any parent. According to the CSO data for deaths of those aged less than 19 years in 2016, there were 354 deaths in the year.  The statistics also indicate that the majority of these child deaths, 194, occurred during the first year.  My Department pays Maternity Benefit for stillborn babies born after 24 weeks of pregnancy...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Eligibility (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children.  WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.  Expenditure on WFP in 2018 was approximately €430 million and it is currently paid to almost 53,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department provides a number of options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) ceases.  These include the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) payment where the youngest child is aged 7-13 years (inclusive), and the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) payment which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department provides a number of options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) ceases.  These include the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) payment where the youngest child is aged 7-13 years (inclusive) and the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) payment which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide expert analysis over a wide range of areas, which includes the delivery of reports that contribute to decision-making or policy-making.  I am advised by my Department that the amount spent on external consultancy reports between May 2016 and to date in 2019 was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Data (24 Oct 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....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost of increasing the carer's support grant by €100, €200 and €300 is as follows: Annual Increase Cost of Increase €100.00 €13.3m €200.00 €26.7m €300.00 €39.9m It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: In Budget 2020, I announced that recipients of Carer’s Allowance (CA) would be allowed to increase the number of hours they can work, study or attend a training course, outside the home, from 15 to 18.5 hours per week.  Over 1,200 additional family carers are expected to qualify for payment as a result of this change at an estimated cost of €11.6...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (24 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The Government has provided €56.3m for the scheme in 2019 which operates from June to September. The Scheme opened on 1 June and closed on 30 September 2019....