Results 2,681-2,700 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (15 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The age related reduced rates for Jobseeker Allowance (JA) recipients aged 18 to 25 were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to protect them from welfare dependency by providing them with a strong financial incentive to participate in education or training to improve their chances of obtaining sustainable full time employment. As part of the review of reduced rates being...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Maintenance Payments (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I would like to see our system of child maintenance move away from the current adversarial, costly, confrontational approach which can involve lengthy delays. I want to see an examination of international best practice in relation to child maintenance to gain insight into how Ireland can achieve better outcomes in a proactive manner for families. Therefore, I will progress the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: 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 not intended to meet those costs in full.  Only one...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility (15 Oct 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.  Recipients of state pension non-contributory are obliged to notify the Department of any changes in their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: TA recipient of the State Pension (Contributory) can claim an increase of pension in respect of a Qualified Adult. A Qualified Adult is the spouse/partner of the pensioner who is being wholly or mainly maintained by the pensioner. An increase is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse/partner is €100 a week or less while reduced rates are payable where the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The rules as to the calculation of means for means-tested schemes, including Supplementary Welfare Allowance, are set out in Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005. In addition to Schedule 3 of the Act, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. No. 142 of 2007), articles 7 to 12 and Chapter 6 of Part 3 in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (15 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children, relative to family size. An application for WFP (dated 18 August 2019) and a subsequent application (dated 25 September 2019) was also received from the person concerned. The person concerned has been awarded WFP for 52 weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on those current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance payments (which include contributory pensions); social assistance payments (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. The Convention on Social Security which the Government entered into with the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to having sufficient staffing resources at its disposal to ensure that people with disabilities who apply for and avail of the Department's supports and schemes in this area are provided with a quality and timely service in relation to their claims processing. Given the significant number of people seeking these services, the Department needs to scale and manage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment. It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions. The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: A child benefit supplement payment has been awarded to the person concerned for the period 01/05/2018 to 30/06/2019. There is no further entitlement to a supplement from 01/07/2019 as the rate of Polish Family Benefits exceeds the rate of Irish Family Benefits. A letter regarding this decision has been issued to the person concerned. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children, relative to family size. An application for WFP was received from the person (family) concerned on 08 October 2019. The Department has written to them to request further employment-related details. On receipt of the requested details from the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Tús commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the Live Register. It is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is recognised by Government that Tús is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department provides a range of activation supports for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include employment programmes such as Community Employment (CE) schemes and Tús. Tús commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the Live Register. It is a community work...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Medical Review and Assessment Section are carrying out the medical assessment of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit in a timely manner. As of 7th October 2019 the numbers awaiting medical opinions for Carer's Allowance claims stands at 256 and Carer's Benefit claims at 45. The oldest outstanding claim was made in the last week of September 2019 for both schemes. The Department endeavours...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Waiting Times (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to assist with accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation. It is subject to a means test and other eligibility criteria. Rent supplement payments are also subject to ongoing reviews and payments may be affected if relevant information is not provided, or if there is any change in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (10 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. My Department has responsibility for the legislation underpinning the social welfare code, occupational and private pensions, civil registration and gender recognition, redundancy and employer’s insolvency, employment rights and the Citizens Information Board. Nineteen Acts relating to these matters have been enacted since March...

Financial Resolutions 2019 - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Politics is essentially all about choices, particularly so when there are limited resources and not everybody can be catered for, as one would hope and like to do. As the Government delivers a prudent budget in the shadow of Brexit, I have chosen to ensure we consolidate the progress we have made in recent years to ensure the social welfare system supports some of the most vulnerable...