Results 2,701-2,720 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: These amendments relate to the new section 68I, which concerns refusal or failure to attend activation meetings, and the new section 68J, which concerns refusal or failure to participate in prescribed schemes, programmes or courses. When we discussed these matters on Committee Stage last week, I explained to the Senator that these new sections mirror the equivalent provisions which apply to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I used the word "agreed" as a means of explaining that a person will not be expected to sign a personal progression plan if he or she does not agree with the contents of the plan. I think the Senator was suggesting that some people might be encouraged, coerced or forced to sign personal progression plans, or that some penalty might be imposed thereafter in the event of someone failing to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Is the amendment being moved or withdrawn?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The first point I would make is that there was always a plan in the national childcare scheme to have a paper alternative. It is not new. It is there since the scheme was conceived more than a year ago. It is not a reaction to anything. It is a matter for each public service body that is identified in section 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to determine its own approach,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Are we on amendment No. 18 or amendment No. 19?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: One relates to the PPS number, which-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The amendments will change the requirement for persons presenting for a social welfare payment in respect of themselves or another person, to have their identity authenticated and, consequently, to have been issued with a public services card, PSC. The Senator has read the findings of the Data Protection Commission and at this stage she has probably even read the report. Therefore, she...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Yes, I confirm.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: There have been no cuts.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have been Minister for three years. This is my third budget and I have done nothing but increase the disregard for lone parents every year for the last three years. For the last two years I have increased the qualified child allowance for the first time in 11 years so there certainly have not been any cuts on my watch. I understand why the Senator wants to do this. I am not trying to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: When we spoke earlier, Senator Higgins suggested a date of 26 October for the committee meeting and I agreed. It turns out that is a Saturday so unless it is just the Senator and I-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: We would be on our own. The date issued to me is 7 November.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: We spoke at length on this last week and I explained that while I tend to stick my nose into other Ministers' Departments, I do not have statutory responsibility for training, education courses or literary courses. I cannot do a report on something that is not under the remit of the Department. Even if I wanted to do so, I would not get the support of officials or Government money to do...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: As I said to the Senator last week, we do not own the policy in this regard. We are an agent which acts on behalf of the educational facilities, whether they be skills-based, Springboard, education and training boards, private institutions or educational institutions at second level, third level or thereafter. We are an income support for people who want to retrain through education. We...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank everybody for the speed with which the Bill has passed over the recent weeks. Everybody is aware that we want to commence this on 1 November in the interests of all of the entrepreneurial people whom we serve. It will go to the Dáil next week.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department incurred expenditure of €9.5m under the Training and Development and Incidental Expenses subhead in 2018. This subhead provides for staff training, customer communications and advertising and other incidental costs.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: State Pension (Contributory) (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: The State pension age is currently 66 years of age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. The State pension (contributory) is a PRSI based payment. Under Social Welfare Legislation, qualification for the scheme is based on the social insurance record of the person concerned up to their 66th birthday. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Carer's Benefit Applications (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An application for Carer's Benefit was received from the person concerned on 18 September 2019. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: JobPath Programme (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed, including those working part time and those at risk of becoming long-term unemployed, to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection for the JobPath service and customers are chosen by means of a random selection...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Oct 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned was scheduled for 4 September 2019. However, the person concerned did not attend nor have they subsequently been in touch with the Appeals Office. The Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted and will be making a summary decision. The...