Results 3,261-3,280 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned on 21 May 2019.  Under social welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to a person 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. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 23 May 2019. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 17 July 2019.  The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25 February 2019.   It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 19 June 2019 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing.  The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: Reports from members of the public on their suspicions of social welfare fraud or wrongdoing are an important element in my Department’s overall efforts to prevent and detect fraudulent activity.  Welfare fraud can be reported in a variety of ways. The  Department provides a dedicated service on its website to enable reports to be made.  A concerned member of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €57.6 million in 2019 representing an increase of €3.6 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am on record as stating very clearly that I am committed to tackling the issue of false self-employment. I believe the deliberate mis-classification of a worker as a self-employed contractor, in a situation where they are actually working as an employee, is wrong. It is wrong for three reasons. Firstly, it denies the worker full protection under the Social Welfare Act, which means he...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Transitional Payment (9 Jul 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: Working Family Payment (9 Jul 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.  The estimated expenditure on WFP in 2018 is approximately €430 million and as of May 2019 it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Direct Provision System (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: In Budget 2019, I was pleased to increase the rate of Daily Expenses Allowance to the rates recommended in the McMahon Report on Improvements to the Protection Process.  This included a €8.20 per week increase (to €29.80) in the payment for children.  The estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly payment for children living in direct provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Transitional Payment (9 Jul 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: Child Benefit Eligibility (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is estimated that the full year cost of introducing child benefit for children who live in direct provision is €2.84 million. Any introduction of child benefit for children living in direct provision would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.  I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The estimated full year cost to pay the full adult rate of €203 per week to persons under 26 years of age on Jobseeker's Allowance is €59.9 million.  This costing includes increasing the €112.70 qualified adult rate to €134.70 per week. Young jobseekers who participate in an education, training or employment programme currently qualify for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my officials and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: There were no commissions of investigation or statutory inquiries in the period of time outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: Firstly, may I offer my condolences to the person and his family on the loss of a loved one. The carer’s support grant (CSG) is an annual payment for carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to the same caring conditions as carer’s allowance (CA). CA recipients automatically...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy will appreciate that I am unable to comment or intervene on issues relating to a particular pension scheme.   My Department has no role in setting the level of pension increases received by members of occupational pension schemes.  Pension increases are entirely a matter for the scheme trustees and the sponsoring employer.  Matters directly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: Since late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands.  These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (9 Jul 2019)

Regina Doherty: There are a number of key features which enables my Department to monitor all aspects Seetec's performance and ensure contract compliance. Every participant is provided with a service guarantee - a baseline level of service covering frequency of engagement, personal progression planning, geographic accessibility and in-employment support. On-site inspections are carried out as part of...