Results 3,401-3,420 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy has just pointed out that the person who gave him that information was a volunteer in MABS. I point out to him that we do not have any volunteers in MABS. The only volunteers we have are in the Citizens Information Board where they are very valuable and we appreciate greatly the work they do. It is a real pity the Deputy started off in that vein. Approximately 19 months ago,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: As a former Minister for Social Protection for five years, the Deputy should know that the practice has not changed one single bit since she was in the Department.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: This was brought to my attention only a week ago. There is an anomaly but I am not sure I can fix it. I will do more investigation. People who get a free travel pass from the Department of Employment and Social Protection only get one if they are in receipt of another payment but there are many people who are not in receipt of a payment who might have capacity issues with regard to their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: As part of Budget 2019, I announced a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing Hot School Meals in 36 primary schools for an estimated 7,200 children at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. All 3,239 primary schools were issued with an invitation to submit an expression of interest to participate in the pilot by 12 June. All expressions of interest received will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: As part of Budget 2019, it was announced that DEASP would commence a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing Hot School Meals in 36 primary schools for an estimated 7,200 children at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. All 3,239 primary schools have been issued with an invitation to submit an expression of interest to participate in the pilot. An expression of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Community Employment (CE) is an employment and training scheme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The scheme assists by enhancing and developing a person’s technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace. Participants and supervisors on CE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred on 3 May 2019 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Dental Services (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Qualification for the Department's dental benefit scheme is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions. In order to qualify, the person concerned would need to have paid 260 PRSI contributions at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the tax year on which the claim is based; the 2017 year in this case. While the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27 May 2019. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department the case in question will be referred...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is currently in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance at a rate of €223.70 per week. The Department has received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned. He has been sent a form to clarify certain details with respect to his claim. Once the completed form is received, his claim will be processed and any arrears due to him will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 June 2019. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department the case in question will be referred...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is well known that people are living for much longer. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which, arising from these demographic changes alone, are currently increasing by approximately €1 billion every 4 to 5 years. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Appeals (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned can seek to have a review of the decision made by Designated Person to refuse her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment, and she has been provided with details on how to initiate the review. Arrangements have been made by my Department to process the review, and when the review request is received it will be forwarded to a Supplementary Welfare Allowance Review...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. I am committed to address the issue of false self-employment, and I have put in train a series of measures to deter, detect and tackle it. A key element is the increased focus by Social Welfare Inspectors on the enforcement of PRSI compliance obligations. Inspectors nationwide have commenced a campaign of employer inspections and a new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made a claim for Jobseekers Benefit on 14 June 2019. Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are paid weekly in arrears in a post office by Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) where it must be collected in person. Payment is collected in cash, once the customer has provided their Public Services Card or Social Services Card. If using a Social Services Card, a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (27 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to supporting people with a disability to participate more fully in society and to become more self-sufficient. This is achieved through a number of supports that address barriers that they may face, including the Community Employment (CE) scheme. CE is an active labour market programme with an aim to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (26 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is awarded Jobseeker's Allowance from 5 November 2018. The person concerned was referred to the Jobpath programme on 4 March 2019 for activation support over the course of a 12 month period. The Jobpath provider is Seetec Ltd, and he attends the local Seetec Office. On the 12 June 2019, the person concerned, (through Seetec) requested an appointment with Coolock Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance 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. The person concerned is in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) for one care recipient since 3 December 2015. My department received an application for CA for a 2ndcare recipient on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit Expenditure (26 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks at a rate of €245 per week. The 2019 Estimates for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provide for expenditure of approximately €256 million on Maternity Benefit. The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of maternity benefit for an additional four weeks would be approximately €39 million in a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Expenditure (26 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for Carer's Benefit if they have enough PRSI contributions. This and other care-related supports, such as the Carer’s Allowance payment and the Carer’s Support Grant, provide recognition and support for the valuable...