Results 3,461-3,480 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (20 Jun 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 for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (20 Jun 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 almost 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Redundancy Payments (20 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, provides for the making of payments by employers to employees in respect of redundancy. It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties, an application for payment from the Social Insurance Fund may be submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 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 29 January 2019, following the outcome of a review dated 4 January 2019 by a Deciding Officer of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (19 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has been allocated a further 21 days to submit relevant documentation in respect of their Rent Supplement payment. A letter communicating this was posted to the person concerned on the 17th June 2019. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (19 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy is advised that policy for Parental Leave is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department has responsibility for the associated benefit payment. As such the responsibility for engaging with employers for matters relating to parental leave is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 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 March 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. These papers were received...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 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 4 April 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: Homemakers Scheme (19 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The purpose of the Homemaking Scheme is to make it easier for a homemaker who takes time out of the work force to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory). A full contribution year spent as a homemaker may be disregarded in the calculation of the yearly average for State Pension (Contributory). The Homemakers Scheme is only reckonable for State Pension (Contributory) purposes and does not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment (19 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP an applicant must provide such documents, certificates , information or evidence as required for the purpose of deciding their entitlement. All household income is assessable for WFP and must be disclosed by an...

National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The measures that we have outlined will fundamentally change and give transparency to the rights of workers to their tips. In addition, the patrons of all these establishments will know exactly where their money is going.

National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: I oppose this Bill, as I did last week in the Seanad. I do so not because the Government does not want to help low-paid workers - our record in that regard speaks for itself - not because there is nothing good in the Bill, because there is a lot in it that is good, and not for political reasons, even though that is what has been alluded to by Sinn Féin. My record in the past three...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Leave it to somebody else.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Direct Provision Payments (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 614 together. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection administers the daily expenses allowance which is paid to applicants for international protection who live in the direct provision system where they are provided with full board, accommodation and other services by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The General Scheme of the Social Welfare Bill, 2019 which provides for the introduction of a new social insurance benefit scheme, to be known as Jobseeker's Benefit (self-employed), which will support those who lose their self-employment and are covered by social insurance, was published at the end of April and can be found on my Department's website at this . Since then, my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14 February 2019. The case was assigned to an Appeals Officer who, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: The introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims was signalled by the then Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010. At that time it set a target date of 2020 for the implementation of TCA. More recently, the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 targeted implementation of the TCA...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (18 Jun 2019)

Regina Doherty: Community Employment (CE) schemes are typically sponsored by groups (known as CE Sponsors) wishing to benefit the local community. Such schemes provide a valuable service to local communities, while at the same time, providing training and educational opportunities to job seekers. The CE Programme has an annual budget of €345.115m. At the end of May 2019, there were 21,505 CE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (18 Jun 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. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 5 March 2019. As the spouse of applicant is self-employed,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (18 Jun 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. Before a decision can be made on entitlement to CARB, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s care requirement, the level of care the carer provides, the...