Results 3,921-3,940 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold.  The policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs have created an environment in which business can succeed and has led to the creation of almost 400,000 jobs in Ireland  since the economic low point of 2012.  Secondly, through the  Pathways To Work strategy, my Department ensures that as many new jobs as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Data (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems.  As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. The number of clients...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, (CIB) provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. The Dedicated Mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Data (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Dedicated Mortgage Arrears (DMA) service which operates across the MABS network was established in 2015, as part of the Government’s supports to mortgage holders in arrears. The DMA service aims to ensure that borrowers in mortgage arrears have access to information on the range of supports and options available to them and, where required, negotiates with lenders on their behalf....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: As stated in the 'The Roadmap for Pensions Reform', the Government proposes to begin implementation of a supplementary retirement savings system, known as Automatic Enrolment, by 2022.  It will see employees without personal retirement savings automatically enrolled into a quality assured retirement savings system, with freedom of choice to opt-out. In August 2018 the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In line with good corporate governance practice, I have made no reappointments of people who have already served two full terms to the boards of the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget Consultation Process (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Pre-Budget Forum is an annual event hosted by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is an opportunity for community, voluntary and representative organisations to discuss and debate policy issues and present their thoughts and proposals on the upcoming Budget to each other, to senior officials of the Department and to myself as Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Data (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €630 per fuel season) 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.  Budget 2019 extended the duration of the fuel season from 27 weeks to 28...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: Firstly, I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I will outline the policy on the decision making process used within the Department. When a person makes a claim for any payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the decision on whether to allow or disallow the payment rests with a person called a Deciding Officer (DO). DOs...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12th April 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: According to the records of the Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at the following rate: Personal rate:€203.00 Increase for 2 qualified children over 12 years:€ 74.00 Sub Total:€277.00 Less Nil means Weekly rate of jobseeker's allowance:€277.00 I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (8 May 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. An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 16 April 2019. They have been awarded WFP with effect from 11 April 2019 to 08 April 2020. The first weekly payment and all arrears owing will issue to their nominated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP an applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in full-time remunerative employment as an employee. In addition a family's average weekly income must not exceed a fixed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance since 12 April 2018 at the rate of €201.00 per week. To transfer his claim to his new address he should make an appointment with the Community Welfare Officer at the Health Centre, Maynooth Road, Celbridge. Their phone number is 01-6303196. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Administration (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: Following a review of this case, local management are happy to offer an extension of participation on the community employment scheme to the person concerned. My officials will contact the community employment sponsor and the participant to advise them of the position.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The new address of the person concerned is already known to the Department and updated on all departmental records.  The child benefit payment also continues to issue as normal to the person concerned. By way of information, any person with a verified MyGovid account can update their address using the mywelfare.ie online service by selecting the 'my details' section and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Minimum Wage (8 May 2019)

Regina Doherty: The HSE Home Support Service is a matter for the Department of Health and the HSE and I have no role in the matter. It would not be appropriate for to provide a legal interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. Alleged breaches of the National Minimum Wage legislation should be taken up with the Workplace Relations Commission directly by the affected parties.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Second Stage (18 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is a pleasure to be in the Seanad. Before proceeding, I express my genuine appreciation to the House for facilitating an early consideration of the Bill. I have just been given the delightful news that Committee and Report Stage will be facilitated next week.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Second Stage (18 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: It will be at the Seanad's earliest convenience I am sure. My main reason for seeking quick passage of this legislation through the Oireachtas is to expedite commencement of existing legislation that provides for the registration of donor-assisted births. This issue particularly affects female same-sex couples who wish to register the particulars of both partners in the relationship as...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Second Stage (18 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Members of the Seanad, not just for today but for the last couple of months. I appreciate everyone's frustration, but I hope that it is realised that this is literally the only legislation drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel since January apart from the Brexit-related legislation. That is how important this legislation is. There are difficult concepts remaining...