Results 4,101-4,120 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: A person is required to have 520 contributions paid to qualify for the State Pension (contributory).  It is reasonable to require people who seek a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years paid contributions into the Social Insurance Fund which finances it, over 50 years of working age life.  While it was lower in the past when PRSI coverage was less widespread,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Projects (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department has recently commenced working collaboratively with the Law Reform Commission for the purpose of preparing and publishing a Revised Version of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.  This will incorporate all amendments to the SWCA 2005 which have (to date) been made in 26 Social Welfare Amendment Acts and, to a lesser extent, in 14 other Acts of the Oireachtas. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The majority of people in receipt of a payment from my Department receive what they are entitled to.  Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an on-going reality and must be tackled proactively.  The Department’s anti-fraud and control measures are designed to prevent and detect fraud, ensure effective oversight of schemes, pursue the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The transposition of the IORP II Directive will result in significant improvements to the regulation and governance of funded occupational pension schemes in Ireland.  While the Directive provides for the possibility of derogation from specific Articles for smaller schemes, I believe that members of smaller schemes should get the same protections and oversight as members...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: Illness benefit is a short term payment made to insured people who are unable to work due to illness.  The payment is funded by the social insurance fund (SIF) through the payment of PRSI contributions by workers and employers and, in the event of a shortfall between contributions received and benefits paid, the Exchequer.  The fund is central to Ireland’s system of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Minimum Wage (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: Legislation governing the national minimum wage is set down in the National Minimum Wage Acts 2000 and 2015.  These Acts provide for the setting of a national minimum wage (NMW) and also provide that in specified circumstances, such as younger workers and trainees, a reduced, sub-minimum rate may be applied. In September 2015, the Low Pay Commission was requested to examine the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The JobPath service helps and supports people to identify and pursue suitable job opportunities themselves while their personal adviser will provide any appropriate support that the person may require.  This ranges from preparing their CV and assisting with the job application to financial assistance for clothing or transport costs at interview stage or in the first days of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am not aware of any specific allegations of abuse of workers on fixed term contracts in episodic industries.  I would urge the Deputy, if he has evidence of such abuse, to bring it to the attention of the Workplace Relations Commission which is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights. Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment legislation which protects all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Administration (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: Farm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers.  To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test.  The annual farm assist review form is a necessary part of the normal review process for these customers. Following the Comptroller and Auditor General examination of the Farm Assist...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 29th March 2019. An appeal was subsequently registered on 2nd April 2019. The case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Appeals (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: This case has been reviewed by the Intreo Centre concerned and they have confirmed that the qualification referred to in this case, a Professional Masters in Adult and Community Education, is not one of the courses covered under the BTEA as it is not a pre-requisite for employment in adult education services. Further to this, according to Department information, it does not serve as an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Bodies Data (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The statutory bodies with boards 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. The following table sets out the number and percentage of women on each of the above bodies on both dates in question: State Board Number and percentage of women on 8...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is currently in receipt of Illness Benefit at a rate of €277 per week. She is currently paid up to date and is medically certified as unfit for work until the 30 June 2019. Prior to the most recent medical certificate which certifies her as unfit for work until the 30 June, the person concerned had been submitting medical certificates...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Dialogue (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy will be aware that the issue of benchmarking and indexation of social welfare rates is not new.  For example, previous studies were conducted by the Commission on Social Welfare in 1986 and the Social Welfare Benchmarking and Indexation Group in 2001.  The Roadmap for Pensions Reform, published last year, commits the Government to examine and develop...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 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) pension calculation which includes...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: A central  part of the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 was a consultation process that sought to have the broadest  possible level of input in relation to the operation of the Act since its commencement. A public call for submissions was announced in early January 2018 with a closing date for receipt of submissions of  5 February 2018.   The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The State pension (contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record when working.  Those with few or no PRSI contributions paid over the years may alternatively qualify for the State pension (non-contributory), which is a means-tested pension, financed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: On Budget Day, I announced a  general increase in the weekly rates of payment, building on similar increases introduced in Budget 2017 and Budget 2018.  A €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment for all social welfare recipients was announced, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. On Budget Day the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. An increased payment can be made where full-time care is being provided to two people. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 23 October 2018. While the Department accepts that the care recipient...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (4 Apr 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is in receipt of the correct Rent Supplement payable, i.e. the rate applicable for a single person resident in the Kilcock area of County Kildare.  The Rent Supplement claim is currently being reviewed and the Community Welfare Officer has requested supporting documentation from the person concerned in order to maintain the correct Rent Supplement payable....