Results 4,421-4,440 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Support Services (13 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: As part of Budget 2019, I announced my intention to commission research into the Cost of Disability – a first step to comprehensively understanding this complex issue. I expect that this research, when complete, will provide a roadmap to inform policy direction in the future – from a whole-of-Government perspective – in relation to the adequate provision of support to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (13 Mar 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: National Minimum Wage (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: Legislation governing the national minimum wage is set down in the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 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 then...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: EU Directives (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: I want to assure the Deputy that the IORP II Directive will be transposed into Irish law in accordance with the Government Decision of 9 January 2019. Government approved the approach of applying the requirements of the Directive to all funded occupational pension schemes to enhance pension scheme governance and the consumer protection of pensioners, members and future members....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: EU Directives (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 630 together. The EU Working Time Directive 2003/88 of the European Parliament and Council concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, was a consolidation of Council Directive 93/104/EC and Directive 2000/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The aim of the Directive is to protect workers' health and safety by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The National Training Fund Levy (NTFL), collected alongside Employer PRSI for Classes A and H, increased by 0.1% from 0.8% to 0.9% from 1 January 2019. This means that Employer rates (combined PRSI and NTFL) for Classes A and H increased by 0.1% from 1 January 2019. Currently, Class A employers pay PRSI at the rate of 8.7% where weekly earnings are between €38 and €386. Once...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Records (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department has advised that it has been difficult to locate the individual's records on the basis of the information provided. If the Deputy can provide more details in relation to this person to my officials, further enquiries will be made. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The average appeal processing times for 2018 and to date in 2019 are outlined in the following tables. All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 1% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Department is concerned that these cases...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Local Employment Service (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department oversees the procurement process for the Local Employment Services (LES). In looking to the future of the contracted public employment service, my Department commissioned Indecon to conduct a review of the Local Employment Services and Job Clubs. LES and Job Club providers were aware of the Indecon review and were consulted during the review process. This review was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Services Programme (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The scheme that the Deputy is referring to is a Community Services Programme. This is therefore not a matter for this Department and is proper to the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Deputy should raise this matter with my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Brexit Issues (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Fuel Allowance Scheme represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is means tested and is paid only to customers who are getting a qualifying payment, either a State Pension or a means-assessed payment. The rate of fuel allowance is €22.50 per week or €630.00 annually. Currently the fuel season is 28 weeks, and the allowance can be paid weekly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 641, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Blind Person's Pension Eligibility (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: Blind Pension (BP) is a means-tested payment for blind and visually impaired people between the ages of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in Ireland. According to section 161A(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended), a person shall be entitled to BP where the person has attained the age of 18 years but has not attained pensionable age. The payment is made up of a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Payments (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years from its current age of 66. The first increase to 67 years of age will be in 2021 and the second to 68 years of age in 2028. The purpose of these changes is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. This has significant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: As part of a Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) Self-Employed review project, the Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) requested the person concerned's income and expenditure details for the previous two years and sent their findings to the Deciding Officer (DO). The DO used this information to reassess means, and concluded that he was in receipt of income that was in excess of the JA rate applicable to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Employment Affairs seeks to provide comprehensive income and employment support services to residents in County Louth, though our Intreo Centres in Dundalk and Drogheda, and the Branch Office in Ardee. Some concern has been expressed about the future delivery of community welfare services in Ardee following the retirement of the community welfare officer. I can assure the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Offices (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department operated an outreach Community Welfare Services (CWS) clinic from HSE premises in Dunleer County Louth each Wednesday from 10am to 12 noon. An average of 7 customers attended, but most of these were enquiries that resulted in less than 1 payment a week. Other claims for Dunleer, such as Jobseeker and One Parent Family Payment, were dealt with by Drogheda Intreo Centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Employment Affairs seeks to provide comprehensive income and employment support services to residents in County Louth, though our Intreo Centres in Dundalk and Drogheda, and the Branch Office in Ardee. Some concern has been expressed about the future delivery of community welfare services in Ardee following the retirement of the community welfare officer. I canassure the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market. On an annual basis, my Department contracts with the local sponsoring...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (12 Mar 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 to 652, inclusive, together. All jobseekers including those who are working part time and in receipt of Jobseeker payments from my Department are required to be actively seeking and available for full time employment and to engage with my Department's activation services JobPath provides an intensive personal activation service, which focuses on the skills...