Results 4,541-4,560 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The average time to award new claims, broken down by social welfare scheme, is detailed in Table 1. The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined in 2018, broken down by social welfare scheme, is detailed in Table 2. I note that the Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (28 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is receiving the correct rate of Rent Supplement Support based on their circumstances. A Rent Supplement Review took place on 5th November 2018. The person's Rent Supplement was calculated based on their Jobseekers Allowance and their part-time earnings at the time. Their next Rent Supplement Review is due on 11th March 2019. Should there be any change in their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: During the course of a review of their entitlement to carer's allowance (CA), it was determined that the person concerned had not notified the Department of changes in their financial circumstances. When Department officials requested documentation pertaining to these changes, the person concerned failed to supply them. On 13 November 2018, the person concerned was notified that their...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am well able to do so, as the Chairman knows. As Deputies are aware, this Bill is being fast-tracked with the co-operation of every Member of the Oireachtas because it is a priority not only for the Government, but for the women who have been awaiting its enactment for far too long. That it is the only non-Brexit Bill being dealt with in the House should show how important an impact we...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy does not need to take my word that the Bill is being fast-tracked. We are here - it is being fast-tracked. Report Stage has been requested for next week, although I am unsure as to whether the Business Committee can facilitate that. It will facilitate my request at the earliest next date. The Dáil will then have finished this legislation and it will go to the Seanad.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have no doubt that I will get the same co-operation in the Seanad as I got in the Dáil, and maybe even more. I am not holding back on commencing this legislation. As soon as it is passed by the Seanad, it will be commenced. The Deputy's amendment would diminish my ministerial rights and responsibilities towards the vulnerable people whom he mentioned. I do not believe that any of...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: However, they are entitled to their rights. That is why we are all here. On that basis, I am not willing to give up my responsibilities and obligations and I will oppose the amendment.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Deputy.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I will speak to Parts 11 and 12 of the Bill, which fall within my remit. Both are subject to commencement orders as set out in section 2. Part 11 sets out amendments to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 required in order to maintain the status quoin the common travel area. The purpose of these amendments is to maintain the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (27 Feb 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. I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 31...

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

Regina Doherty: Since 2010, it has been Government policy to replace the Yearly Average system with a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards (TCA2020). In January 2018, I announced the Government Decision to introduce a new interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to the calculation of State Pension...

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

Regina Doherty: Regulation and supervision of State Pensions does not come under the remit of the Pension Authority. Therefore it has no role in the provision of information in relation to the State pension. The Pensions Authority regulates occupational pension and private pensions. The Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the level of entitlement for...

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

Regina Doherty: The Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establish the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards (TCA2020). I launched a public consultation on the design of the full TCA to be introduced from 2020 on the 28th of May 2018 to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited. A number of workshops were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Review (27 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on the 22nd February 2019, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Where a person is unhappy with the decision of one of the Department's Deciding Officers, they can appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). As part of the appeal process all evidence submitted is reviewed by a different Deciding Officer to see if a revised decision is warranted. This can take some time in the case of carer's allowance (CA) applications,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Applications (27 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for Farm Assist on 29th March 2017 and was awarded a reduced rate of payment due to means. An appeal regarding the means assessment was ruled on in June 2018 and the assessment remained unchanged. The person concerned sought a review of his entitlement on 20th June 2018 and a revised decision was issued on 3rd December 2018. Arising from the review, his means...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (27 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The primary purpose of the activation services provided by my Department, including the JobPath service, is to assist and support jobseekers to look for and sustain full time employment. My Department refers long-term jobseeking customers to the JobPath service to receive one-to-one intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser who will assess their skills, experience,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: No.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (26 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Prior to 6 April 1995 civil and public servants were insurable under the PRSI system as modified rate contributors. This meant that they and their employers paid a lower rate of PRSI and, as such, were insurable for a limited range of social welfare benefits. Currently Class D contributors are insured for widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, Occupational...