Results 4,581-4,600 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

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

Regina Doherty: The independent Social Welfare Appeals Office is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Any person wishing to appeal a decision on their entitlement to a social welfare payment should apply directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. It provides an independent, accessible appeals service which is free of charge. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (26 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: A sum in respect of Illness Benefit made payable to the employer of the person concerned was refunded to the Department. The payment has been reissued directly to the bank account of the person concerned and she will receive this payment during week commencing February 25th. The payment of Illness Benefit to the person concerned is up to date as she has provided medical certification to 25...

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

Regina Doherty: The amount of EU funds received or channelled through my Department in 2017 is outlined in the following table - Programme Amount Description Connecting Europe Facility Fund (CEF) €500,000 The CEF assists Member States with their national implementation of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information. DEASP and the HSE are in partnership on this implementation. European...

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

Regina Doherty: My Department provides two main options for payment methods for its customers: payments in cash at post offices or payments direct to customer accounts in financial institutions. While payment to an individual can be made by cheque for all Social Welfare schemes, it is only used as a payment method in exceptional circumstances or to pay arrears. Cheques impose a significant production...

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

Regina Doherty: I understand that the Report on Cherishing all Equally 2019 was published on 20 February. The Report examines a number of issues in relation to inequality, including inequality in wealth, education, health and employment. In response to the Deputy's specific question regarding high incidence of low pay and weak labour protection, I would point out that the Government continues to work to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Living Wage Implementation (26 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The most recent figures published by Eurostat (January 2019) show that Ireland has the second highest national minimum wage of any country in the EU at €1,614 per month, behind only Luxembourg whose minimum wage is €1,999 per month (for comparison purposes Eurostat converts countries’ hourly or weekly rates into monthly rates). Allowing for purchasing power standards,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (26 Feb 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 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...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I have to disagree with him slightly in that there has been no failure to engage. There have been numerous occasions in the last year when we have engaged through the Department of Finance with the two unions to which the Deputy referred to try to resolve this outstanding issue that goes back to 2008.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: We have had a number of meetings and both unions have come forward with their own ideas in an attempt to resolve an issue everyone wants to resolve. There is no cessation of that and I hope to God that we continue to work together to find a resolution to the issue. I cannot comment on why the Deputy's subhead was altered in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform except to say that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I appreciate that the Deputy might disagree with that. I take the opportunity to record in the House our gratitude to the community employment host companies and all of our supervisors and assistant supervisors for their efforts to continue to express 19.5 hours per week for all participants on community employment schemes.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: It was a democratic vote.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy should note that the "Yearly Average" method of calculating entitlement to the contributory state pension has been in place since the introduction of that pension, then called the Old Age Contributory Pension, in 1961. As a single, comprehensive social insurance scheme was only introduced approximately 8 years previously, a system where people needed a set number of years...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Housing policy is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Any questions or suggestions in relation to the long-term lease scheme for social housing should be directed to his Department. Transposition of the IORP II Directive will support positive reform of the Irish funded occupational pension sector. Transposition will raise governance standards,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Since the end of September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of pensioners born on or after 1 September 1946 who have an entitlement to and are being paid a reduced State pension Contributory under post Budget 2012 rate bands. Their rate of payment will be reviewed under recently enacted legislation. Where possible, my Department will use information...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has been in receipt of a half-rate carer's allowance (CA) since 13 August 2009 as her husband had been claiming an increase in his jobseeker allowance (JA) in respect of her. Her husband's JA ceased on 5 April 2011 and has been in receipt of a state pension contributory (SPC) since 7 August 2015 without claiming an increase in respect of his wife. Following a request...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The legal requirements for the allocation of a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number are that a person satisfies the Minister as to his or her identity and also provides a reason as to why a PPS Number is required (i.e. to carry out a transaction with a specified body, a body specified in legislation as authorised to use PPS Numbers). Information regarding PPS Numbers are available on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government's position on the recent motion debated in the House on the JobPath service was clearly set out in my contribution at the time. I note the views of the House on the matter, however, the position of the Government remains unchanged. My Department has entered into legally binding agreements with the JobPath providers and the Government will honour these contractual commitments....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The legal requirements for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number to be allocated are that the person satisfies the Minister as to his or her identity and provides evidence as to why a PPS Number is required (i.e. to carry out a transaction with a specified body, a body specified in legislation as authorised to use PPS Numbers). The person concerned has attended her local PPS Number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Bus Services (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I note that the bus operator concerned continues to receive funding from the National Transport Authority for the provision of this service and also receives support from my Department under the Community Employment scheme. The local Intreo service has also offered its support in recruiting bus drivers and to liaise with the local Education and Training Board in relation to any potential...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (21 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was registered on 29th January 2019 and, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Appeals Office has contacted the person concerned and asked them to set out the complete grounds of the appeal. On receipt of this response the relevant departmental papers will be requested from the Department of Employment Affairs and...