Results 6,581-6,600 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: Increasing pension age, to moderate the increase in pension duration, is a means by which pensions can be made sustainable in the context of increasing longevity. In order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, legislation passed in 2011 provides for an increase in the State pension age in three separate stages. In 2014, the State pension age was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The rent supplement claim of the person concerned is currently under review. Written notification of this review issued to the person concerned on 6/9/18 requesting completion and return of the review form with supporting documents regarding her current circumstances within 14 days, i.e., on or before 20/9/18. On receipt of the requested documentation, a full review will be carried out to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Transitional Payment (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has been in receipt of a jobseeker's transition payment since April 2012. During the course of a recent review of entitlement, an officer of the Department made several attempts to meet with her at her home but she was not present on these occasions. Her jobseeker's transition payment was suspended pending confirmation of her residency. The person concerned attended...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has failed without good cause to attend an Activation Review Meeting on the 25 of July 2018 or to make contact with their Case Officer to rearrange this meeting. The sanctions imposed have led to both a penalty rate and a benefit suspension on their payment. Decisions in relation to the imposition of sanctions on Jobseekers Allowance payments are undertaken in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: A Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Exceptional Needs Payment application was received from the person concerned on 6/9/18 to assist with the purchase of a cot and a buggy for her baby whom she is expecting on 20/9/18. The application was disallowed as no exceptional need was established. A letter of notification was sent to the person concerned 06/09/2018, which includes information on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Allowance on 27/08/2018. Supporting documentation was requested and was supplied by customer on 13/09/2018. The claim was awarded on that date with arrears backdated to 20/08/2018. This claim is now in payment. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: Entitlements under the social welfare system are primarily based on a number of defined contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, old age or widowhood. There are two basic principles which underpin the Irish social insurance system. Firstly, the State pension non-contributory is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State pension contributory, which is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned, who passed away on 25 March 2017, had been in receipt of a State pension non-contributory, which is a means-tested scheme. Following the submission of the Schedule of Assets of the deceased's estate, a Deciding Officer reviewed the deceased's pension entitlement and assessed an overpayment. The decision was notified to their personal representative on 13 August 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, had decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned on 3rd April 2018. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Data (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1198 to 1200, inclusive, and 1228 and 1254 together. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The Government has provided €49.5 million for the scheme in 2018. The payment rates...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: Ireland's ratification of the ILO Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers (the Domestic Workers Convention) in 2014 did not require any changes to our domestic legislation, as the existing body of employment rights legislation was fully compliant with the Convention.  Therefore, ratification did not change anything in existing employment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Job Losses (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I understand that the company in question has indicated it will phase out its operations in Sligo over the next few years.  It has indicated that there will be no job losses this year and that the majority of its workers will remain in employment until 2020.  Nevertheless, my Department has already taken steps to contact the company with a view to advising its workers of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11th July 2018.  It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has partially allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.  The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a carer's allowance appeal was registered in that office on 21st May 2018.It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.  When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: This application is currently being processed by my Department. In this regard, the Deciding Officer dealing with the claim recently wrote to the person concerned seeking further details of her employment and of the level of care she provides. Once this information is received, the Deciding Officer will notify the customer of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Designated Officer has not received an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) from the person concerned to date. If the person concerned wishes to make an application they should contact their nearest Community Welfare Services (CWS) where they will be provided with an application form. Alternatively, they can contact the CWS...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Communications (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that a Member of the Houses of Oireachtas or their nominated assistant(s) may still discuss a query in relation to an individual with officials of this Department on the implicit understanding that the constituent has asked the Member to make enquiries on their behalf. Section 40 of the Data Protection Act 2018 facilitates the processing of personal data and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (7 Sep 2018)

Regina Doherty: The self-employed have been obliged to pay social insurance since 1988. One of the eligibility requirements for the State Pension (contributory) is that a person's first paid social insurance contribution should be 10 years before they reach state pension age. As such, self-employed people who were over the age of 55 in 1988 could not meet that requirement, and did not qualify for a...