Results 6,841-6,860 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: On the 23rd January, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated under a total contributions approach which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit. The TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my officials and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: In this case, the decision of the deciding officer (DO) of 29 May 2018 was made based on the information provided in an application for Jobseekers Allowance (JA). The customer was disqualified from receiving JA for a period of 5 weeks as he voluntarily left his employment with Seetec. The decision was made in line with section 147(4) (a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 April 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers have been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 April 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 will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Telephone Support Allowance (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: The new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a payment of €2.50. Customers of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection who are in receipt of a qualifying payment and who are also in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance automatically qualify for the TSA. Approximately 127,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (3 Jul 2018)

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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. As a result of an appeals officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 29 June 2018. First payment will issue to his...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Review (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: A person is paid Carer’s Allowance each week on the basis that he/she continues to meet all of the caring requirements. Such persons receive payment of the Carer’s Support Grant automatically. A carer who is not in receipt of Carer’s Allowance may still qualify for the annual ‘standalone’ Carer’s Support Grant. Initial application is made...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Live Register Data (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: Live Register statistics from the Blanchardstown and Navan Road IntreoOffices approximate the Live Register for Dublin 15 and 7 respectively. The Live Register for both areas is characterised by a downward trend, as shown in the following tabular statement. Live register figures for Blanchardstown and Navan Road. Date LR State LR Blanchardstown LR Navan Road LR Navan Rd +...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (3 Jul 2018)

Regina Doherty: Carer’s allowance (CA) and the foster care allowance (FCA) are fundamentally different in their purpose. CA is a primary social protection income support paid by my Department to those on low incomes who are providing full-time care and attention to a person requiring such care. FCA which is the responsibility of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which falls under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (3 Jul 2018)

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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. I confirm that my department received an application from of the person concerned for CA in respect of two care recipients (her parents) on the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: We would have been able to discuss this legislation last night if not for the filibustering that occurred. The actions of those Deputies have genuine consequences. We can all agree on that. The legislation is on a list, and I genuinely hope that we get to it before the recess.

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: It is a priority. We are doing nothing else except discussing this Bill. There is very little left to discuss at Report Stage. The ambition was to try to get the legislation in and out of the Seanad before the summer break, and that ambition has not changed.

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The ambition was to try to get the legislation in and out of the Seanad before the summer break, and that has not changed.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11thApril 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers have been...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 268, inclusive, together. The full year cost of increasing all weekly pension payments by €5 per week is estimated to be €160.9 million in 2019. This cost includes the following schemes: State Pension Contributory; Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension (where recipient is aged 66 and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The reversal of the rate bands for post 2012 pensioners to the 2000-2012 rate band percentages would carry an estimated cost of some €73 million in 2018 (including inflows from other payments such as the State Pension non-contributory and Increases for Qualified Adults), rising at a rate of €10m to €12m extra per annum (i.e., an extra €85 million approx. in 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Bereavement Grant (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: During the economic downturn, my Department protected primary social welfare rates and in recent years, as the economy recovered, the Government has concentrated resources in improving the core rates of payments, particularly for pensioners. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Expenditure (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a targeted payment of €22.50 per week, paid for the duration of the fuel season from October to April. Over 364,000 low income households benefit from this allowance, at an estimated cost of €227 million in 2018. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. One allowance is paid per household representing a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (28 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The 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 approx. 914,000...