Results 7,081-7,100 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (13 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions where such measures feature, reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and extended to those under 26 in Budget 2014. These measures were introduced to protect young people from welfare dependency by providing young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (13 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. The role of MABS was expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (13 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards. This is distinct from the interim TCA model being made available as an option for those affected by the 2012 rate band changes. I understand that the Deputy’s question may be based on an inaccurate report in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: 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 €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 30,000 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for in 2018. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement the Department’s sole relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application to the department and the payment is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: 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 €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Birth Certificates (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The current legislation governing registration of births provides only for the registration of a mother’s details and a father’s details. It is not possible, at present, to register the details of a birth using the term “parent”. This is provided for in section 99 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which is yet to be commenced. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Direct Provision Payments (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1203 together. Protection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Paternity Benefit Applications (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: It is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of all of these schemes as this level of detail is not required to qualify for the benefits. Qualification is based on having the required number of contributions paid or credited and there is generally no requirement to record the specific PRSI class giving rise to qualification. However, detail on the number of people that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 6 March 2018. The application was awarded to the person concerned on 6 June 2018 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 14 June 2018. Arrears of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: As of 1 January 2014, jobseekers aged up to 61 must comply with mandatory activation measures when requested to do so. At age 62, jobseekers are not subject to mandatory activation measures, but may avail of employment supports voluntarily. Jobseekers who are already engaged in activation prior to age 62 are expected to complete the process if they turn 62 while in activation.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: 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 €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. €1.7 million will be allocated to provide supports under the school meals programme to additional schools from September 2018....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Youth Employment Initiative (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) was announced as part of Budget 2018. The scheme will be targeted at young people aged 18 to 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. It aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will provide a supportive structure,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Expenditure (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: Deputies on all sides of the House are fully aware of the positive benefits derived from schemes like the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). In recognition of the crucial work undertaken in rural communities under the scheme, and as part of the social welfare budget package for 2018, I announced an increase in the weekly rate of payment for participants from March together with an additional 250...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Paternity Benefit (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested in respect of the number of people that have availed of paternity benefit since it was introduced on 1 September 2016 along with the overall cost for each of these years is set out in the following table: PATERNITY BENEFIT Recipients Cost 2018 (to week ended 27/05/18) 9,468 €4,353,900.53 2017 26,559 €12,048,759.93 2016 5,013...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (12 Jun 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 for CA from the person concerned on 30 April 2018. The application is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: Social welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner (if applicable) is assessable for means-tested social assistance schemes, with the exception of certain disregards and exclusions provided for in the legislation. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that the State’s resources are directed to those with the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1216 to 1219, inclusive, together. The full year cost of increasing the weekly rate for jobseekers under the age of 26 from €107.70 and €152.80 to the maximum weekly rate of €198 would be €81.21 million in 2019. This includes the cost of increasing the qualified adult rate for those on the €107.70 rate to €131.40...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (12 Jun 2018)

Regina Doherty: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of the long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups by breaking the cycle of unemployment by providing a return to work routine. CE provides quality work experience and training opportunities for participants within their communities, thus improving a person’s chances of returning to...