Results 7,481-7,500 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 245, inclusive, together. The first and full year cost of increasing the rate of Living Alone Allowance by €5 per week is estimated to be €52.2 million in 2019. The first and full year cost of increasing the rate of Fuel Allowance by €5 per week is estimated to be €49.6 million in 2019. The first and full year cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which was enacted in July 2016 introduced a new scheme of paternity leave and an associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit from the 1st September 2016. It is paid for 2 weeks and is available for any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of nearly €16...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: There has been one instance of spending by my Department on facilitating the attendance of two department staff members’ at a social media conference. Three social media training courses have been provided on-site for Department staff. Full details are provided in the following tables. Social Media Conference Date Event Total Cost 26/01/18 "Social Media Dublin" Conference...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: Qualification for medical appliance benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions. The person concerned would need to have paid 260 PRSI contributions at either class A, E, H, P, or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the tax year or years on which the claim is based. In this case, while the person concerned has 260 contributions paid she...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Paternity Benefit Applications (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The claim for paternity benefit was refused in this instance as the application was made outside of the prescribed time limits. In the letter informing of the disallowance, the person concerned was asked to submit any additional documentary evidence which might be relevant to the decision, following which the disallowance would be reviewed. No such evidence has been supplied to date. He was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. A new application for WFP was recently received from the person concerned. A Deciding Officer (DO) is currently assessing the application and the applicant will be notified of the decision in due course. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Regina Doherty: The decision for the person concerned arose from an appeal against an original decision which was upheld by a Social Welfare Appeals Officer. There is no further review available. If the person concerned has had any change in circumstance they should contact their local Intreo Centre and provide documentation to support a review of their claim. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided over €36 million for exceptional payments in 2018. The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Administration (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. A number of new conditions were introduced on CE in...

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

Regina Doherty: Carer’s allowance acts as a primary income support for those with an income need. The social protection system of primary income supports generally operates on a principle of one person- one payment. Exceptions to this are typically explicitly provided in enabling legislation. In the case of carers, legislation provides that a carer may be entitled to an extra half-rate...

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

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was awarded a maximum rate state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66 birthday. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 16 June 2017. Due arrears of pension were also paid at that time. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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

Regina Doherty: The jobseeker’s allowance claim in the case of the person concerned was disallowed following a submission of the social welfare inspector’s report dated 17/10/17. An inspector of the Department, over a protracted period of time, has been unsuccessful in establishing the residency of the person concerned due to his not being available for interview on several occasions at his...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension Eligibility (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: A condition of continuing eligibility for payment under the Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partners Non Contributory Pension scheme is that the applicant is not involved in a cohabiting relationship. The applicant in this case was selected for a routine review to ensure that she continued to meet the eligibility criteria for payment. Part of this review involved investigation and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. While the scheme type is recorded when an appeal is registered, the issue under appeal is only recorded when an appeal is decided by an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension Eligibility (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: To qualify for a widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, the surviving spouse must be deemed, under Irish State Law, to be the legal widow(er) of the deceased. The legislative provisions pertaining to the recognition of foreign divorces outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: I can confirm to the Deputy that there has been no change in practice in this respect. The Department will carry out a review of the record of any person who makes contact, advising of the possibility that contributions may be missing from their social insurance record. Such a review can take a number of forms, depending on the nature of the issues raised; and can include (but is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Deserted Wife's Benefit Data (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Deserted Wife’s Benefit (DWB) scheme was introduced in 1973 as a payment to a woman deserted by her spouse. Entitlement to payment is based on social insurance contributions paid by the woman or her spouse who deserted her. The scheme was closed off to new applicants from 2 January 1997 when the One Parent Family Payment was introduced. DWB claimants may transfer to State Pension...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. All claim decisions taken by the Department’s deciding officers are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The jobseeker's benefit (JB) and jobseeker’s allowance (JA) schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment whereas jobseeker’s benefit is a contribution based social insurance scheme. To qualify for JB a person must have at least 104...

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Bill to which the Deputy refers is scheduled to begin Committee Stage on 31 May. As has been flagged since the very first day it was launched, it will include defined benefit pension scheme provisions as outlined by the Deputy.