Results 7,861-7,880 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: In my response to Question No. 544 of 8 March 2018, I referred to cases, where a customer authenticates their identity in another face-to-face engagement, the Department may collect elements of the PSI data by post and, with the consent of the customer, will utilise existing photographs to complete the SAFE 2 process. The other face-to-face engagements include: -Customers presenting at an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: As per reply to question no. 1585 PQ Ref. 54709-17, the person concerned was requested to provide the Department with relevant documentation regarding her rent supplement claim on 6/9/17. According to the records of the Department the required documentation has not been provided to date. On receipt of outstanding documentation, entitlement will be re-assessed. I trust this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (20 Mar 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 decided to allow 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 Employment Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions. The mortgage interest supplement scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014, on the basis that the ongoing payment of this supplement on an indefinite basis would not address the longer term...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The first publication of the Labour Force Survey which replaces the Quarterly National Household Survey (QHNS) was released on 16, January 2018 and is the official measure of unemployment. The most recent data shows that the national unemployment rate fell from a peak of 15% in 2012 to 6.4% by Q.4 2017. Unemployment decreased by 23,400 (-14.0%) in the year to Q4 2017 bringing the total...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The county breakdown requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, the total number of Live Register registrants benefitting from an increased payment for a qualified adult that were in payment at the end of January is as follows: Number of persons on the Live Register in receipt of an adult dependant allowance in January 2018 County Recipients with Adult...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Programmes Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The number of recipients of the principal working age employment supports by county, where available, and the number of recipients of those working age employment supports who receive an increased payment in respect of a qualified adult, are presented in the following tables: Recipients of a Working Age Employment Support payment by scheme and County, end-February 2017 Type of Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is an employment service, designed to support people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. In relation to the number of people who have commenced their engagement period with the service, it is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months. Under the service jobseekers have access to a Personal Advisor...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Following an appeal decision the person concerned has been awarded a jobseekers allowance at the full personal rate of €193 plus fuel allowance of €22.50 with effect from 9/2/18. Arrears arising from the appeal decision will be calculated having regard to changes in the circumstances of the person concerned. A decision on the amount of arrears due will be issued in the near...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Activation and Family Support Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Internal Audit work of my Department conforms to the standards of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Audit Standards and to the Standards and Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Internal audit reports are regularly subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Internal audit reports which have been released under FOI are regarded as being in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Activation and Family Support Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The role of Internal Audit is to review the Department’s operations on a scheduled basis and to report to senior management on any issues arising. This is an ongoing part of corporate governance within the Department to ensure that internal controls are in place and are working. When internal audit reports identify issues and make recommendations to correct deficiencies or improve...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Activation and Family Support Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The objective of the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) is to provide for funding to enable the development of training and education initiatives, mainly in conjunction with other organisations and agencies, to assist people who are in receipt of social welfare payments to enhance their employability through education, training and personal development opportunities and to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Activation and Family Support Programme Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Family Services Project (FSP) and Special Projects Fund (SPF) were amalgamated in January 2008 to form the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP). The AFSP is delivered regionally by Divisional Case Officers. The Department works alongside other State agencies to deliver training to those most distant from the labour market through the AFSP. The AFSP represents one of a number...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: All schemes operated by my Department, including State Pension (non-contributory), are subject to ongoing control reviews and continuing eligibility checks. This includes conducting fraud and error surveys which serve to reaffirm the entitlement of randomly selected recipients to their ongoing social welfare payments. Fraud and error surveys are an integral part of my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Programmes Data (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested is not readily available and is currently being compiled by my Department. The information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy will be aware that in view of the recent severity weather conditions, I announced that all people in receipt of the fuel allowance would receive an extra payment of €22.50. The fuel allowance is a payment payable at €22.50 per week for 27 weeks (a total of €607.50) from October to April, to over 368,000 low income households. I believe that increasing this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: In order to pay self employed PRSI contributions an individual must make an annual return of income to the Revenue Commissioners under the self-assessment system and must have earnings in excess of the threshold applicable in the relevant year. In the case of the person concerned, he filed the relevant returns and paid preliminary tax in respect of the years concerned; 2002 and 2004. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (20 Mar 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. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 6 September 2017. The evidence submitted in support of this application was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: New Communities Unit (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: The New Communities Unit (NCU) of the Department of Social Protection offers assistance to families who are primarily non-Irish, homeless and generally without recourse to any weekly income. With regard to the numbers of homeless non-Irish citizens from the European Economic Area or a country outside Europe that have been seen by the new communities unit by month since January 2015, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Regina Doherty: Tús is one of a range of supports provided by my Department to cater for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. It provides part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment. However, it is important to note that these placements are not full-time sustainable jobs and are designed to break the cycle of...