Results 8,101-8,120 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

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

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware Seetec and Turas Nua are two companies contracted to provide the JobPath service on behalf of my Department. Participants with the JobPath service are not required to sign a contract with the JobPath companies but they are, in the same manner as all customers referred to any of the other Department’s activation services, requested to agree and sign a personal...

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

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware Seetec and Turas Nua are two companies contracted to provide the JobPath service on behalf of my Department. Participants with the JobPath service are not required to sign a contract with the JobPath companies but they are, in the same manner as all jobseekers referred to any of the other Department’s activation services, requested to agree and sign a personal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund Review (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: Ireland has a unified system of social security whereby all contributions paid by workers (and their employers, where applicable) are paid into a single fund, the Social Insurance Fund (SIF),which is applied to pay benefits to which those workers have established entitlement. The Irish social welfares system recognises different categories or “Classes” of workers. The rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Reports (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 77 together. The Make Work Pay (MWP) report was published on 6th April 2017, following the deliberations of an interdepartmental group established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. The interdepartmental group considered a range of approaches across relevant Departments to deliver on this commitment and made...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Data (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a seasonal means tested payment of €22.50 per week payable from October to April. In 2018, the payment is expected to provide financial assistance to over 338,000 low income households towards their winter energy costs, at an estimated cost of €227.15 million. Only one allowance is paid per household. In October 2017, I was pleased to introduce the option...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Support Services (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: Recent research by the ESRI and the OECD has drawn attention to the prevalence of mental health conditions in the working-age population. Through the operation of the income support system managed by my Department and the health service managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Government recognises the need for flexible and effective support for persons who encounter mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Data Sharing Arrangements (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: SAFE2 identity verification processes, the Public Services Card (PSC) and the Public Service Identity (PSI) dataset are all underpinned by primary legislation. Section 263 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended) provides that: (a) the following information is inscribed on the Public Services Card (PSC): forename, surname, Personal Public Service (PPS) Number,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Data (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 84 together. The number of persons in receipt of farm assist at year end was 7,234 in 2017, 7,828 in 2016 and 8,790 in 2015. Farm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. The annual farm assist review...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: During the Second Stage debate on the Bill, many Deputies expressed the view in relation to the banded hours provision, that the bands are too wide and the 18 month reference period is too long. I indicated that I would consider these matters in the context of possible Committee Stage amendments.However, I would like to make a number of points. There will be an administrative burden on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: A policy to introduce the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010, as was the decision to base the entitlements of all new pensioners on this approach from around 2020. In advance of this, on the 23rd January, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment and Youth Activation Charter (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 13.7% in January 2018. Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 (23%) to well below the current figure EU figure of 19.1%. The long-term unemployment rate for young people has fallen from over 15% at peak to below 4% in the third quarter of 2017. Youth unemployment figures can be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body established by the Oireachtas. In addition to its own statutory responsibilities in relation to information and advocacy service provision, it has statutory responsibility for the countrywide networks of Citizens Information Services (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). In February 2017 the statutory Board of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: All claim decisions taken by the Department’s deciding officers are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded and just 1% are appealed. Nevertheless, the Department is concerned that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible. Accordingly, significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in...

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

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware JobPath is one of a range of activation services provided by my Department to support and assist long term unemployed jobseekers to find full time sustainable employment. All of the activation services available, either directly from Intreo Case Officers or the external contractors such as the JobPath and Local Employment Service companies provide information and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. My Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events. My Department immediately activated the humanitarian assistance scheme,...

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

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 95 together. JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús, catering for unemployed jobseekers. Long term unemployed jobseekers who are not engaged with any other activation scheme or service are referred by my Department to the JobPath service to receive intensive...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Support Services (20 Feb 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Working Family Payment (formerly known as the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for low-earning employees with children and offers a financial incentive to take-up employment. It currently benefits over 58,000 families with almost 129,000 children, with an estimated spend in 2018 of approximately €431 million. I agreed...

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

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 87 together. The farm assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced the former smallholders’ unemployment assistance payment. In line with the then existing arrangements for unemployment assistance (including smallholders) and pre-retirement allowance, the income of farm assist recipients...

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

Regina Doherty: The main social welfare schemes for unemployed persons are the jobseeker’s allowance and benefit schemes which provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. Both schemes already provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s...

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

Regina Doherty: Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested payment and a person must satisfy the scheme conditions which include a means test and being available for full-time work. All jobseeker allowance claims including an actor’s claim are subject to review. A person’s entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance is reviewed on a continuing basis to ensure that they continue to satisfy...