Results 8,401-8,420 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (24 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. Penalty Rates are a legal provision within the Jobseeker schemes to ensure that the Department can achieve compliance with Government Activation Policy as stated in Pathways to Work. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (24 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: On the 23rdJanuary, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated by a new “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit. This approach is expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (24 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 24 July 2017. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (24 Jan 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 29 November 2017. The application is currently being processed and once...

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I thank Deputy Brady for welcoming the changes announced this morning. What was announced this morning is a reform and new legislation. As Deputy Brady is aware, no new legislation can be applied retrospectively. For the record of the House, the reforms we announced today mean that the length of one's working life will no longer be the key factor in determining one's pension payments....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for State pension non-contributory on 13 November 2017. This is a means tested pension. An inspector of the Department interviewed the person concerned on 19 December 2017 and requested further documentation in connection with their application. As soon as this is to hand a decision on entitlement will be made and the applicant will be notified of the outcome...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: It is unclear from the question whether the issue relates to the calculation of the occupational pension of the individual in question or to the deduction of superannuation contributions towards the occupational pension. I can confirm that, for PRSI purposes, there is no relief from PRSI on superannuation contributions made by the employee to their occupational pension. Where an employer...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (23 Jan 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 disallow 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: An application for Working Family Payment (formerly known as Family Income Supplement) was received from the person concerned on 16thNovember 2017.To qualify for Working Family Payment (WFP), a person must be engaged in full time remunerative employment as an employee for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight (or 19 hours per week). It is also possible to combine hours worked with a spouse,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Tús Programme (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: My Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include work programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús. Schemes such as CE and Tús provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment. However, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 586 together. The acronym SAFE stands for ‘Standard Authentication Framework Environment’. It is a standards-based framework for establishing and verifying an individual’s identity for the purposes of accessing public services. This SAFE standard has four levels – SAFE 0 = No assurance of identity SAFE 1 = Balance of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 4 January 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has modified insurance contributions from previous public service employment. Information regarding the person’s pre-1979 contribution record was initially requested from their employer on 24 October 2017 and again on 20 December 2017. A further request for this contribution history has issued on 19 January 2018. Pending receipt of complete information on their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 1 September 2017. The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 December 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: An application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) was received from the person concerned and has been processed by the Designated Person. A letter, outlining the decision of the Designated Person to refuse the application for an ENP and the basis for that decision, has issued to the person concerned. They have also been advised of their right to an independent review of the decision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (23 Jan 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 27 October 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. I hope this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was awarded the state pension (contributory), together with the increase for living alone, with effect from 16 December 2017, their 66thbirthday. They were notified in writing of this decision on 30 November 2017. The person concerned was in receipt of Disability Allowance with fuel allowance and increase for living alone prior to reaching pension age. They received a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement. Recipients of principal social welfare payments and the number of qualified child increases in payment at the end of December 2017. - Qualified Children Increases Type of Payment Recipients Full Rate Half Rate(1) Other Children State Pension (Non-Contributory) 95,140 3,212 473 State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Further to receipt of an application for Rent Supplement by the person concerned on 4/1/18, the Department requested further documentation which still remains outstanding. On receipt of outstanding documentation, entitlement to Rent Supplement can be assessed for the period of the tenancy. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Department continually keeps all of its services under review to ensure that they are delivered to the customer in the most effective and efficient manner. There are currently no plans to change the level of services in Dunboyne, Co Meath. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.