Results 8,541-8,560 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: There are three main State pensions. Firstly, the State pension non-contributory is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State pension contributory, which is not means-tested, is paid from the Social Insurance Fund, via the PRSI system. The third main state pension available to some people over 66 is the Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension. It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The current rate bands applying to the State pension contributory were introduced from September 2012, replacing previous rates introduced in 2000. The rate bands prior to 2000 were less generous, and the improved rate bands introduced in 2000 were a feature of the economic and political environment at that time. The economic crash changed the focus and while other payments were reduced as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The information sought by the Deputy is detailed in the tables. The 2018 Revised Estimate for pension expenditure is €7,571,360 million. Details of expenditure to date in 2018 will not be available until the first week of February. Table 1: Pensions Expenditure Outturn, 2004-2010 Expenditure (€000) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 State Pension (Non Contributory) 599,988...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Data (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The rate of payment under the State Pension (Contributory) scheme is related to contributions paid over the years into the Social Insurance Fund, and credited contributions where applicable. There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for a State pension contributory, whether at full or reduced level. These include that the person must be aged 66 or over, and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2015 to 2017 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below. Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeal process in recent years. As a result, appeal processing times improved between 2011 and 2016 from 52.5 weeks for an oral hearing in 2011 to 24.1 weeks in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: There are three main State pensions. Firstly, the State pension non-contributory is a means-tested pension funded from taxation. Secondly, the State pension contributory, which is not means-tested, is paid from the Social Insurance Fund, via the PRSI system. Thirdly, the Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension is available to some people over 66. Where someone does not qualify for a full...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Deputy will be aware that my Department, like all government departments, must operate within the staffing budget and headcount determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In that context, the staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed. This takes account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Live Register Data (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The official measure of unemployment is sourced from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Measures of unemployment from the QNHS are based on International Labour Office (ILO) definitions. To be ‘ILO unemployed’ a person must in the week before the survey be without work but available for work and have recently taken specific job-search steps. The Live Register,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme enables my Department to work with people who have found themselves dependent on the welfare system for various reasons but who have an idea or have identified an opportunity to start their own business. In 2017, a review of the BTWEA scheme was released. Overall, the review found that the scheme offers effective support for people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The majority of people in receipt of a payment from my Department receive what they are entitled to. Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an ongoing reality and must be tackled proactively. Anti-fraud and control measures are set out in the Department’s Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018 and are designed to prevent and detect...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Support Services (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The main support my Department offers to families living on uneconomic holdings is the farm assist scheme which provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. The farm assist scheme is a means tested payment and the means test is flexible so as to allow for significant income fluctuations from one year to the next. It may also be noted that farm...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Measures (17 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: On 7 December last year, I published the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 in response to the commitment in the current Programme for Government to tackle problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The proposed legislation aims to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Impact Assessment (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The most up to date data on poverty in Ireland is contained in the CSO’s annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results. The latest statistical data available from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (and from Eurostat) are used to analyse trends in official poverty measures and other supporting indicators. The official Government approved poverty measure...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The interim revised retirement arrangements announced recently by the Government affect public servants only and have been introduced to enable those reaching 65 years of age to remain in place, if they so wish, until they reach the age of eligibility for the contributory State Pension (age 66 at present). Community Employment (CE) participants and supervisors are employees of private...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: Social welfare legislation provides that where an applicant for state pension (contributory) who had previously been employed, became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988, the date on which the person first entered insurance, or the date of 6 April 1988, whichever is the more favourable, shall be regarded as their date of entry into insurance for pension eligibility purposes. As...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The total number of Departmental staff, by premises and grade, working for my Department in Drogheda is summarised in the following table. Department Premises Assistant Principal Higher Executive Officer Executive Officer Clerical  Officer Temporary Clerical  Officer Service  Officer TOTAL Remarks Intreo Custom House Quay, Drogheda 1 8.8 16.1 22.5 1 1 50.4 Includes 1 x EO...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 21 November 2017. At the oral hearing, the appellant was asked to submit additional documentation which has been received. The Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 2 November 2017. The application was awarded to the person concerned on 9 January 2018 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 18 January 2018. Arrears of allowance due from 2 November 2017 to 8 January 2018 have also issued. The person concerned was notified on 9 January 2018 of this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 Jan 2018)

Regina Doherty: The cost of increasing the rates specified by the Deputy by 1% is €53.2 million in a full year. The breakdown of this cost is detailed in the following table: Scheme Cost €m Maternity Benefit 2.5 Adoptive Benefit 0.0 Child Benefit 20.45 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance 0.5 Working...