Results 9,161-9,180 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Driver Test (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to 376,000 low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. To qualify for a fuel allowance under the fuel allowance scheme, a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 36,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. Statistics on rent supplement recipients since 1999 are provided in the attached tabular statement to date, information for earlier years is not readily available. Rent supplement is a demand...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Carer’s allowance (CA) can only be paid in respect of care recipients aged less than 16 years where domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is being paid in respect of that care recipient. DCA was awarded on 2 November 2017 and CA was awarded on 8 November 2017. As the carer is currently in receipt of another social welfare payment at a higher rate than CA, the allowance will be awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are dependent on certain social welfare payments to develop an enterprise, while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years (100% in year one and 75% in year two). In the case of individuals in receipt of Farm Assist, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The persons concerned are a couple who both have contributions records based on self-employment. Since one member of the couple has not yet applied for the state pension (contributory), a decision on his state pension (contributory) cannot be made. An application form has been issued to this person. On receipt of the application, the pension entitlement will be examined and the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Data (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The information requested by the Deputy, in relation to housing support payments administered by this Department, is detailed in the following table: The Rental Accommodation Scheme and Housing Assistance Payment are administered by the Local Authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. Recipients as at end of Domiciliary Care...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Carer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Reviews (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was in receipt of the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension. In the course of a review of the entitlement, the claimant advised the inspector that she had commenced a cohabiting relationship in August 2017 and signed a voluntary declaration to this effect. The claimant has been written to and her response is awaited before a final...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. The Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Following a review in this case it was determined that the evidence did not indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016. It is important to note that the rules and processes for the application of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: It is my intention to introduce a Total Contributions Approach to the calculation of the State Pension (Contributory) from 2020 onwards and I’ll be bringing forward proposals in this regard in the near future. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to carefully examine approaches that may help to address the issue in relation to the averaging approach as it affects people with a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: In February 2017, the Board of Citizens Information Board (CIB) decided to change the governance model from ninety three local Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) companies to a new sixteen regional board model, comprising eight CIS and eight MABS companies. CIB has established an implementation group to progress the change. The group...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (9 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 27 September 2017, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. The State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for such employees even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. It is open to individuals to make provision for a pension by way of PRSA which all employers are obliged to facilitate. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I refer to the reply to the Deputy’s previous PQ about this matter. Reference Number 42721-17 refers. The planned review of the case is currently underway but is not yet completed. A response will be provided shortly to the Deputy in this regard. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to 376,000 low income households to assist them with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I can confirm that the person concerned is currently in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) at the weekly rate of €209.00. From 30 November 2017 this rate is set to increase to €247.00 weekly as he will have reached State pension age. However, I note that the person concerned has made an application for state pension contributory (SPC). Normally two social welfare income...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Data (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the attached tabular statement. Scheme recipients by sex at 31 October 2017 Scheme Male Female Total State Pension Contributory 247,014 144,984 391,998 State Pension Non-Contributory 36,726 58,269 94,995 Widow's, Widower's and Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory) 17,931 103,212 121,143 Death Benefit 14...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (8 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The social welfare fraud awareness campaign from earlier this year was designed to encourage a discussion and debate about social welfare fraud and to challenge the perceptions of those who see it as a victimless crime, while promoting the Department’s online and telephone fraud-reporting services. It was also aimed at demonstrating the considerable work undertaken by the...