Results 9,321-9,340 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Reform (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252 and 1284 together. The Government is committed to encouraging self-employment and entrepreneurship. This includes enhancing the position of the self-employed through a supportive tax regime and, very importantly, improving the level of PRSI based benefits available to self-employed people. Self-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 30 August 2017. The application was awarded to the person concerned on 2 November 2017 and the first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 16 November 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 31 August 2017 to 15 November 2017 will issue shortly. The person concerned was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the illness benefit appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: My colleague, Charlie Flanagan T.D., the Minister for Justice and Equality has responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts while I have responsibility for maternity benefit payments provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). Maternity leave legislation provides a 26 week period of statutory maternity leave. Subject...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (7 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 1 November 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate state pension (contributory) based on an assessed yearly average of 38 contributions and credits, covering the period from March 1965 to December 2014. An Increase for living alone and fuel allowance (payable during winter months) were also awarded from 4 March 2015. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The average appeal processing times for all appeals determined from 2015 to date in 2017 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following tables. My Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and who are available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance payment whereas jobseeker’s benefit is a contribution based insurance scheme. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I can confirm that it is policy that all such letters to me are answered where there is a return address. “Developing the National Pension System - Final Report of the National Pensions Board”, published in 1993, recommended that the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a contributory pension should be increased to 520 contributions. The necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Turas Nua is one of the contractors delivering the Jobpath service on behalf of my department. The aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment. Community Employment schemes provide part-time work experience and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: The current Treatment Benefit advertising campaign is designed to raise both awareness and uptake of the PRSI benefits that came into effect on 28 October 2017. The total cost of advertising for the campaign is €82,709 (excluding VAT). This campaign spans a number of weeks and includes national print media advertising, national and regional radio advertising, digital advertising,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: An EU pro-rata state pension (contributory) may be payable to persons who have worked in Ireland and one or more EU countries who may not qualify for a pension on their Irish contributions alone, or who may qualify for a higher rate of pension based on a combination of Irish and EU contributions. EU regulations lay down the general principles on the co-ordination of social security...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Zero-hour Contracts (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I would point out that the Deputy is referring to a report which was commissioned by the previous Government. In May of this year the Government approved the drafting of legislation in response to the commitment in the current Programme for Government to address problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 12 June 2017. It is a condition for receipt of a carer’s allowance that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (7 Nov 2017)

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: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (7 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s social insurance record and the eligibility conditions applicable on the date they reach pension age. It is not possible to determine a person’s pension entitlement until a pension application is received in the Department from the individual, and their social insurance record is examined...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Participants on Community Employment (CE) schemes do not have to retire until state pension age provided they continue to satisfy the conditions associated with their participation on the scheme. In addition, as the Deputy is aware, there is a pilot initiative in operation for participants on CE who are aged 62 or over. This initiative enables participants over 62 to participate up to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fire Service Staff (7 Nov 2017)

Regina Doherty: Retained (part-time) fire-fighters, provide services which are vitally important to their communities. Typically, these workers provide services in rural and less densely populated areas but larger urban centres may also have a cohort of part-time workers. Retained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed are entitled to a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days that they are...