Results 9,361-9,380 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Seanad: Report on Lone Parents in Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I will be brief, but I want to try to address some of the issues which have been brought to my attention. I thank Senators for their comments. It is very interesting to hear different people's perspectives on a policy which, in the main, was very good. The Indecon report clearly stated it was a very good policy and the outcomes of the policy objectives were, in the main, achieved. We all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Services Programme (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware, the Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model which means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The group referred to by the Deputy is a sub-sponsor for a Community Employment (CE) scheme. They have two CE positions and neither position is currently under threat. All participants and community groups are aware of the time limits for an individual’s participation on these schemes. Schemes such as CE are designed to provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy will be aware, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I understand that my officials have been in contact with the Deputy’s office and that this question relates specifically to the State Pension Contributory (SPC). The personal rate of SPC is a non-means-tested payment based on PRSI contributions paid. A means-tested increase in the SPC for a spouse or partner (qualified adult) can be paid. Any income the qualified adult has from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed, including those working part time and those at risk of becoming long-term unemployed, to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection for the JobPath service and clients are chosen by means of a random selection process....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Data (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Applications (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned was awarded a state pension (contributory) on 20 October 2017, with effect from 4 October 2017, their 66th birthday. Written notification of this decision, together with the amount of arrears due, issued to the person concerned on 20 October 2017. The person concerned has been awarded a (reduced rate) state pension (contributory), based on an assessed yearly...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: In general employees engaged in insurable employment under a contract of service are regarded as class A employees for PRSI purposes, provided their weekly earnings exceed €38. Class A employees pay PRSI at 4% where their weekly earnings exceed €352. Their employers are liable to employer PRSI at the rate of 8.5% for earnings up to and including €376. For earnings in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Live Register Data (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Live Register is used to provide a monthly series of the numbers of people (with some exceptions) registering for jobseekers benefit or jobseekers allowance or for various other statutory entitlements at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s Intreo centres. The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers (those who...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: My Department recently awarded 2016 and 2017 Carer’s Support Grants to the person concerned. An amount of €3,400 (€1,700 for 2016 and €1,700 for 2017) will be lodged to her nominated bank account on Thursday 26th October 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Services Programme (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 273 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model which means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Services Programme (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. CSP supports voluntary and community organisations in providing essential services and businesses to their communities. The organisation referred to by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Services Programme (25 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 274 together. The Community Services Programme (CSP) is funded by my Department and is administered on its behalf by Pobal. The purpose of CSP is to support voluntary and community organisations to provide essential services and businesses to their communities with services designed to: - Alleviate disadvantage; - Promote sustainable social and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (24 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that the maximum rates of all primary weekly social welfare rates will increase by €5 per week from the end of March 2018, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. This represents a 2.1% increase (at a minimum), and builds on a similar €5 weekly rate increase in Budget 2017, and a €3...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Dental Services (24 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I am pleased to confirm that the changes to the dental benefit scheme will come into effect from 28 October 2017. From that date the dental benefit scheme will provide for a payment towards either a scale and polish or, if clinically necessary, protracted periodontal treatment; in addition to the existing free dental exam. If the normal fee charged by the individual dental clinic for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (24 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. Referral to JobPath is by random selection and is generally for a 52-week period. Jobseekers who are already participating with the JobPath service will not be referred to Tús as they can only participate with one activation...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget Measures (24 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The qualification criteria for the new Working Family Payment (WFP) will remain the same as the current qualifying criteria under Family Income Supplement (FIS). The Department’s approach to developing the Working Family Payment was guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays, and second, that it should have a positive effect on reducing child poverty....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget Measures (24 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) is a new work experience programme targeted at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment – people who even during the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foothold on the career ladder. The programme aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work...