Results 9,421-9,440 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Anti-Poverty Strategy (18 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The effects of the economic recession were most severe during the period of time from 2009-2012. The number of young people experiencing consistent poverty rose sharply in these years – reflecting increased youth unemployment, and, more significantly, increased unemployment among the parents of young adults who were mainly still studying and living at home. Some improvement was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Zero-hour Contracts (18 Oct 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 to address 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 legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: National Minimum Wage (18 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: In October 2016 the Low Pay Commission submitted its report on the sub-minima rates of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, which included a study by the ESRI on the usage of sub-minima rates both in Ireland and internationally. The ESRI found that sub-minima rates of a similar nature are in use in a significant number of OECD countries. The Commission concluded that incidence of usage of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: EU Agreements (18 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The proposed Interinstitutional Proclamation (i.e. between the EU Council, Commission and Parliament) on the European Pillar of Social Rights was published by the Commission in April of this year following an extensive Commission consultation throughout 2016 on the EU Pillar of Social Rights. Ireland has been fully engaged throughout the process, publishing a detailed response to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I was not aware the Taoiseach had promised a meeting so I apologise. I do not know if there is a need for it now but if there is, I am happy to organise it with the relevant people in my Department. I hear what Deputy Daly said. It is not within my gift to put a timeline on the request but I can certainly convey to the authority the details the Deputy has just outlined. To respond to...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Deputies present and those Deputies absent as well. I know it is a particularly rife issue in the environs of Aer Lingus and the constituencies that touch it. I wish to outline that the trustees of any scheme have duties and responsibilities under trust law, other relevant legislation and the Pensions Act 1990, as amended. The duties of pension scheme trustees include...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned suffered an injury at work in November 2016 and claimed Injury Benefit which was awarded and paid. It is standard procedure that customers claiming Injury Benefit and Illness Benefit are routinely referred for a medical assessment by a Medical Assessor of this Department following which their cases are reviewed by a Deciding Officer. In this case the person concerned has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: Entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) is based on PRSI contributions paid by the customer. The main provisions relating to JB are contained in Chapter 12 of Part II of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005, and Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 (S.I. No. 142 of 2007) as amended. Article 65 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: My Department makes a block payment to the CIÉ Group and the apportionment of payment between the three constituent companies, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a matter for the CIE Group to determine. In 2016, €61.4 million was paid to the CIE Group for the free travel scheme. In the early years of the free travel scheme surveys of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 3 August 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 for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (17 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, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 7 September 2017. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24 August 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned submitted an application for Illness Benefit commencing 6 March 2017, but did not satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Although this claim was awarded, no payment was due. The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment. Generally speaking, subject to some other conditions, the fuel...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that an 85% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term jobseekers at a cost of €219 million. Recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) must be in receipt of the payment for a minimum of 15 months (391...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Oct 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 5 October 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: Social Welfare Appeals (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 August 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Bodies Data (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Low Pay Commission. None of the above is a professional body or board within the meaning of the Deputy’s question.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 June 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were received...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is currently in receipt of Fuel Allowance and is receiving this payment on a weekly basis. It is not possible to issue a lump sum fuel payment for the current period as applications have now closed, however the person concerned can complete the Fuel Allowance lump sum form before December 2017 in order to receive the second Fuel Lump sum in January 2018. I trust this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (17 Oct 2017)

Regina Doherty: The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 80 private transport operators. There are approximately...