Results 10,301-10,320 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned made an application for jobseekers allowance in the Kilbarrack Intreo Centre in April 2017. This application was refused on the basis that he was not habitually resident in the State. The applicant was informed of this decision in writing and afforded the right of appeal, which he declined. If a person is unemployed and does not qualify for an unemployment payment, they...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: A fuel allowance (FA) is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments and who also satisfy certain other conditions. The person concerned is in receipt of carer’s allowance from my Department. Carer’s allowance is not one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The introduction of an allowance for pensioners for domestic refuse collection by my Department would not be feasible given the wide range of charging regimes and cost structures that exist in respect of waste management throughout the State. As you know charges vary across local authorities and within local authorities where there is more than one provider. In addition, some local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: My Department has not yet set any definitive date for the replacement of the old form of paper free travel pass with the new Public Services Card- Free Travel variant (PSC-FT). I am anxious to do this as soon as possible given the benefits of the PSC-FT to both the customers and travel operators. I will not withdraw the use of the old type pass, however, until I am satisfied that all...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned submitted an application for supplementary welfare allowance with effect from 29/5/2017. Certain documentation was requested in order to process her application. This documentation is still outstanding. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment. It is open to her to contact her...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The cost of all work including investigations, completed by external agencies/consultants during 2015 and 2016 in the areas of human resources and industrial relations contracted out by my Department and by the bodies that come under its aegis are outlined in the following table. Department/Agency Cost 2015 Cost 2016 Department of Social Protection €56,390 €52,551 Citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (22 Jun 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. CA is in payment to the person concerned since 23 May 2002 and a review was recently...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned is in receipt of a full rate of Rent Supplement entitlement based on their monthly rent, weekly income and family composition. All payments for 2017 are up to date. The person concerned submitted documentation to the Department on 21/6/17, requesting that Rent Supplement payments be issued to an alternate bank account. Accordingly, on the same day, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment as a result of difficulties pertaining to the accumulation of outstanding rent arrears. The person concerned received financial assistance on 8/5/2017 towards the cost of school expenses as a result of costs incurred at the time of the recent death of her mother....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Following an examination of the department’s systems it has been determined that the person concerned has not made an application for any payment. If they wish to do so they can complete the necessary application form and submit it to the department for decision. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Eligibility (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has met with a departmental case officer on a number of occasions to discuss various self-employment options he was considering and the supports available from the department in this regard. The back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) scheme is available to support persons who are long-term unemployed and wish to develop or take up self-employment opportunities....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (22 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned has been requested to submit to the Department documentation in relation to his rent increase that will allow re-assessment of his Rent Supplement claim in line with recent legislation. The Deputy will be aware that Naas has been designated as a Rental Pressure Zone (RPZ). Under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, rents are only...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. It is an honour to be in this House. This is my first time here as a senior Minister and I am very privileged to attend. I thank Senator Gallagher for rasing this issue. He is aware that I was only given the brief for my new role a week ago. I am currently being briefed on the entirety of the Department's brief and amalgamating the role of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I am probably speaking out of turn but it does seem to be incredibly unfair. I made representations for a particular lady in the last number of years. She worked in the UK for two years when she was younger and gets a pension cheque from the UK every week and yet we will give her nothing. There is an anomaly there and we certainly will be looking at it.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Data (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together. Reports from members of the public on their suspicions of social welfare fraud or wrongdoing are an important element in my Department’s overall efforts to prevent and detect fraudulent activity. Since the launch of the recent campaign on 18 April last, 4,859 reports have been received from members of the public....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Applications (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 22 May 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 Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 7 February 2017. It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must provide full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. Social welfare legislation defines a person as requiring full time care and attention where...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Websites (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: Jobsireland.ie is a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. At 20 years old, the original site was showing its age. For example, although it enabled jobseekers to search for job opportunities based on job type and location, it wasn’t possible for employers to search for suitable...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts Data (21 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: The amount spent by my department on outside contract and or third party public relations advice and training in past three years to date in 2017, by year and company engaged, in tabular form is as follows: Year Company Amount € Yearly Total € 2014 Carr Communications 1,150.00 1,150.00 2015 Carr Communications 3,150.00 3,150.00 2016 Public Relations Institute of Ireland...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2017)

Regina Doherty: A Cheann Comhairle-----