Results 1,741-1,760 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The 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 over 80 private transport operators.  There are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Applications (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work, weekly payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children, relative to their family size. An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 04 September 2019. Their application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for further clarification on 11 September 2019. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Enforcement Notice was formally served on my Department by registered post on Tuesday, 11th December, last.  My Department is carefully considering the terms of the Enforcement Notice before determining an appropriate response. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment, payable during winter months, to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.  The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Applications (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: An application for state pension (non-contributory) was received from the person concerned on 7 November 2019.A request for further information was issued to the person concerned on 19 November 2019.  As no response has been received to date, a reminder has issued to the person to return the required information. On examination of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The severe material deprivation rate is an indicator derived from Eurostat EU-SILC data that expresses the inability to afford some items considered by most people to be desirable, or even necessary, to lead an adequate life.  The indicator distinguishes between individuals who cannot afford a certain good or service, and those who do not have this good or service for another...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.  Appeals which had a favourable outcome for the appellant consist of appeals which were either allowed in full or in part by an Appeals Officer,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Data (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.  An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes Data (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Penalty rates were introduced in 2011 as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage with activation measures and to co-operate with efforts of the Department to assist them in securing employment.  The Department is committed, under Pathways to Work, to incentivise the take-up of activation opportunities, and this includes implementing sanctions for failure to engage where...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Data (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The measurement of material deprivation for those not at work due to an illness or disability is different in the national context compared to the EU context.  In the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), disability is based on the concept of global activity limitation.  This is defined as a “limitation in activities people usually do...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: "A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023" was launched on the 28th February 2018.  It contains six actions which will modernise Ireland's pension system while continuing to target resources at those most in need.  Among those six strands was reform of the State Pension, including the introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) for all pensioners. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to ensuring that claims for its schemes are processed as quickly as possible.  The following table shows claims performance results for November 2019: Scheme No. of applications pending Average No. of weeks to award State pension (contributory) 5,079 7 Widow(er)'s...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment, payable during winter months, to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.  The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities.  The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. The programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am informed that two workers associated with the film industry have applied to the Scope Section of my Department for a decision in relation to their employment status.  These cases are currently with Social Welfare Inspectors for investigation.  It should be noted that any individual who wishes to have a decision made on their employment status should...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Living Alone Allowance (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: The person concerned applied for the living alone increase on 8 November 2019, stating that they were residing alone since 3 November 2019. This allowance was awarded with effect from 8 November 2019, the Friday following date of receipt of their application. As the person was already in receipt of fuel allowance, they were then automatically entitled to the telephone support allowance, also...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: According to the records of my Department, an application for a Jobseeker’s payment has not been received from the person concerned.   It is open to the person concerned to call to the Finglas Intreo Centre where she can receive information and submit an application for a Jobseeker’s payment.  Following completion of an assessment of the application, a decision...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. In order to satisfy the habitual residence condition, the person must have a legal right of residence in the State. An...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am advised that the claim for maternity benefit from the person concerned was disallowed as she did not satisfy the contribution criteria. To qualify for maternity benefit a woman must be in insurable employment that is covered by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, immediately before the first day of maternity leave and must also fulfill the PRSI contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 28 August 2019. The...