Results 1-20 of 157 for 5 million speaker:Regina Doherty

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2022)

Regina Doherty: ...who buy local newspapers for court reports, local sports news and so on, the value of local journalism. Their value is not lost on anybody. Local newspapers have a significant readership of 1.3 million and when one considers the fact that we have a population of only 5 million, most of whom live in our cities, that is a significant number. What was not highlighted this morning is the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2022)

Regina Doherty: .... The Senator also asked that the spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, test be included in the budget considerations this year. Another colleague had also raised this issue in the last week. It is a €5 test. It is nothing in comparison to the impact of catching that horrible disease early. The impact, especially for the families of the children involved, would be enormous. I concur...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

Regina Doherty: ...Government responses. In framing the budget last year, the Government was acutely aware that there was an increase in the cost of living and appropriately responded by not only providing a tax package of €550 million to allow people to retain more money in their pockets and to account for the inflation, but also a social welfare budget of which I was envious because it was over...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Feb 2022)

Regina Doherty: ...away of Ms Ronnie Fay in the past couple of days. She was widely known and highly regarded and respected within the Traveller community because of her human rights campaign, which she championed over 35 years. She was a very proud Skerrieswoman. She taught camogie and mentored the girls' teams for donkey's years. Above all, she was a wonderful, kind-hearted, generous, sweet, sweet...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2021)

Regina Doherty: ...days next week before Easter. However, I will do my level best to try and get a debate on living with Covid and reopening, before what we hope will be some easing of restrictions announced on 5 April. Senators Warfield and Boylan brought up the Sinn Féin Private Members' Bill in the Dáil. We all welcome the €12.5 million that was announced in the urban regeneration fund...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2021)

Regina Doherty: ...in Cork. I note the irony of the call on the Minister by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties yesterday to look for safe guidelines regarding how public protests can be conducted under a level 5 lockdown. I think it is as clear as mud to even the brightest person in the country that the level 5 restrictions are impinging on all our movements for our positive good health. There is a way...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Regina Doherty: ...constitute the third banking force we so desperately need. Senator Davitt talked about the delays in processing passports and driver licences, among other items. I appreciate that we are in level 5 lockdown and that that has curtailed services, but it is not acceptable that Government and State services cease completely. We have to find a way to continue to provide those services, even...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2021)

Regina Doherty: .... That would stop people hiding them in hedges or hanging them on bushes. The idiocy of people who do that never ceases to amaze me but it can only be because they do not want to carry them the 5 km around their villages. The real need is not to have an awareness campaign, and it would very valuable, but to put bins on all walks and greenways in our villages. We need to be forward...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Regina Doherty: ..., it should be clear to all of us that is exactly what will cause the major impetus on the change of life we all expect to come in the years and decades ahead. Senator Garvey welcomed the €50 million rural infrastructure fund for walking and cycling in the countryside. I must concur. This is really welcome. I wish to God it was not just for rural Ireland. Some money is probably...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: ...Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 970,000 customers with direct eligibility. In Budget 2019 the funding for the free travel scheme was increased by €5 million to a total of €95 million. The objective of the free travel scheme is to assist older people and people with disabilities in remaining active within...

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

Regina Doherty: ...over 80 private transport operators.  There are currently approximately 961,000 customers with direct eligibility.  Following announcements in Budget 2019, the funding for the free travel scheme was increased by €5 million to a total of €95 million. In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (17 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...its vital role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 17,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019. The additional full year cost for 17,200 customers, increasing rent limits by: 5%; 10%; 15%; 20%; and 25%, respectively, is provided in the tabular statement below....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (12 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together. In order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, successive Governments have considered the sustainability challenges faced by the Pensions system as a result of changing demographics in Ireland. In 2007, Minister Cullen launched the Green Paper on Pensions, which proposed raising the Pension Age....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Data (10 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...pension age was standardised at 66. This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 has stated that future changes in State pension age after 2035 will be based on research into life expectancy. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (4 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...report and intend to publish it and make it available to the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. On budget day, I announced the abolition of the age-related rates for 25 year olds and for those aged 18 to 24 who are living independently and receiving State housing supports. These targeted measures will benefit approximately 2,100 young people from January 2020...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Poverty (4 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...recipients will benefit from the increases and new activities in 2020. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the household benefits scheme, at an estimated cost of €188 million in 2019. In budget 2020, I extended the household benefits package to people under 70 who have another adult living with them. I also announced a €5 increase in the living...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Second Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...introducing measures which should provide real support to those who are most reliant on the State. In 2020, we will spend €21.2 billion on social protection. That figure includes more than €170 million in additional social welfare expenditure specifically targeting those most in need. In particular, an increase of €5 per week in the living alone allowance will...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank the Chair and committee members for the invitation to appear before them. I am seeking a Supplementary Estimate of €100 million for 2019. The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is primarily to fund the Christmas bonus for Vote 37 social assistance recipients. The Christmas bonus will be paid next week. I was pleased that we could restore the Christmas bonus last year,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...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 approx. 953,000 customers with direct eligibility.  In Budget 2019 the funding for the free travel scheme was increased by €5 million to a total of €95 million...

Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: ...who have only one income, as opposed to some pensioners who have two, but we all recognise that we would have liked to have done an awful lot better. It does not take much time to spend the €140 million available. I acknowledge what the Deputies have said and I hear it. I will talk about some of the particular issues that were raised between last night and today and will try...