Results 361-380 of 7,690 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Regina Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Applications (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: An application for state pension non-contributory was initially submitted by the person concerned on 24 September 2019. I am advised that on the 23 October 2019 the person’s file was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for interview of the applicant and determination of their income and assets for the purposes of the applicable means test. On 5 November 2019, the person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions paid by employees, employers, self-employed people and voluntary contributors is income to the Social Insurance Fund and not to the Vote. Any increase in the rate of PRSI contribution, including that paid by employers, would increase the annual income to the Social Insurance Fund. It is estimated that increasing the public and private sector...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: An application for the Household Benefits Package was received from the person concerned on 6 September 2016. A cash Electricity Allowance and Free TV Licence were awarded with effect from the applicant's 70th birthday, the 15 August 2016, the earliest date of qualification.This allowance continues to be paid to the person's nominated bank account on the first Tuesday of each month at a rate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Government is committed to enhancing the position of the self-employed through improving the level of PRSI based benefits available to self-employed people and through a supportive tax regime. Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which covers them for access to long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1187 and 1198 together. A number of income supports are available from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for people whose employers do not continue to pay them during a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) related absence or temporary lay-off from work A person who is medically required to self-isolate or has been diagnosed with Covid-19 in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Pre-entry credits are awarded when a person takes up insurable employment for the first time and pays a full rate PRSI contribution (excluding contributions paid at class B, C, D, J and S). Pre-entry credits are awarded from the beginning of the relevant contribution year up to the date of commencement of that employment. Pre-entry credits in the year the employment commenced can be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave Expenditure (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Minister for Justice and Equality has policy responsibility for parental leave. My Department has responsibility for the payment of parent’s benefit which is provided for in the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019. Parent’s benefit is paid for 2 weeks per parent at a rate of €245 per week in respect of all children born on or after 1 November 2019. In...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Reviews (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: My Department is obliged to recover all debt owed to it as quickly as possible and within the relevant legislation and guidelines governing the recovery of debt. The person concerned has an outstanding debt and proposals on its recovery have been made to her. Under social welfare legislation, a weekly deduction of 15% of the personal rate of all payments can be deducted without written...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Payments (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: My Department is very mindful of the situation of low income families and one parent families during the current outbreak of COVID-19. A lone parent who is currently in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment, or the Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, who loses their employment due to COVID-19 can apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be paid...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: My Department is taking all necessary measures, in line with the advice of the Department of Health, HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), to respond to the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. In March, in order to comply with social distancing requirements, the Department introduced fortnightly payments instead of weekly. The purpose of this change...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to over 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Working Family Payment Payments (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: My Department is committed to playing its part in the overall Government, and indeed national, response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Department is very mindful of the situation of families and people during the current outbreak of COVID-19 and is continually reviewing the impact of and supports available to those affected. The Working Family Payment provides support for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: This Parliamentary Question does not fall under the remit of my Department. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has no function in regard to disconnections and does not apply any sanctions of this kind. Disconnections and Sanctions for unpaid energy bills are a regulatory matter for the Independent Regulator. I hope this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: FEAD supports the actions of EU countries to provide material assistance to the most deprived. These activities are funded through the national Food and/or Basic Material Assistance Operational Programme. My Department is the Managing Authority (MA) for the Operational Programme and has responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland. Support provided through FEAD...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is determined on a case by case basis based on an individual's social insurance record built up over their working lifetime. Specifically, the State Pension (Contributory) is available for those who have paid at least 520 reckonable social insurance contributions and who have reached their 66th birthday. It should be noted that not all...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: In April 2012, the number of paid PRSI contributions required to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) increased from 260 to 520. The enabling legislation was contained in the Social Welfare Act 1997. Given that the actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000, it is considered reasonable to require people who claim a contributory pension to have made at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Rights (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: The importance of electronic communications to the success of many businesses and organisations has been highlighted by the Covid-19 crisis. The increased use of mobile technology, which is already a well-established aspect of the modern workforce, has enabled many workers to remain connected and in employment, despite the closure or reduction of workspaces. However, a long-acknowledged,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Payments (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Working Family Payment (WFP) formerly known as Family Income Supplement , is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. The person concerned is currently in receipt of WFP at a rate of €180 per week. This payment will not be affected if she has been laid off work due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The Covid 19 Pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: In April 2012, the number of paid PRSI contributions required to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) increased from 260 to 520. The enabling legislation that brought about this change was contained in the Social Welfare Act 1997. The actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000 which requires people who claim a contributory pension to have made at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (13 May 2020)

Regina Doherty: Following from the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Department has put a policy and procedures in place to provide information to and assist workers who wish to make protected disclosures. The Policy and procedures are made available on . All submissions made are assessed by a designated group of senior managers and investigations are then carried out where deemed...