Results 121-140 of 7,690 for speaker:Regina Doherty in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (3 Jun 2020)

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 4 March 2020.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has been in receipt of a Disability Allowance, Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Allowance since 1/7/2015.  She has also been in receipt of a Telephone Support Allowance since 6/6/2018 and Household Benefits Package, comprising an allowance towards the cost of electricity/gas and free television licence since 1/6/2006. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: At the outset, it is important to note that the majority of people in receipt of a payment from my Department receive what they are entitled to.  Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system by a small minority is an ongoing reality and must be tackled.  Anti-fraud measures are set out in my Department’s Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The Government has provided €53.98m for the scheme in 2020 which operates from June to September. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  It is an income support payment for both employees and the self-employed who have become fully unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19.  The Covid-19 PUP is payable where a person meeting the qualifying criteria became...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1088 and 1091 together. CE is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring bodies that receive state funding from the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Jun 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).  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 least 10 years of paid contributions over 50 years of a working age life. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1093, 1100 and 1101 together. The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.  This payment is payable to people of working age between 18 and up to 66 which is consistent with other Social...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094 and 1145 together. Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,400 recipients.   The scheme provides short-term income support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The support is available to someone looking to take the first steps into self-employment when setting up a new business.  It allows someone to retain a reducing proportion of their...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  To be eligible for the Covid-19 PUP a person must have been in employment or self-employment on or after 06/03/2020 and must have lost their employment or self-employment due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19.  According to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.  It is proposed that workers in respect of the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment should be granted paid contributions for the duration of the emergency measures.  This will...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28 April 2020.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: Since the launch of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 16th March, 2020, the Department has issued at least one payment to 681,000 people up to week ending May 23rd 2020. I am advised that approximately 13% of these recipients had received a Social Welfare payment in the first three months of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The most recent PRSI/earnings data available refers to the year 2018. In order to accurately calculate income inclusive of social protection payments, information on social protection payments also refers to the year 2018. The following table is restricted to PUP recipients where PRSI/earnings data is available. Separately, the average weekly social protection payment...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobs Protection (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: From the outset of Covid-19, many employers will have taken the initiative, in line with subsequent requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children who are not attending school or crèche, or other family members who have an underlying medical condition.  Employers have a general duty of care towards...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  To be eligible for the Covid-19 PUP, a person must have been in employment or self-employment on or after 6/3/2020 and must have lost their employment or self-employment due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19.  According to the records of my...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: In order to qualify for disability allowance, a person must be aged between 16 and 66, satisfy a medical and means test and be habitually resident in the State. The EU Regulations on Social Security Coordination provide for common rules to protect a person’s social security rights when moving within Europe.  These Regulations contain a number of key principles, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (3 Jun 2020)

Regina Doherty: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, (CIB) provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS also provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears. South Connacht MABS...