Results 21,021-21,040 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been made aware of the rent limit since November 2012 and permitted to remain in her current property at a higher rent limit until the expiration of her lease in May 2013 in order to negotiate with the landlord or find alternative accommodation – no exceptional circumstances have been presented to the Department in relation to the person concerned. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision dated 8th of March 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been notified that her rent supplement payment will cease on 31/05/2013. It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. In addition, the person concerned may submit a fresh application should her circumstances change, if the rent on her present accommodation is reduced or if she moves to alternative accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Eligibility (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The 2013 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) scheme will commence on 1 June 2013 and the administrative arrangements are similar to those that applied in 2012, with an expected 115,000 claims fully automated with no application form required. Customers being paid automatically will receive a letter in June informing them of their entitlement and notifying them that payment...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Appeals (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: A decision to refuse mortgage interest supplement in December 2011 was upheld by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in July 2012. While no new application has been received, it remains open to the person concerned to re-apply for mortgage interest supplement if her circumstances have changed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Rights Issues (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: There is no legal definition of a migrant worker in EU law relating to the coordination of social security schemes. However, any national of a Member State has, irrespective of their place of residence, the right to take up an activity as an employed person, and to pursue such activity, within the territory of another Member State in accordance with the provisions laid down by law,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (23 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The State's legal bill in relation to the Department of Social Protection is comprised solely of costs associated with litigation. The legal costs of litigation are not managed by the Department. The Chief State Solicitors Office provides professional advice to the Department in relation to such costs. I am satisfied that the advice provided in relation to such matters is cognisant of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Issues (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Employees earning €38 or more in a week are subject to PRSI, which provides the employee with access to a wide range of long and short term social insurance benefits. For earnings between €38 and €352 a week inclusive, the rate of employer PRSI is 4.25%. No employee PRSI is payable. Where the employee’s weekly earnings exceed €352 per week, employee PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. Past experience suggests that youth unemployment, which tends to rise relatively rapidly in a downturn, can be expected to fall relatively rapidly...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 347 together. Applications for Disability/Invalidity schemes are medically assessed by Medical Assessors in my Department who are fully qualified and experienced practitioners. They provide a second opinion to that of the person’s own doctor. Their assessments conform to the ethical conduct and behaviour guidelines of the Irish Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 14 March 2013. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer who requested clarification on certain issues from the Department of Social Protection on 9 May 2013. This clarification has now been received and the Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The provision whereby people could receive half rate jobseeker’s benefit with certain other payments, including deserted wives benefit, was abolished for new cases in February 2012. Provision was made to allow customers, who were being paid half-rate jobseeker’s benefit immediately prior to 2 February 2012, to continue to be paid on their existing jobseeker’s claim. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 16 November 2012. Taking all the available evidence into account, a deciding officer decided that the person in question was not entitled to carer’s allowance as the care recipient was not in need of full time care and attention. A letter issued on 11 February 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include: - commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age; - payment of a minimum of 520 qualifying contributions; and - achieving a yearly average of at least 10 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, over their working life. In April 2012,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for jobseekers’ assistance on 29 January 2013 which was approved. He also applied for the winter fuel allowance payment. One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this payment is that the person must be living alone; renting a room in a house where others reside does not satisfy this condition. Following a visit to his home by a Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Partial capacity benefit was awarded to the person concerned following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department, who expressed the opinion that her restriction on capacity for work should be assessed as severe. An appeal relating to the extent of the restriction on capacity was opened and in the context of that appeal, I am advised that, as part of the appeals process, the case...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. This department received a claim for invalidity pension for the person concerned on 12 April 2013. The medical evidence provided by the claimant in support of her claim was examined by a medical assessor who was of the opinion that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 24th October 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 20th November 2012 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Statistics (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not collated by the Department. I am however informed that at the end of April in 2012 and at the end of April 2013 there were 515 and 497 recipients respectively of farm assist in County Monaghan. I attach for the Deputy’s information a table breaking down these numbers by office. Number of Recipients of Farm Assist by Office in Monaghan,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (28 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Rent Supplement has been awarded for the person concerned from the initial date of application following confirmation of the rent being reduced to the prescribed limit. The person concerned is in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances.