Results 21,161-21,180 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of planned State pension reform measures underway and the standardisation of State Pension age at 66 in 2014 is one of the changes, together with changes to rate bands for State pension and the increase to 520 paid contributions. The State pension is a very valuable asset and therefore it is important that those who avail of it have made a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently approximately 86,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013. Rent supplement is calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent, has an income equal to the basic supplementary welfare allowance rate, less a specified weekly minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Services for People with Disabilities (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Access to transport services for persons with mobility impairments is primarily as matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sports and the Health Services Executive. In a number of instances nationally, the Department of Social Protection, through the Community Services Programme (CSP), has been able to support the provision of services by community companies. Contracts under the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (29 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 31 January 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27 May...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. The waiting lists and processing times for carer’s allowance were unacceptable in 2012 but significant improvements have been made in the past year by my Department. The backlog of carer’s allowance applications has been eliminated and processing times have improved greatly, with new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Gender Recognition (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: As I have indicated on a number of occasions I want the legislation to deal with the gender recognition advanced as quickly as possible. The issues involved are complex and have implications for other areas of Government. I realise also that this is a very sensitive area for those involved and people are naturally keen that the legislation be brought forward quickly. I understand that but I...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 16th May 2013. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was launched on 1st July 2011. The Scheme has made very significant progress. As at 24th May 2013, 17,609 internships have commenced. There are currently 6,104 jobseekers undertaking internship opportunities. In addition, there are 2,218 internship opportunities available across a wide number of occupational sectors and geographic areas being...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by designated officers in the Departments Community Welfare Service. The Minister has no function in relation to individual cases. Where persons are in need of once off assistance in relation to an exceptional need, they should contact their local Community Welfare Service to have their entitlement considered. As previously advised,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned submitted an application for Jobseeker’s allowance and was refused as his means from parental income exceeded the prescribed limits for receipt of this allowance. The person was notified of this decision and appealed same on 3 December, 2012. His case is currently with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was scheduled for oral hearing by an Appeals Officer on 27 May 2013. As soon as the Appeals Officer has had an opportunity to fully consider all the evidence, including that adduced at the oral hearing, a decision will issue to the person concerned. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: European Council Meetings (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) is the relevant Council formation dealing with issues relating to social protection. The work of EPSCO also covers issues relevant to other Departments including Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Justice and Equality, Education and Skills and, to a lesser extent, Environment, Community and Local Government. To date,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Parliamentary Questions Numbers (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: There were five parliamentary questions withdrawn on the basis that the information would be provided directly to the Deputy. Their details are laid out in the table below. PQ No. PQ Date Date information provided 3160/13 23/01/13 18/01/13 16625/13 16/04/13 10/04/13 19118/13 23/04/13 08/05/13 20582/13 01/05/13 The PQ was withdrawn based on the information provided. Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible tenants living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Government is very aware of the serious funding challenges facing pension schemes. It is acknowledged that the fundamental problem is that pensions are significantly more expensive due to increasing life expectancy and lower than expected investment returns which are reflected in increased annuity rates. You will be aware of the range of both administrative and legislative measures that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Those who leave the workplace for homemaking/caring purposes can, if eligible, avail of the homemakers scheme which helps to provide a higher rate of pension for those who meet the qualifying conditions. The homemaker scheme comprises a period of disregard when calculating eligibility for a State pension so time taken out of the workforce for caring duties for those who qualify for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department's debt management strategy is set out in the Fraud Initiative which I published in September 2011. It outlines that every effort must be made to prevent overpayments, but, if they occur, they should be regarded as a debt to the Exchequer, and every effort will be made to recover the amounts through all available means. Overpayments are generally defined as money obtained...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Numbers (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The staffing needs for all offices within my Department are continuously reviewed, having regard to workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, taking account of the Employment Control Framework (ECF) target, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Vacancies across the Department are prioritised according to their criticality. I can assure...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (29 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. There are approximately 13,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €42 million for in 2013. The Department's review of the administrative,...