Results 21,461-21,480 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Care Services Provision (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Childcare policy and the provision of childcare is the responsibility of my colleague Minister Frances Fitzgerald, T.D. and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs currently administers the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Employment and Training Support Scheme (CETS). CCS funds some 1,000 community-based...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 March 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 13 June...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Over the last number of years, a number of changes have been made to community employment to improve cost efficiency and programme effectiveness. The change process is ongoing and the Department is committed to the maintaining and improving the programme. The overall number of places available under community employment has been increased by 2,000 to 25,300 (including supervisors) in 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The child benefit claim of the person concerned has been disallowed as she does not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition. She has been informed of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 14th June 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. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: A decision regarding payment of arrears of jobseeker's allowance for the period 3rd January to 30th January 2013 cannot be made until the person concerned outlines his reason(s) for failing to collect the supplementary payments during this period. The prospective employer's letter provided by the person concerned was dated 6th January 2013. The Deciding Officer rang the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: When investigating eligibility for social assistance schemes, it is necessary to ask applicants to provide financial information as part of the means assessment process. It is normal practice that the customer is given the opportunity either to obtain the information him/herself directly from the financial institution or, alternatively, they can provide a mandate authorising a Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an oral hearing, of this case, was scheduled to be heard on 19th February 2013. At the hearing the person concerned, through his solicitor, requested an adjournment of the hearing pending the receipt of his file which had been requested but not yet received. The request for an adjournment was granted. The Appeals Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Carer’s allowance section has been involved in a business process improvement review and backlog elimination programme. New structures and processes were set up to deal with the normal weekly intake of new claims along with a dedicated team to clear the backlog of claims that had built up over the course of 18 months or so. All backlogged claims were actioned by the target date of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Permanently incapable of work is defined as an incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be incapable of work for life or an incapacity...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 30th April 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. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: With regard to the first amendment, this is really a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation because the legislation in regard to employment terms and conditions is a matter for that Department. I assume this is the primary reason the amendment was ruled out of order. The Department of Social Protection took over the administration of the redundancy and insolvency...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I will be coming back to this in any event as we are examining the legislation surrounding it. In the context of the budget, it is important to understand that in terms of the sustainability of Irish debt, one of the agreements made with the troika in 2010 was to review pension conditionality and pension ages. That review, which was agreed by the former Government in 2010 and formed part of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The practice in social welfare offices throughout the country in regard to older people is what I would call highly pragmatic. I have not heard of many cases of, as the Senator suggests, people being forced. In fact, I would say the one thing notable for its absence in the Irish social welfare system is anybody being forced. What we have is a highly organised support structure to enable...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: We are rolling out the new Intreo offices, which are integrated, around the country. We have a constraint. The OPW is our agent in getting new or refurbished premises. Understandably this takes some time. I had the pleasure, however, of being in the Killarney office recently with Senator Moloney, which is a new Intreo office and it really has transformed and improved the quality of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I shall be delighted to do that and I shall attend in person. I hope that the Senator will be inside the office rather than outside.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I shall be delighted to provide the Senator with an invitation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Unsupported.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the section is to extend PRSI to the private income of public servants who have a public service income. For example, hospital consultants may have a significant private income. The last report by the VHI stated that 300 hospital consultants earned in excess of €100,000 from their private income via the VHI. For historical reasons the private income was not subject to...