Results 21,561-21,580 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: We do not want a situation where the recovery of the amount is so onerous that the person would go on social welfare. If the person is in employment or has a business the object is not to destabilise that in any way but to reach a reasonable arrangement to recover the amounts.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I understand the point of view shared by the Senators and confess to tabling similar amendments. However, I am not in a position to accept the amendment. The amendment proposes that the premier title be "An Chomhairle na Pinsean". The English version is being used again because, in this particular case, it will be easier for the majority of the public to recognise and identify the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Senator will be aware that I published the first comprehensive Government report on charges attached to pension provision in Ireland last October. The purpose of the pension charges report was to gather information on the level of pension charges levied in Ireland, to assess whether charges are reasonable and transparent, to report on the findings and to make recommendations. The report...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: We have an existing Pensions Board, which was established in the early 1990s. While it does have consumer interests, representatives of trade unions and employers on the board, there is a large complement of people from various sectors of the pensions industry. I am anxious for the new council to have a strong consumer orientation. Younger people are, by and large, entering into defined...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has only three boards and representation of women on those boards is exceptionally strong. The Department contributes extensively to the Government meeting the overall requirement of 40% in gender representation of either gender. We will advertise the positions on the pensions council under the Public Appointments Service as vacancies on the Citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Expenditure (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The objective of the Department’s working age employment supports, including the back to education allowance, is to remove barriers to employment in order to help people to enter or remain in employment. This is an integral part of the implementation of the Pathways to Work policy and the activation of jobseekers. In 2013, €1,056 million is being provided for this programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. When the information becomes available, my Department will furnish it to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project with all Department local offices upgraded to full Intreo offices by the end of 2014. The delivery of the Intreo service comprises a number of elements. The main elements being: i.- The integration of the various welfare decision making processes to speed up decision making and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Statistics (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I will be in touch with him directly with the information as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department’s Intreo initiative is being progressively rolled out to its national network of local offices. Key elements of the new service include activation measures such as client profiling, early group engagement and one-to-one meetings which focus on customised employment supports and monitoring of each client’s progress. In addition, an integrated decision-making...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently 23 Medical Assessors employed in my Department, including the Chief Medical Adviser and the Deputy Chief Medical Adviser and all of the staff in question serve on a full-time basis. All Medical Assessors undergo training to assess all the various illness related schemes including appeals cases. Since 2009, the cadre of Medical Assessors has been generally between 23-25...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: While male employees are not entitled under Irish law to either paid or unpaid paternity leave, they may be entitled to parental leave. Parental leave entitles parents who qualify to take a period of up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave from employment, generally in respect of children aged up to eight years. There is no provision for a social insurance based payment for periods of parental...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). In 2011 I established the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare to meet the commitment made in the Programme for Government. The Advisory Group is charged...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (26 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 the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 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 5th February 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 28th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 22nd October 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. A letter issued on the 30th of January 2013 refusing the allowance....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Payments (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers' Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work. Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection so that people can continue living...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (26 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 11th June 2013. 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 received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. The effect of the condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere would not normally be entitled to social welfare assistance or child benefit payments on arrival in Ireland. Guidelines were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (26 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is...