Results 21,681-21,700 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The heads of both Bills have been cleared. The criminal records (information systems) Bill is expected later this year. A date has not been set for publication of the criminal justice (corruption) Bill.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: There is no date for publication as yet.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is currently on Report Stage in the Dáil.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, is working on an alcohol Bill which will be available later in the year. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is also working on legislation to deal with alcohol. It is hoped this will be available by the end of the year.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I understand there may be discussions ongoing but I cannot say anything more than that.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I will speak to the Minister for Health and I will revert to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Child Benefit is in payment to the person concerned. The case currently being reviewed. When the review is completed the person concerned will be notified of outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (27 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: Community Employment Schemes Review (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Over the last number of years a number of changes have been made to CE to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme. The overall number of places available under CE has been increased by 2,000 to 25,300 (including supervisors) in 2013 with a budget of circa €353m. The composition of participant numbers has changed in recent years with a decline in One Parent Family...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The shorter working year scheme is a centrally agreed scheme where staff can avail of various periods of unpaid leave. The operation of the scheme represents a saving to the Department as those availing of the shorter working year leave are on unpaid leave. In addition, this provides opportunities for the unemployed as the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The Department is committed under its Learning and Development Strategy to provide opportunities for the education of its staff. The Department recognises that investing in learning leads to improved performance and productivity, increased employee engagement and better customer service. In addition to the provision of in-house and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (27 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 16 May 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: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: There does not appear to be any third party documentation, other than the documentation submitted by the applicant or by the office of the deputy on his behalf, received by the Department in respect of the carer’s allowance application from the person concerned. It is open to the person in question to make a request under the FOI Act for all documentation and records held by the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 13 December 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 22 February 2013 advising of the decision. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Creation Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Pathways to Work initiative launched last year signalled the potential of contracting with third party providers to complement the existing capacity of the department to deliver employment services. The potential contribution of contracting and the design of a contracting approach has since been considered by the Department working with an Interdepartmental group, comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Securing EU Council agreement for an EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee was one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency and this was secured during my chairing of the Council of European Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO). The Recommendation is that Member States should: Ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 30th May 2013, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 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 24th 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 these are received in the Appeals Office the case will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (27 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 or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these are received in the Appeals Office the case will be referred to...