Results 22,001-22,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The non-commercial State sponsored bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also comes under the remit of the Department. Annual salaries, (post Haddington Road Agreement) are set out below in tabular form. Agency Annual Salary CEO Citizens Information Board € 112,577...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 515 together. The details of professional fees paid my Department for the period 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013 are set out in the following table. Company Category Amount (€) Accenture IT €1,065,222 Arthur Cox Solicitors Legal €3,703 BearingPoint Ireland Ltd. IT €3,865,764 Compasspoint Ltd. Project Management...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed under its Learning and Development Strategy to provide opportunities for the education and development of its staff. The Department recognises that investment in learning leads to improved performance and productivity, increased employee engagement and better customer service. Business areas offer development opportunities to staff through internal training,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 517 together. The information requested by the Deputy is provided in Tables 1 and 2 below. Table 1: Travel and Subsistence, 2013 REV Estimate Department of Social Protection 2013 Travel and Subsistence- Total 2013 Estimate €5,692,000 1% Reduction Saving €56,920 5% Reduction Saving €284,600 7% Reduction Saving €398,440...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries of my Special Advisors is set out in the tabular statement below. Title Annual Salary Post Implementation  of the Haddington Road  Agreement Savings if the salary is Capped at the 1ST Point of PO Scale Press Advisor €75,647 (1st point of PO scale) N/A Special Advisor €119,572 €43,925...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on the 13th August 2013. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 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 from the Department, the case in question will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (16 Jul 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. Medical eligibility for invalidity pension is determined by the severity and expected duration of the medical condition. All medical assessments and medical reviews are undertaken by fully qualified medical practitioners who have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The following table shows the grants awarded to projects within County Kildare for each of the past four years from this Department. Organisation Address Year and Name of Grant Scheme Summary Amount Awarded Kildare Town Youth Project Unit 1 & 2 Fairview Kildare Town Co Kildare 2010 - European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion Funding Initiative 2010 To explore...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Programme for Government Implementation (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Programme for Government commits to implementing a fundamental programme of reform of the system of social protection. The scale of this reform is challenging and wide-reaching. I am committed to working with the Department and its agencies in the delivery of the commitments in this Programme for Government and substantial progress on many of the commitments has already been made. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following. Agency/ Board Name of Company Service Supplied Expenditure Citizens Information Board* Marketing Network 0761 telephone...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are currently 41 Appeals Officers dealing with social welfare appeals. There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals received was 15,000 per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy Status (16 Jul 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 at...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 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 these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department does not hold information regarding the number of children in direct provision. In order to qualify for payment of child benefit, a person must satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition. Section 246 (7) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 lists persons who shall not be regarded as habitually resident and this includes those who are at any stage of the asylum process,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Employment Service Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The department contracts for the provision of the local employment service (LES) with 22 local development/community companies, the details of which are set out in the following list. These organisations deliver employment services through a network of offices and outreach clinics. The LES provide services for both jobseekers who are referred to them by the department for activation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: This application for carer's allowance was disallowed in November 2011 on two grounds, namely, that the person in question is not habitually resident in the State and that the care recipient is not in need of full-time care and attention. The person in question appealed this decision. Unfortunately, there has been a delay in the preparation of an appeal submission by the deciding officer...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Black Economy Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: A key priority for Government is to ensure that fraudulent activity within the social welfare system is vigorously prevented and combatted. A key element of this is the active policing of the black economy sector where there is a prevalence of social welfare fraud and tax non-compliance. A range of specific activities are being undertaken to ensure that the black economy is appropriately...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (16 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4 April 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social...