Results 22,081-22,100 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 306, inclusive, together. The following estimates are based on the latest data available to the Department. Full year costs/yields are shown. First year costs/yields are a function of the chosen implementation date of PRSI changes in 2014. The costings below are based on Class A Employer rates of the indicated rates and do not include the amount...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 361 together. All workers pay PRSI on their earnings from employment. If an employee has earned income from self-employment, PRSI as a self-employed contributor is also payable on the profits from that self-employed activity as well as from any other unearned income the individual may have. Similarly a self-employed contributor (who is not an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I cannot comment on any particular scheme. The Pensions Board supervises the regulation of individual schemes in accordance with the Pensions Act.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the challenges facing the trustees and the sponsoring employers of defined benefit pension schemes. The majority of defined benefit pension schemes are in deficit and face serious challenges in restoring their funding levels to enable the scheme deliver on the pension promise. It is acknowledged that the fundamental problem, facing pension schemes is that pensions are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 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 26th June 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 Benefits Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Over 2,000 persons are employed as retained (part-time) fire-fighters, providing services which are vitally important to their communities. Typically, these workers provide services in rural and less densely populated areas but larger urban centres may also have a cohort of part-time workers. Retained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed are entitled to a jobseeker's payment in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has not yet made an application for an exceptional needs payment. The relevant forms were posted to her on 16th July 2013. She should complete the forms and return them to her local community welfare office for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Information and Communications Technology Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has relied heavily on the effective and extensive use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) over the years and continues to do so. The Department is currently engaged in major transformation programmes to meet Government objectives, for example in relation to activation and supporting the provision of integrated income support and activation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people 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: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: In June 2013 there were 895 CE participants on drug rehabilitation places, this includes 158 support workers. (See Table 1 below) This is a significant improvement in the number of participants on CE drug rehabilitation places when compared to January 2012 when a total of 578 (including support workers) were recorded. Table 1: Ring-fenced Drug Rehabilitation, June 2013 - Referred...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the application for carer's allowance from the person in question was refused on 4th April 2013 on the ground that, based upon the evidence provided, the person being cared for was not in need of full-time care and attention. The person in question subsequently submitted additional evidence in support of the application and requested a review of the decision. The review...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The full range of Intreo employment and support services for customers in the Ashbourne area are provided from the Department's Intreo Centre in Finglas, Dublin 11. Activation Group Engagement sessions are held locally in Ashbourne in order to further facilitate customers. In addition, Community Welfare Services for the area are administered from Ashbourne Health Centre. The Intreo...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Yield (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The table details the revenue raising PRSI measures introduced in Budget 2011 and subsequent Budgets and the yield as estimated at the time of the relevant Budget. PRSI measures which increase the yield to the Social Insurance Fund do not count towards the achievement of departmental expenditure ceilings. Table; PRSI Budget Measures, 2011 to 2013 - 2011 2012 2013 2014 - €m...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Garda Vetting of Personnel (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: At present over 1,200 applications to the Central Garda Vetting Unit from Community Employment (CE) are awaiting approval. It is worth noting that there has been an increase of 43% in the volume of CE applications for Garda Vetting this year. The Department of Justice estimates that the current average processing time for applications is approximately 12 to 14 weeks from the date of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 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. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people 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. There are approximately 84,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The control process is an integral part of the day-to-day operations of the Department and all staff involved in the administration of the various social welfare schemes are acutely aware of the need to implement appropriate controls at every stage of the process. There are some 640 staff dedicated to control activities. This includes approximately 400 Social Welfare and Special...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Garda Vetting of Personnel (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: Authorised staff from the Department of Social Protection are in touch with the Garda Central Vetting Unit on a regular basis. At present over 1,200 applications to the Central Garda Vetting Unit from Community Employment (CE) are awaiting approval. It is however worth noting that there has been an increase of 43% in the volume of CE applications for Garda Vetting this year. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Agencies Pension Provisions (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Board, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman come under the aegis of my Department. All schemes are unfunded. Details in relation to salary contributions are set out in the tabular statement below: PENSIONS BOARD PENSIONS SCHEME EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION ( All employer contributions are remitted to Department of Social Protection) EMPLOYEE...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Expenditure (18 Jul 2013)

Joan Burton: On taking office, this Government reformed the transport arrangement for Ministers which has radically reduced the cost of travel. The Government decision involved confining the use of State cars from 1 May 2011 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. As a result, the average cost of providing transport has been reduced by 65% - from an average cost...