Results 22,341-22,360 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Budget Submissions (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 338 and 340 together. The issues raised in these PQs are contained in a budget submission received from the Wicklow Active Retirement Association. As I have stated on a number of occasions, there are considerable challenges ahead to protect, as far as possible, the key income supports provided by my Department which impact in some way on the lives of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme. The numbers availing of BTEA and the associated cost of the scheme has risen dramatically in recent years. Numbers for the current 2012/13 academic year are 25,961 which represents a 191% increase on the 2007/08 numbers. As the Deputy will appreciate, managing expenditure demands for 2013 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Technical Employment Support Grant Eligibility (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The technical employment support grant can be made available to jobseekers who are in receipt of certain specified welfare payments. As the person concerned is not in receipt of any of the specified welfare payments in her own right, she does not qualify for the grant. However, her husband is currently in receipt of a jobseekers allowance payment and he may be in a position to transfer his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: To qualify for the back to education allowance, a person must attend a full time course of education which will lead to a higher qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications than that already held. As the person concerned is already the holder of a level 8 degree and had applied to partake in another level 8 degree course his application for the back to education allowance was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Data (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The rural social scheme (RSS) has operated since May 2004 with the aim of providing income support for farmers and fishermen/women in receipt of specified, long-term social welfare payments. The work undertaken by participants supports the provision of services of benefit to rural communities. The RSS currently funds the engagement of 2,600 participants and 130 supervisors. The allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 20th May 2013. The medical assessment has been completed. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and of the level of care being provided and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 349 together. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 August 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (24 Sep 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 2 September 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 22 July 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department and forms an important pillar in the strategy for returning long-term unemployed people to the open labour market. There are 25,300 places (including supervisory positions) which is an increase of 2,000 places over 2012. The budget for 2013 is circa €351m. CE is an important initiative in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 352 together. Under the Government's Pathways to Work Programme, my Department is committed to providing opportunities, support and assistance to the approximately 420,000 people on the Live Register. It is planned to do this through intensifying the Department’s level of engagement with people who are unemployed and, in particular, those who...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Appeals (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18th 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 these papers have been received from the Department, the appeal in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: A key objective of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1st October 2011 was to provide a more streamlined and consistent service to the customer. The criteria upon which the Department is examining the operation of all its services across its remit, including the Community Welfare Service, is in the context of the Pathways to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Teanga Gaeilge (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: Geallann mo Roinnse (an tSeirbhís Leasa Pobail san áireamh) seirbhís ardchaighdeáin a chur ar fáil do chustaiméirí i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Chuige sin tá raon foirmeacha, bileog agus doiciméad eile ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne . Tá an Roinn lándáiríre faoi...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Appeals (24 Sep 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 August 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 10th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (24 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 6th August 2013. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax Code (25 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: Following the Minister for Finance’s 2013 Budget Statement indicating that the income base on which PRSI is charged will be broadened, I introduced the following measures. With effect from 1 January 2013 modified rate contributors with additional earned self-employed income (from a profession or trade) and any other unearned income (such as rental income) became liable to PRSI at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (25 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services for disadvantaged children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects schemes through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Administration (25 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 107 and 108 together. On 18th September, I announced that the maximum cumulative duration of internships would be extended to 18 months. The maximum duration of individual internships will remain 9 months. Individuals will be able to avail of up to 3 internships. Individuals will be permitted to undertake a maximum of one internship with a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Application Numbers (25 Sep 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report which is laid before the Dáil when published and copies are lodged in the Oireachtas library. Furthermore these reports are available to the public at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Repor ts.aspx. For the...