Results 22,761-22,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: JobsPlus was launched on 8th July 2013. This is a new incentive to encourage employers to recruit and employ persons who have been unemployed for long periods. It replaced this Department's Employer Job PRSI Incentive Scheme and the Revenue Job Assist Scheme managed by the Revenue Commissioners. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and creating a full-time position, employers will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: I assume the Deputy’s Question refers to access to jobseeker allowance for people previously engaged in self-employment. A self-employed person may apply for jobseeker's allowance if their business ceases or their income reduces to a low level due a lack of demand for services. Jobseekers allowance is a means tested payment and income from self-employment activity is assessed by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Levels (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: As of the end of September 2013 there were 408,670 people on the live register. The following is a breakdown by scheme and duration of this number for the Deputy's information. Live Register end of September, 2013 - Less than 2 years 2 Years and over Total Jobseeker's Allowance 190,653 121,739 312,392 Jobseeker's Benefit 61,535 179 61,714 Credits Only 18,694 15,870 34,564 Total...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: Increasing State pension age and the abolition of the State pension (transition) are steps that have been taken to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future. The decision to reform State pension was taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2011 provides that State pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: There are currently in excess of 770,000 customers eligible for free travel and when spousal and companion passes are taken into account, there are over 1.2 million customers with some free travel eligibility. Expenditure on this scheme was frozen at 2010 levels by the previous Government. The available expenditure for the free travel scheme in 2013 is €77 million. The free travel...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for pay related social insurance (PRSI) at a 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). This compares to employees in respect of whom a combined 14.75% rate, under full-rate PRSI Class A, is paid giving entitlement to the full...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Oct 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 11th October 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. 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: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: An application for jobseeker’s allowance in the case of the person concerned has been awarded. The first payment will be available for collection by the person concerned on Thursday 17 October at the full personal rate. The spouse of the person concerned can collect a separate payment for herself as an adult dependent on this claim and for five qualified children on the same date.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Payments (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is in payment to the person concerned for her four children. Child benefit was awarded in February 2008 in respect of her two older children, payable from November 2007, the month she was granted permission to remain in Ireland. Child benefit was awarded for her 2 younger children from the month after they were born. According to the records of the Department there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Relief Application (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: A mortgage interest supplement application from the person concerned was refused in September 2013. It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department the person concerned is currently in receipt of an invalidity pension. There is no recent record of an application for a one parent family payment from the person concerned. There is no provision within the current regulations to award a one parent family payment to a person who is in receipt of an invalidity pension.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. 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: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: There is no record of an application for basic supplementary welfare allowance in respect of the persons concerned. However, they were in receipt of mortgage interest supplement payment which has been suspended pending receipt of information requested on 23September 2013. The Department cannot make a decision on entitlement with regard to this until this information is provided.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 July 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 were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Oct 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 2October 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Joan Burton: At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution that people caring for members of their own family are making to society - it was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that carers can access benefits advice as early as possible when their caring role begins and to improving the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (17 Oct 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 convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Oct 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 3rd October 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Oct 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 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...