Results 23,041-23,060 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested is being compiled by my officials, who will write to the Deputy in the next week.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 534 together. The Programme for Government commits to a zero tolerance approach towards social welfare fraud and the Department’s Fraud Initiative further articulates this overarching policy objective. A key priority is to ensure that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them and that fraudulent activity is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 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 15th 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: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 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 24th May 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: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The sustainability of pensions into the future is important given the changing demographics, the increased numbers of those over 65, increased longevity and reduced dependency ratio. In addition to this, spending on social protection accounts for nearly 40% of current Government expenditure and in the context of the current fiscal crisis savings have to be found in the social welfare system....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 557 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 5th 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: Youth Guarantee (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The development of the implementation plan is being led by the Department of Social Protection working with the support of an Interdepartmental Group of senior officials from the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the office of the Tánaiste....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 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 June 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: EU Reports (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 to 546, inclusive, and 548 together. The report referred to by the Deputy has its origins in discussions between Member States and the EU Commission on the relationship between the EU regulations coordinating social security systems and the Residence Directive, which sets out conditions governing the rights of residence migrants in the host country and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement, administered under the Department’s supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, provides 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Numbers (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the attached tabular statement based on the nationality of Live Register claimants. EU Nationals on the live register at 31 October 2013 Country Number Percentage of Live Register United Kingdom 10,997 2.77% England 3,222 0.81% Scotland 431 0.11% Northern Ireland 404 0.10% Wales 91 0.02% Poland 19,163 4.83%...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (5 Nov 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: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: All social welfare schemes, including the fuel allowance, are operated on the basis of publically available guidelines, which ensure fairness and consistency in determining eligibility. The fuel allowance is paid to those in receipt of long-term jobseekers, one-parent family payment, disability allowance, invalidity pension and some people in receipt of the State pension. The allowance is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together. The delivery of over 60 One-Stop-Shop Intreo Offices is a major property project for the Office of Public Works which is responsible for the provision of the Department’s property requirements, including refurbishment and fit out works. The Intreo Project requires the acquisition and development of some new properties and the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who following, examination of the case, referred the appeal back to the Deciding Officer on 25th October 2013 for clarification on certain issues. On receipt of the Departments response the appeal will be returned to the Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Work Allowance Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22nd October 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 case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st 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 were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for a back to education allowance in respect of a FETAC level 5 course. The person concerned advised that she had already completed two FETAC level 5 courses. The application was refused on the grounds that she was not progressing her qualifications, which is one of the qualifying criteria. The claim was reviewed on 23 September 2013 and the decision was upheld.