Results 23,761-23,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Properties (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will appreciate that issues relating to the number, location and cost of premises rented by the Department in County Donegal is a matter for the Office of Public Works. I will address the use of the former FÁS premises in Gweedore. The Department’s Intreo service is designed, where possible, to ensure that the individual needs of each client are assessed and provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on 21 October 2013 by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that their disability allowance appeal was disallowed. An Appeals Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence relevant to the period under appeal.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. There has never been a statutory obligation on employers under Irish law to contribute to their pension scheme (although schemes rules can place some level of obligation). Most defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland were established under a trust deed. As part of the process of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to individual pension schemes. Issues that relate to the operation of the scheme are a matter for the trustees of that scheme. The supervision of the scheme under the Pensions Act is a matter for the Pensions Board.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are in general set up under trust. The trustees of such pension schemes have a fiduciary duty under trust law and the Pensions Act to act in the best interest of all scheme members. In addition, the Pensions Act provides for further safeguards to protect the interest of pensioners. In the event of the wind up of a pension scheme the provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (12 Dec 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 oral hearing, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The daughter of the person concerned wrote to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 23rd November 2013 requesting the Chief Appeals Officer to review the decision of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: 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 paid to those who are entitled to them and that fraudulent activity is vigorously prevented and combatted. Over the past number of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (12 Dec 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 disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 9th December 2013. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department currently has 43 contracts with Local Development Companies (LDCs) for the provision of employment services. These contracts cover the delivery of both the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs. JobPath is the title of the Government’s proposed new programme of labour market activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (12 Dec 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 currently approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of invalidity pension appeals from 2008 to 2012 and to date in 2013 is contained in the table below. A total of 1,991 invalidity pension appeals were processed during 2012. 1,509 (61.22%) of these appeals had a successful outcome for the appellant. 474 (31.41%) of the successful appeals were in fact revised decisions made by statutorily...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Property Taxation Administration (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. The person concerned recently submitted documentation to his Social Welfare Local Office and requested to have the disallowance of his claim for jobseeker’s allowance reviewed. The claim review was based on documentation received from him which addressed the issue of him genuinely seeking employment. As a result of this review...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The household composition in the case of the person concerned is that of one adult and four children. According to the information available to this Department, the person concerned is required to contribute €107.00 per week towards the cost of their rent or €463.70 per month. This consists of a minimum contribution to the rent of €30.00 per week, and €77.00 per...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department the person concerned is currently in receipt of a one parent family payment at the maximum personal rate of €188.00 with an increase for four qualified children amounting to €119.20. She is also in receipt of a fuel allowance of €20.00 per week. The total entitlement in the case of the person concerned is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Guardian's Payment Appeals (12 Dec 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 16th December 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: Employment Support Services (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in regular contact with the Employment Services office in Maynooth. The person concerned last met with the Case Officer on 04/12/2013 and was advised of the options available to him and placed on a waiting list for a course which is due to commence in January 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: According to the records of the Department the person concerned does not currently have an entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit as he does not have a social insurance contribution history. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means-tested payment payable to those who are unemployed and satisfy a means assessment in addition to a number of other qualifying conditions. According to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Levy Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The application of the pension levy is a matter for the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (12 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Supplementary Welfare Allowance services are provided by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from the HSE Heath Centre in Enfield. The building was vacated to allow HSE undertake refurbishment. Works are nearing completion and it is expected that the refurbished building will be ready for occupation by mid-January 2014. Once the building is reopened, DSP will, as before, provide...