Results 23,841-23,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th October 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: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the appeal of the person concerned was referred back to the Appeals Officer for a review of his decision on 11th December 2013. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

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

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for jobseeker’s allowance on 10th September 2013. At his interview on 19th September 2013 he was requested to provide documentary evidence in support of his application. As this was not forthcoming it was requested again on 9th October 2013. He neither responded nor contacted the Intreo Office, and as a result his claim was closed on 4th November...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Tús was introduced by the Department of Social Protection to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Participants on are required to work in their placement for an average of 19.5 hours per week which allows for participation in part-time work or education. Participants are encouraged to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Records (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The request from the Social Welfare Appeals Office for the file for the person concerned was originally sent to the incorrect location and was received by the appropriate Rents Unit on 23rd August 2013. Due to a reorganisation of the Rents Units in Dublin 15 which was taking place at that time, the request was not processed in the normal timeframe. A review has now been carried out in light...

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

Joan Burton: The jobseeker’s allowance claim of the person concerned has been awarded, and the first payment will issue this week.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 329 together. The Department is engaged in a continuous service delivery modernisation (SDM) programme involving business, organisational and technological change. The SDM programme is allowing the Department to deliver its transformation agenda by providing: a high quality, proactive, personalised service to customers; services in a more...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department incurs expenditure on legal and compensation costs/fees from Vote 37 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund. The elements of these payments relating solely to legal fees are not recorded separately. The following table sets out expenditure on legal and compensation costs/fees paid by the Department for the period 1/1/2011 to 30/11/2013: Year Legal and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (17 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Since I took up office, there have been no exemptions granted in my Department or in the agencies that come under the remit of my Department, to the longstanding general principle of pay policy, that the payment of additional remuneration to public servants for undertaking additional duties is not permitted.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Since becoming Minister, I have commissioned the most comprehensive review of pension schemes in the midst of all the economic difficulties that beset Ireland following the bank guarantee and the collapse in the construction sector. The OECD has strongly recommended, in the context of the continuing difficulties experienced by defined benefit pension schemes over a long period - the problems...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Those in the Irish trade union movement have gone to extraordinary lengths to seek to protect members' interests, but one must bear in mind the difficulty that there are three different categories of member. What we have tried to do here is to balance the interests of the three categories of member in a difficult situation. I note that Deputy Shortall suggests in one amendment that anyone...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Those with a pension under €12,000 are totally protected under the scheme. The median pension is €11,000. Second, almost all such pensioners also have an entitlement to the State contributory pension of roughly €12,000.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: That brings their cumulative pension to roughly €24,000 which, in the context of the average industrial wage of around €34,000 to €36,000, is moderately good. I would like to see it higher, which is why I would like to see the OECD's recommendation of a supplementary scheme being implemented in Ireland as economic conditions improve.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Very large.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: My proposal is not exactly the same as that in the Mercer report.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I improved significantly the thresholds for pensioners.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Many points were raised and unfortunately our time has been cut very short. This is a rebalancing effort. We hope nobody has to suffer serious cuts in their pensions. If, as Deputy Ó Snodaigh stated, the fund is highly funded, which a significant number are, the consequent reduction would be far smaller than anything outlined in the legislation because it will be a repetitive process...

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

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a decision in relation to the appeal of the person concerned should issue within the next two weeks. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (18 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: A claim form for State pension (contributory) has been sent to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed claim form, his entitlement to pension will be fully examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay. Periods of self-employed insurance will be taken into account in the assessment of his pension entitlement.