Results 23,881-23,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: On 12 December 2013, the Department published a contract notice inviting tenders for the provision of employment services. This new programme, which is called “JobPath”, is aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. JobPath will be delivered by private/third party providers of employment services under contract to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The rent allowance claim for the person concerned has now been reviewed and the full extent of her eligibility has been reassessed. The outcome of this is that the amount she has been awarded has increased by €46.20 to €247.10 per month. This is based on her earnings from her casual part-time employment. An arrears payment for October and November has also been calculated and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person in question on the 26th October 2012. Under the provisions of carer’s benefit and carer’s leave legislation, a person claiming carer’s benefit may take up limited employment outside the home for up to 15 hours per week. Earnings from this limited employment cannot exceed €332.50 per...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Child Benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16th birthday and continues to the month of the 18th birthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of sixteen, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full-time education and will be until the age of eighteen. In the case of the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: Child Benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16th birthday and continues to the month of the 18th birthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of sixteen, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full-time education and will be until the age of eighteen. In the case of the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 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 30th 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: Pension Provisions (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 broadened the options available to the trustees of a pension scheme in the event of the restructure of scheme benefits to include the benefits of deferred scheme members and post retirement increases in such benefits. Prior to the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 Dec 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 6th November 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: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The time taken to process claims for social welfare payments can vary due to a range of factors, including the complexity of the claim (e.g. whether or not it is subject to a means test, a test for medical conditionality or an assessment of the client’s residential status in the State) and the nature and completeness of the documentation submitted by the client in support of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Legislative Process RIA (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: I have published seven Bills since taking office. To date, six of these have been enacted. Details are set out in the following table. Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) are not ordinarily undertaken in relation to the package of measures announced in the annual Budget Day Statements or similar packages of measures. Accordingly, a RIA was not considered necessary in the case of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (19 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 2nd 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: Departmental Bodies (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection when I became Minister in March 2011 were: the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board), and the Social Welfare Tribunal. These bodies continue to operate under the aegis of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (19 Dec 2013)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board, or a chairperson), and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Three chairpersons were in place when I became Minister in March 2011 and these three are still in that role.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) report referred to by the Deputy was published in 2010 and pre-dates the formation of the current government. However, I am aware of more up-to-date reports by the NYCI on the issue of youth unemployment, most notably their pre-Budget 2014 submission, which supports the introduction of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 363 and 374 together. The Government’s primary medium-term strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. Past experience suggests that youth unemployment, which tends to rise relatively rapidly in a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 336, 356 and 409 together. JobBridge provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is targeted at individuals who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Work Initiatives (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Tús initiative currently provides work opportunities for those who are fully unemployed for 12 months or more. Overall responsibility for the Tús rests with the Department of Social Protection with day-to-day operations delivered by 50 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies). The sum of €119.6 million has been allocated for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Dental Services Provision (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Information on the Department’s Dental Benefit scheme, including details of the qualifying conditions, is available on the Department’s website () and the Citizen’s Information website (), as well as from the Local Offices of both organisations. Other organisations, such as the Irish Dental Association, provide information on their websites, as do a number of other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Employer PRSI is payable on earnings at the rate of 10.75% in respect of weekly earnings in excess of €356 and at 8.5% on weekly earnings of €356 or less. As part of the 2011 Jobs Initiative, the Minister for Finance announced the halving of the 8.5% rate of employer PRSI to 4.25%, as a means of helping job creation and improving labour cost competitiveness, particularly in...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 broadened the options available to the trustees of a pension scheme in the event of the restructure of scheme benefits to include the benefits of deferred scheme members and post retirement increases in such benefits. Prior to the...