Results 23,961-23,980 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The provision for expenditure on domiciliary care allowance in 2014 reflects the provisional outturn for expenditure on the scheme in 2013. I can confirm that there has been no reduction in the monthly amount payable on the allowance and also that the Department does not expect any reduction in the number of children benefiting from this payment over the coming year. Rather, it is projected...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the provision for carer’s benefit in 2014 as distinct from 2015. The 2014 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides for expenditure on carer's benefit of €21.5 million this year. This is 12% lower than the 2013 REV estimate and is mainly due to an ongoing decrease in the number of recipients. However, the total provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of capital and property of the claimant and their spouse / partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance payments. Such property includes...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 10th October 2013. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child does not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to the customer on the 8th January 2014 advising of this decision. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds the applicant may...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Fund Fees (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will be aware that the Report on Pension Charges was completed and published in October 2012. This Report was undertaken by my Department, working with the Central Bank and the Pensions Board, and with support from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The primary objective of the report was to gather information on the level of pension charges levied, to assess whether these charges are...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold 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 have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker’s allowance application of the person concerned was disallowed due to non-disclosure of means. It is open to the person concerned to submit an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office where his case will be examined and a decision will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Photography services are used, in conjunction with some press releases and conferences, to communicate the Department’s initiatives, schemes and services to customers and to the regional and national media. Since March 2011, photography services were used for the occasions as set out in the table below. The total cost from that date is €8,861. The procurement of these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: In line with Department of Social Protection policy, the press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. No money has been spent by my Department on public relations consultancy during the period in question. During this period, the Department has used the services of one external public relations firm for training purposes, details of which are outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was forwarded to the EU Commission at the end of December. I am currently making arrangements for it’s publication and expect to publish it very shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The total number of young persons under 25 years in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance at the end of December 2013 were 2,924 and 51,350 respectively. A detailed tabular statement indicating the rates of payment by age is attached for the Deputy’s information. Jobseekers’ Allowance recipients by age and rate. - €100 €144 €188 Totals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that as appeal statistics are not maintained on the basis of age, it is not in a position to supply the information sought by the Deputy in relation to persons under 25 years. Outcomes of all jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance appeals from 2009 to 2013 are contained in the following tables. A total of 1,353 jobseeker's benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Budget 2014 (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department is currently preparing an analysis of the Budget 2014 tax and welfare packages. This Social Impact Assessment will include an analysis of the distributive and poverty impacts of these changes on different family types as well as the impact on at risk of poverty levels. Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which uses a tax/welfare simulation model developed...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Poverty Data (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department developed the Social Inclusion Monitor, in consultation with the technical advisory group on poverty data and indicators, to report on progress towards the national social target and the Irish contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target. It also reports on supporting indicators which capture key dimensions of poverty and on contextual indicators relating to lifecycle and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies Data (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Technical Advisory Group is one of the structures set up to support the implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Group supports the remit of the Department in developing indicators and data for the measurement of poverty and in monitoring and interpreting poverty trends. It is composed of experts in social research, social statistics and social policy from...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (16 Jan 2014)

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 20 January 2014. 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Community Employment (CE) has as an explicit primary objective, the provision of development opportunities to participants to help them gain qualifications and to secure job placement after Community Employment. In all Community Employment projects the Sponsor (employer) is required to produce structured development and training opportunities for each participant on the project. This...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 22nd August 2013. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the medical qualifying criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 23rd September 2013 advising of the decision. A review of this decision has been requested, additional information on this child’s condition/care needs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (16 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: It is normal practice for officials in my department to engage with representatives of stakeholders in consideration of any substantial change to the Pensions Act. The consultation process which preceded the publication of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act, 2013 included engagement with representatives of pensioners, the pensions industry, employers and trade unions. Written...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2014)

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 and the Social Welfare Tribunal. None of the bodies under the aegis of the Department have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011. The Public Service Reform Programme provided for a critical review of the integration of...