Results 24,061-24,080 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has been registered and was referred to an Appeals Officer on 21st January 2014. The Appeals Officer 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (22 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that appeal statistics are not maintained on the basis of occupation and it is therefore not in a position to supply the information sought by the Deputy in relation to reserve fire fighters. General statistics relating to the numbers and outcomes of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance appeals for 2012 and 2013 are outlined for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Outsourcing of Public Services (22 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has for many years contracted extensively with third parties for the delivery of services. In general, the contracts are used to supplement and complement, rather than replace departmental activities. For example, about half of the Department’s public offices are operated by private sector providers. The Department also contracts with third party payment agencies, with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (22 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: There are no semi-State companies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Severe Weather Events Response (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the recent severe weather...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Data (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The matter of representation by pensioner groups in consideration of a change to scheme benefits needs to be considered in a broader industrial relations context. This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and I have referred this matter to him for consideration. It is normal practice for my officials to engage with representatives of stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme. Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. When a DB scheme is set up, the level of employer and employee contributions is agreed and established in contract in the Trust Deeds and Rules of each scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Applications (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The following details are outstanding in relation to the application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned; - the original loan application and approval forms (all components of which are required), - a four-year mortgage statement showing repayments made, - confirmation from the person’s employer of employment and wages over the previous 13 weeks, -...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the disability allowance appeal by the person concerned has been referred to an Appeals Officer 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: Live Register Data (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: A breakdown of the live register in December 2013 by number of dependents is detailed in the following tabular statement. Breakdown of live register claimants by number of dependents, December 2013 Percentage Number of Claimants Live Register Category 72.1% 285,114 Are claiming for themselves only (i.e. no dependents) including people signing for Credits. (of these 221,627 or 56% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Divorce Process (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: Recognition of non-EU foreign divorces is governed by the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986. Section 5 of the Act provides that a foreign divorce is recognised if granted in the country where either spouse was domiciled at the date of the institution of the proceedings for divorce. The Registrar General is the statutory officer responsible for the system of marriage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9th December 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 the appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These were received in the Social Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is examining the operation of all its services, including the Community Welfare Service, in the context of the Pathways to Work commitments and the development of Intreo services nationally. A significant reform programme to ensure appropriate resources are focused in the provision of opportunities, supports and assistance for unemployed persons is well advanced. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (23 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 4th February 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The client is in receipt of her maximum entitlement to rent supplement based on her current rent. The maximum rent limit per month for this family composition in Celbridge is €850.00.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was requested to submit documentation to this Department in order to establish her means. To date this documentation has not been received therefore the calculation of any entitlement cannot proceed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has not made an application for rent supplement. This client has been issued a Rent Application Pack and a decision on her entitlement will be made when same is returned complete.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in receipt of a basic supplementary welfare allowance. There is no entitlement to this payment for periods spent temporarily or permanently outside of the State. The person concerned confirmed that he was outside of the state for the period 18 December 2013 to 7 January 2014. The payment of supplementary welfare allowance was reinstated with effect from 9...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

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 18. In the case of the person concerned,...