Results 24,381-24,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The above named customer attended a medical assessment in Buncrana on 24th July 2013 and was found to be not eligible for illness benefit. She appealed the decision and has been referred for a further medical assessment. Arrangements are being made to set up an in person, Appeal medical assessment with an alternative Medical Assessor during the week commencing 24th March 2014. A...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17th September 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: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions. Under EU Law, social insurance contributions from another EU country may be used to satisfy the contribution conditions. The rate of IP payable under the legislation of most EU States is based on the proportion of contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: In 2013 the total amount spent on advertising by my Department was €147,490. The breakdown by advertising type is outlined in the following table: Advertising type Amount TV & Radio €19,595 Print Media €42,621 Hire of Equipment (Banner stands, etc.) €17,371 Posters/Leaflets/Flyers €39,947 Other Advertising €27,956 Total:...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Social Media Monitoring (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department does not currently engage in real time reporting of online conversations on issues relating to social welfare, which are in the public domain and found on websites, blogs and social networks. The Department provides a wide range of contact channels for its customers including LoCall telephone numbers, face to face in its network of local offices, e-mail, SMS (text), twitter,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. There are currently approximately 79,000 rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department there are currently no applications pending for an exceptional needs payment in the case of the person concerned. The person concerned can contact her local Community Welfare Service to make an application so that her entitlement to a payment can be assessed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 7th January 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance appeal was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1st June 2013. All arrears of payment due to her have issued.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: There has been no changes made to the Pensions Act regarding the representation rights of pensioners. It is normal practice for my officials to engage with representatives of stakeholders in relation to any substantial change to the Pensions Act. The consultation process which preceded the publication of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill, 2013 included engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Household Benefits Scheme (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The overall concern of the Government in recent budgets has been to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in relation to protecting people from poverty. To allow us to protect these core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments. The cost of the telephone allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: Since taking office I have attended two plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) held in Armagh on the 18th November 2011 and the 2nd November 2012. Social welfare is not one of the sectoral areas of cooperation under NSMC. However, the Council is looking at the possibilities in this area with particular regard to youth employment.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: To qualify for a jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. Major activation reforms have been introduced in my Department to help people back to work. Pathways to Work is the strategy driving these reforms. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on the 16th December 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 29th 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: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes (including Carer’s Allowance) and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. The term ‘habitually resident’ conveys a degree of permanence and implies a close association between the applicant and the country from which payment is claimed,...

Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: As we speak, communities across the country are being battered by storm conditions and Met Éireann has put in place a "status red" warning - the highest category of warning for some areas. I implore people to follow Met Éireann's advice and that of the authorities, and follow all the necessary steps to protect themselves and their families. I know the emergency services, local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The humanitarian assistance scheme was approved by Government in November 2009. The scheme, which is means tested, is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. Total expenditure on the humanitarian assistance scheme to the end of 2013 was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 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. I am responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions relating to the above statutory bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Appointments (12 Feb 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 (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Citizens Information Board Under the Comhairle Act, 2000 and the Citizens Information Act, 2007, I have the authority to appoint members to the Citizens Information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Authority Functions (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: There is a high level of interaction between local authorities and the Department of Social Protection in the provision of housing assistance. For instance, the Rent Supplement scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Application Numbers (12 Feb 2014)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is collated at county level by my Department annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report. Work has commenced on the compilation of data for the production of the 2013 report. However, the most recent data available, at present, in respect of the number of persons in receipt of invalidity pension and the number...