Results 24,981-25,000 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (26 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The client concerned made application for a rent supplement on 19 March 2014 and has been requested to provide further information in order to process her claim. A decision will be notified to this client immediately following receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: My Department provides a range of income and employment supports for people with disabilities. In particular, the Department funds the nationwide EmployAbility service which provides the services of a job-coach for those wishing to avail of employment opportunities. Contact details for the local services are available on the Department's website. In addition, the Department also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Data (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. There are currently approximately 8,900 people in receipt of mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 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: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: Applicants for a range of social assistance payments must satisfy the condition of being habitually resident in Ireland and they must also satisfy a means test. The jobseeker’s allowance application of the person concerned is currently with a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation. The Inspector has made several attempts to meet with the person concerned but has been unable to do...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: Following a review of his continued entitlement to disability allowance the person concerned was notified on 5 March 2013 that he was no longer considered medically suitable and that his payment would cease on 20 March 2013. A review of this decision was carried out by a Deciding Officer of the Department who decided that there was no change to the original decision to disallow disability...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Appeals (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at an oral hearing, has decided to partially allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 25 March 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: Persons on Community Employment (CE) schemes cannot avail of widower's pension while simultaneously receiving CE payments as this constitutes a double payment of allowances, which is prohibited under social welfare legislation. Under Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011, a person is disqualified from receiving certain social welfare payments when commencing participation on CE on or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: As at 13th March 2014, 26,874 JobBridge internship placements have commenced with 6,602 participants currently undertaking internships and over 1,908 internship posts available on the JobBridge website . Independent research indicates that over 60% of interns progress into paid employment within five months of completing their internship. These progression outcomes compare very favourably...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes through various channels, including a dedicated phone number and a facility on the Department’s website for this purpose. As these reports are, in the main, received anonymously, the Department has no way of knowing who made the report....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: A Reviewing Officer has reviewed the supplementary welfare allowance claim of the person concerned. A payment will be issued shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of an Oral Hearing. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 19 March 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was admitted to hospital on 12 December 2013. He notified his local office of this and, as he was not capable of or available for work, his jobseeker’s allowance payment was suspended from that date. The person concerned applied for a disability allowance on 23 January 2014 and has been awarded a weekly rate of €188. Consideration is now being given to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: Both Tús and Community Employment (CE) focus on those who are long-term unemployed, with the aim of improving the employability and work readiness of participants. Tús differs from CE in that the latter contains accredited training components as part of a work placement. The payments made to participants on CE, Tús, Gateway and the Rural Social Scheme have been standardised for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: I wish to confirm for the Deputy that there is no question of the Dáil being misled in responses to the previous Parliamentary Questions referred to. I always endeavour to be helpful in relation to the information provided in answers to Parliamentary Questions and to ensure that the response addresses the specific question raised. I would point out to the Deputy that the information...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 119 together. A designated person is currently examining a supplementary welfare allowance application in respect of the person concerned. A decision will be made shortly and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 28th February 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance appeal was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1st July 2013. All arrears of payment due have issued.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11November 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: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 10th October 2013. The application was disallowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 8th January 2014 advising of the decision. The person concerned appealed this decision and supplied additional information on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: I am very aware that many defined benefit pension schemes are coming from a deficit position and this is a difficult problem which requires careful management. The Government’s introduction of the sovereign annuity initiative provided an option which enables the trustees of a pension scheme to reduce pension scheme liabilities and benefit from the premium available through sovereign...