Results 25,001-25,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: According to the records of the Department, the person concerned reached the age of eligibility for State pension (contributory) in March 2004. As there is no record of an application for State pension having been received from the person concerned to date, a form has been issued to her. On receipt of her completed application, her entitlement to pension will be fully examined, and she will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (27 Mar 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. A claim for IP was received for the person concerned on 22 November 2013. In order to establish medical eligibility, a diagnostic report issued to the applicant on 16 December 2013 to be completed by his general practitioner or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (27 Mar 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 4 March 2014, 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 Department and is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Responsibilities (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The appointment of a Minister of State is a matter for the Government under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977. The Department of Social Protection has lead responsibility for pensions policy. However, given that pensions is an issue with broad implications, including across a number of Government Departments, there is an Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Pensions,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Applications (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and was refused on the grounds that the course being pursued is not a recognised course for BTEA purposes. The original decision was upheld following review. The Back to Education Allowance is a non-statutory scheme and as such decisions cannot be appealed to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 28 November 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 have been received in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was refused jobseeker's allowance by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking full-time employment. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 11 March 2014 and that the case will be referred to an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (1 Apr 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 a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28 February 2014, 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 Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Severe Weather Events Response (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: A 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 severe weather and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. The humanitarian assistance scheme covers damage to a person's home therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Administration (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The free travel scheme is currently available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over, to carers and to customers aged under 66 who are in receipt of certain disability payments. The scheme permits customers to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, LUAS and a range of services offered by almost 90 private operators in various parts of the country. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department does not compile statistics on the precise nature of letters issued to clients. Revised arrangements were announced as part of Budget 2014 to apply to older jobseeking clients. The measures provide for these clients to continue to avail of Departmental supports on a voluntary basis should they wish to return to work, training or education. In addition, provision is made for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: For jobseeker's benefit, the requirement to prove unemployment is contained in Section 62(1)(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The prescribed manner of proving unemployment is contained in Article 52 of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2007. For jobseeker's allowance, the requirement to prove unemployment is contained in Section 141(1)(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The processing of electronic fund transfers (EFTs) is currently carried out through the Department's primary bankers with no plans in the short term to go to the market to advertise a new procurement for these services. The Deputy may be interested to note that a request for information (RFI) was issued in January this year with a view to seeking information on potential approaches to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Eligibility (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Cyclical vomiting syndrome is accepted as a certifiable medical condition. Eligibility to illness and carer's schemes are determined by its severity and expected duration. When applying for illness benefit, medical certification is provided by the customer's GP. For many other schemes, a medical assessment is made after careful review of submitted medical evidence, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 13 January 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1 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 Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Funding (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides a high quality personal service to assist people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is made up of a network of 53 companies,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (1 Apr 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 the oral hearing, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer's decision in writing on 28 March 2014. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (1 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned does not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition for receiving jobseeker's allowance as she does not yet have refugee status in the State. Consequently she does not have a work permit and is therefore unavailable for employment.