Results 25,381-25,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: In order 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. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker’s claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A jobseeker’s claim may be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Labour Court recommended in July 2008 (LCR19293) that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. Notwithstanding the position of this Department (which now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that liability for these costs to be met from public...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Post-graduate courses that lead to a higher diploma in any discipline or the professional diploma in education (PDE) are the only eligible post-graduate courses supported under the back to education allowance scheme (BTEA). The professional masters in education (PME) will replace the current PDE from September 2014. The Department is currently in discussions with the Departments of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has conducted an investigation to determine how the files left the Department’s possession. The four files to which the Deputy refers were inadvertently misplaced on the afternoon of Friday 11th April last when an officer of the Department was conducting out of office visits to clients concerning their social welfare entitlements. In an effort to retrieve the files...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Issues (30 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 the 25thApril 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: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. This is particularly important given the challenges in relation to the future sustainability of the State pension, with increased numbers of older...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been in receipt of rent supplement in respect of her tenancy at the address she resided at until April 2014. As she has confirmed that she recently changed her address, this payment will now cease. However, the person concerned should submit a fresh application for rent supplement in respect of her current tenancy. On receipt of such an application her entitlement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (30 Apr 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 convene 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 for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The full information requested is not available at present. The table below indicates the number of active scheme members in defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes for the years 2011 and 2012. Deferred members have left the employment and are no longer contributors to the scheme. Table 1: Active scheme members by year and scheme type Year Defined Contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 389 together. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible persons living in private-rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: My officials are engaged with officials from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the issue of access to the industrial machinery of the state for representation of pension scheme beneficiaries. These discussions are not being undertaken in the context of any particular scheme. Any proposals which may emerge from these discussions will apply to all pension schemes.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 380, inclusive, and 384 together. The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement. Number of participants at the end of December 2012, 2013 and end of March 2014 Scheme 2012 2013 End of March 2014 Back to Work Allowance 18 11 8 Back to Work Enterprise Allowance 10,811 10,098 10,270 Short-Term Enterprise Allowance 1,066...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below: Year Participants Supervisors Total 2012 21,081 1,364 22,445 2013 22,575 1,368 23,943 2014 (as at 25/04/14) 22,956 1,371 24,327

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: Carer's allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). If a person is getting certain social welfare payments (such as the state pension) and is providing full-time care and attention to another person who is in need of full-time care, he or she can keep their main social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned on 20 March 2013. The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused by a deciding officer on medical grounds and the person was notified in writing of this decision on 24 May 2013. The person submitted further medical evidence in June 2013 and his application was reviewed. However, following this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to a particular pension scheme. However, I can advise that the provision in the trust deed/scheme rules will determine the pension rights of scheme members. Where a pension scheme operates across EU Member States, the employees who are employed in a different Member State (i.e., the host...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (30 Apr 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to an individual pension scheme. A number of changes have been made to the Pensions Act in recent years to assist employers and the trustees respond to the funding challenges facing many defined benefit pension scheme. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 broadened the options available to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (30 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 the 4 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 appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (30 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 the 16thApril 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: Social Welfare Appeals Status (30 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 the 6thNovember 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...