Results 25,481-25,500 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Costs (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department incurs expenditure on costs associated with legal cases from Vote 37 Department of Social Protection and the Social Insurance Fund. The following table sets out legal costs paid by the Department for the period 2009 to 30 April 2014: Year Amount - € 2009 377,511 2010 598,647 2011 1,239,266 2012 453,262 2013 560,825 1/1/2014 – 30/4/2014 296,975 Total:...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Payments (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The interest repayments for the person concerned have reduced from €1808.20 pm to €1773.33 pm, and therefore the amount of the mortgage interest supplement has also reduced. The calculation is based on circa 70% of the mortgage which is €1243.81 as the remaining mortgage finance drawn down was used for commercial purposes and is therefore outside the scope of the scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (8 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 7 May 2014. The person was also advised that she could have the decision reviewed by a deciding officer and of her right to appeal the decision Social Welfare Appeals Office, within 21 days.

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I start by thanking the Chairman and all the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection for the report the committee prepared on the general scheme of the gender recognition Bill. The contents of the report of 14 January and the contributions made at the hearings the committee held on 23 and 24 October 2013 have made an important and valuable contribution to...

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I will come back to the Deputy on that point.

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I thank all Deputies who contributed so thoughtfully to this discussion on the proposed legislation. In the context of sensitive or ground-breaking legislation, in 1996 I brought the Refugee Bill before the Dáil and Seanad, which was passed. In that Act, which provides for people seeking protection under the Geneva Convention, I, on behalf of Ireland, as people interested in these...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: As you are aware, the Minister for Finance highlighted in Budget 2014 that the 0.6% levy which has been in place on all schemes since 2010 will terminate at the end of 2014. The Minister for Finance also announced that a separate levy of 0.15% will apply to all pension fund assets to continue to help fund the Jobs Initiative, including the continuation of the reduced 9% VAT rate in the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Service Code of Conduct (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 1 May 2014, the person concerned was suspended on full pay while being investigated under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code. Based on advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, an officer while suspended with pay does not accrue an entitlement to Annual leave. All pay and entitlements due to the person concerned were paid at the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3 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 Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: You 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 Member State)...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: Payment of a Christmas Bonus, equivalent to 100% of a person’s weekly social welfare rate, to recipients of the State Pension Contributory and Non-Contributory, would cost in the region of €106 million. There is no provision in the 2014 estimates for the Department of Social Protection for the payment of a Christmas bonus. Any re-introduction of a bonus at Christmas would have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Semi-State Bodies (13 May 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: A person who has incurred an overpayment from the Department of Social Protection has a liability under law to refund the amounts involved - Section 338 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended) refers. They have received monies to which they were not entitled and the Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are repaid in full. Interest or penalties...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: A person who has incurred an overpayment from the Department of Social Protection has a liability under law to refund the amounts involved - Section 338 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended) refers. They have received monies to which they were not entitled and the Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are repaid in full. Interest or penalties...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: A person who has incurred an overpayment from the Department of Social Protection has a liability under law to refund the amounts involved - Section 338 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended) refers. They have received monies to which they were not entitled and the Department has a responsibility to ensure that all overpayments are repaid in full. Interest or penalties...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Properties (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works is responsible for the acquisition of all accommodation requirements for my Department. However, I can confirm that my officials are working closely with the OPW to identify and progress a long term solution in Birr. OPW has identified and is currently assessing a viable option in Birr, with a view to commencing negotiation with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 347 together. 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. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned made a claim for supplementary welfare allowance on 7 February 2014. Following a meeting between himself and a Social Welfare Inspector on 1 May 2014, the person concerned undertook to provide some outstanding information in connection with his application, which to date has not been received. Upon receipt of this information a decision on his claim can be made immediately.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 368, 381 and 407 together. I am not aware of any letters sent by the Department to recipients of disability allowance who are residing in the institutions named advising them that their disability allowance has been withdrawn. If the Deputies have concerns about particular cases they should supply the names, addresses and PPS numbers and I will arrange...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Appeals (13 May 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was received in that office on 24 March 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 papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred...