Results 25,881-25,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: We do not look for interest or penalties whereas the tax authorities do. It is important to bear that in mind as well. Individual social welfare officers exercise significant discretion in individual cases, in particular where there may be a severe hardship impact.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 17: In page 19, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “Discrimination on grounds of age in relation to employment schemes and other schemes and programmes 16. (1) Section 359A (inserted by section 29 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1): “(1A) For...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 18: In page 20, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Specified bodies 17. Schedule 5 of the Principal Act is amended in paragraph 1(4) by inserting “Irish Water,” after “Health and Social Care Professionals Council,” (inserted by section 20 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009).”.This is to provide for...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am prepared to talk to Deputy O’Dea about the policy development which is ongoing in this space and which will be subsequently addressed. I will give my note to him. I wish to make clear that a trustee, employer, PRSA provider, adviser, actuary or any other person who contravenes a provision of the Act is guilty of an offence and, second, under section 3 it is already an offence...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Civil Marriages Data (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The notification, solemnisation and registration of marriages are governed by Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Section 51(2) (c) of the Act provides that a registered solemniser "shall not solemnise a marriage unless the solemnisation takes place in a place that is open to the public". This is currently taken to mean that the place must be a building that is easily identifiable...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments Administration (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. In order to provide a medical review & assessment service (MRAS) in support of its medical related schemes, DSP has a cadre of 27 Medical Assessors (MAs), including a Chief Medical Assessor (CMA) and a Deputy Chief Medical Assessor (DCMA). Currently, there are 21.8 serving MAs including the CMA and the DCMA. MAs are on an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (12 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that a letter issued to the Deputy on 4 June 2014 advising that his representations in relation to the illness benefit claim of the person concerned was being accepted as an appeal. In accordance with statutory requirement the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal have been sought. When...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, a rules based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This programme of work, which is known as the Standard Authentication Framework Environment or SAFE for short, also provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: As matters stand collective defined contribution pension schemes are not a feature of the Irish pensions landscape though there is a range of defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid scheme structures which would share characteristics with such a model. The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to reforming Ireland’s pension system to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The current qualification age system employed on Community Employment (CE) is determined by the eligibility for each of two main types of CE. The part-time integration (PTI) option of CE is aimed at those of 25 years of age and over who have been unemployed for 12 months or longer. It allows for one year’s participation on the CE scheme. Certain categories of participants can gain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Agencies that operate under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also falls under the remit of my Department. There are no vacancies at Principal Officer level and above in any of these organisations. The Department has to operate within an Employment Control Framework (ECF) ceiling determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: To qualify for the carer’s allowance payment, a person must meet certain conditions. For example, they cannot be engaged in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for more than 15 hours a week as this would impact on their caring responsibilities. Community Employment (CE) involves working a 19.5 hour week, so by taking up a CE position a person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The habitual residence condition helps protect Ireland's social welfare system, while at the same time ensuring that those whose claims have access to it when they need it. Provided the applicant for a carer’s allowance is legally resident in the State, a decision on whether the applicant satisfies the conditions in respect of habitual residence is made based on consideration of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: In relation to the one parent family payment of the person concerned, there has been no recent contact concerning her current address. It is necessary for her to contact her local social welfare office with documentary proof of address and a review of her claim will be undertaken as soon as possible. With respect to her child benefit payment, all payments to the person concerned have...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned has not been received by that office. The appeals office has forwarded a form to the person concerned requesting her to state the grounds for her appeal of the Department’s decision. On receipt of her reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner. The Social Welfare Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseekers allowance payment of the person concerned has been restored with payment available for collection at the nominated post office on 13 June.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: This client is in receipt of his full entitlement to rent supplement based on his current household circumstances and location.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Places (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is currently in contact with Employment Services in Maynooth who are assisting with her action plan for employment. The client has recently been submitted for two community employment schemes by her case officer, and she is scheduled for interview this week in relation to one of these vacancies. Unfortunately there is not a suitable level 3 healthcare course available...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (12 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The payment of the client concerned was suspended from 6th May 2014 to 20th May 2014 due to a residency issue. On receipt of proof of address his payment was reinstated from a current date. If the client has further evidence regarding his residence status for the duration of the suspension he should bring it to the Departments attention for consideration.