Results 26,021-26,040 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Legal Cases (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy is aware the matters relating to the Waterford Crystal Pension schemes are the subject of a hearing by the High Court. The case is scheduled for hearing by the High Court in the Autumn. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters relating to this case at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Reforms have been introduced in recent years to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future. These decisions were taken in the context of changing demographics and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. For example, there are currently 5.3 people of working age for every pensioner and this ratio is expected to decrease to approximately 2.1 to 1 by 2060. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The maximum rent limit for an eligible family unit as outlined in the specified area is €850.00 per month.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Applications (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Child benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16thbirthday and continues to the month of the 18thbirthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of 16, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full-time education and will be until the age of 18. In the case of the person concerned, a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The rent supplement claim for the client concerned was reassessed on 10 June following a rent reduction. All arrears owed will issue to the client by cheque.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (19 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. A form has been forwarded to the person concerned requesting him to state the grounds for his appeal of the Department’s decision. On receipt of his reply the appeal will be opened and processed in the normal manner. The Social Welfare Appeals Office...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 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, the agency responsible for CE at that time. Notwithstanding the position of this Department (which now has responsibility for CE) in rejecting that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: All staff serving in my Department and the Agencies that operate under its aegis, namely the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman, are paid in accordance with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There are no top up payments made to any of these staff.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 264 together. The Department provides a range of income and work-related supports for people with disabilities, including people with blindness. The Blind Person’s Pension is a means-tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people who are habitually resident in Ireland. Recipients of the payment may also qualify for the Blind...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Rates (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Tús is a community work placement initiative, established in 2011, that provides short-term part-time working opportunities for unemployed people. The income received by participants in employment schemes such as Tús, Community Employment Scheme, Rural Social Scheme and Gateway is treated as income from employment for PRSI purposes and, in the same manner as other workers, is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Over the past number of years, pension provision in all its forms in Ireland has experienced considerable challenges and changes. The sustainability of the wider system is a particular concern because of the demographic issues Ireland faces, the associated increases in pension (and other age related) costs, varying investment losses and the deterioration in the public finances since the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. The General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill was published on 17 July 2013, following Cabinet approval. The General Scheme of the Bill was then referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. Officials from the Department, representative groups and legal and medical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 277 and 295 together. The Government has provided over €344 million for the rent supplement scheme in 2014, the purpose of which 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable asset and it is important, for sustainability reasons, that those who receive it have made a significant contribution towards it during a working life. In order to qualify for a State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include; - commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age; - a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to maintain weekly rates of welfare payments. In line with this commitment, the weekly personal rate of blind pension, including increases for qualified adults and children, has been fully maintained since this Government came into office. Recipients of blind pension are automatically eligible for free travel, and a companion free travel...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to receive a jobseeker’s payment a person must satisfy the conditions of the scheme i.e. that they are available for and genuinely seeking work. Claims are reviewed on a regular basis and those who fail to satisfy those conditions can have their claim disallowed. You will also be aware that the Department has committed resources to activating jobseekers on the live register....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department recognises the popularity and potential value of social media for communicating with customers and acknowledges that these tools can bring benefits. Whilst not a systematic part of the Department's on-going targeted control activities, staff will occasionally refer to social media sites as part of investigations, for example to follow up on reports from members of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department receives reports of possible fraud from members of the public in relation to the operation of its schemes. All anonymous or confidential reports are examined and, where the information is relevant, they are referred to scheme areas or Inspectors for follow-up action. While it is important to note that a payment is not suspended or stopped on the basis of an anonymous report,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients of the One Parent family Payment (OFP) stood at 77,400 in April, 2014. The cost of the OFP scheme was €935 million in 2013 and is estimated to be €863 million in 2014. Both the OFP maximum personal rate for the parent (€188 per week) and the increase for each additional qualified child (€29.80) remain untouched since 2011. An OFP...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (24 Jun 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 26 May 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...