Results 26,121-26,140 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of OFP recipients stood at 77,209 in May, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is due to be spent on the scheme in 2014. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, contains provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient's payment ceases to seven years from 2014 for new entrants and from 2015 for existing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 19 June 2014 and that the Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer's decision when the appeal has been determined....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Health Services (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Post Office Network (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: An Post advised the department that the Post Office in question was temporarily closing with immediate effect on 26 February 2014 and that social welfare customers were being transferred to Skibbereen Post Office. The reasons for the closure and any potential reopening are internal matters for An Post. The current contract for cash payment services between my department and An Post requires...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services and serves a wide and diverse group of customers including families, people in employment, unemployed people, people with disabilities, carers, and older people. The Department will spend over €20 billion in social welfare payments this year and will provide support to some 1.4 million people every week. In order to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 May 2014. 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: Domiciliary Care Allowance Payments (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on 29 April 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1 November 2013. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, issued to the person concerned on 20 May 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Budgets (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The estimated savings in 2014 and in a full year of the measures for the Department of Social Protection contained in the Expenditure Report 2014 are outlined in the table below. Measure 2014 Savings (€ million) Full year (€ million) Recovery of social welfare payments – Recover the value of certain social welfare payments from compensation awards made to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (1 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I have no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for JobBridge. Those working part-time or casually and who are in receipt of an eligible payment or signing for credits are eligible to participate in JobBridge. Under the current arrangements, a person may meet the requirement of being in receipt of a qualifying payment (or signing for credits) for 78 days over a six-month...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the live register is recruited and €10,000 for each...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Work Placement Programmes (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: This matter relates to spouses engaged on the rural social scheme and community employment. With effect from 17 September 2012, rates of payment on work placement and training programmes have been standardised. In cases where both spouses are simultaneously engaged on work placement and training programmes, as in the case detailed by the Deputy, the Department considers that neither spouse...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 98 together. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits some 205,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Following representations made by Deputy Durkan, the claimant’s payment was re-instated on 9 May 2014. The claim has continued in payment on a weekly basis since then and current payments are up to date. Arrears issued to the claimant on 20 June 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Work Initiatives (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: Tús, the community work placement initiative which was introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Widow's Pension Appeals (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 26 June 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...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme has played an important role in providing income support to lone parents since its introduction in 1997. The number of OFP recipients stood at 77,209 in May, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is expected to be spent on the scheme during 2013. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: An exceptional needs payment issued to the person concerned on 20 June 2014. On that date the person concerned stated that she is currently residing at an address in Clondalkin. She was advised to make an application to Clondalkin Local Office so that her case could be reviewed as soon as possible. The person concerned has also been advised that if she is currently homeless she should call...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: 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 resources. The overall aim is to provide short-term assistance,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (2 Jul 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of persons in receipt of free travel in June 2014 is not currently available. I am however informed that at the end of June 2013 and May 2014 there were 771,147 and 793,812 free travel passes.