Results 27,401-27,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Data (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 221 together. The total live register at the end of September stood at 370,050, which includes people working part time and signing for other days (Jobseeker’s Allowance Casuals and Jobseeker’s Benefit Casuals). Also included in the live register are people signing on for Credits but not receiving any payment (Jobseeker’s Benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Case officers employed by my Department deliver activation and case management services through Intreo centres and through the network of Departmental offices which are currently transitioning to a full Intreo service. Case Officers generally work in teams dedicated to activating clients and supporting them in various ways in their efforts to regain employment. The team-based approach helps...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Pathways to Work, the Government’s activation strategy, includes a wide range of programmes and services to help jobseekers back to employment. These include programmes such as JobBridge, JobsPlus and Momentum introduced by this Government and schemes such as Community Employment and TÚS where we have significantly increased the number of places available. The Table below...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. The revised estimates for the Department of Social Protection provide for expenditure of €3.3bn in 2014 in respect of the jobseeker’s schemes. It is a fundamental qualifying condition for these schemes that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available at 65, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. This policy is to make the pension system...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) available at 65, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028 Currently in order to qualify for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The reason for the introduction of the habitual residence condition (HRC) in May 2004 was to ensure that people who have not worked in Ireland or who have not established habitual residence in Ireland should not avail of social assistance schemes or child benefit. HRC Statistics are only available from 2010. Separate statistics for the Traveller and Roma communities are not available. ...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I am very aware of the development in the IAS scheme and of the very significant efforts being made to find a sustainable solution to the issues arising in this scheme. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on matters arising in a particular pension scheme as these are matters for the employer and the trustee of the pension scheme The Pensions Act provides a framework for the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Water Administration (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The legal basis of the PPS Number and its use is contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). Only bodies specified in statute or their agents can use the PPS Number. Section 262 of the Act allows the PPS Number to be used by a specified body in certain limited ways in the course of a “transaction” with a member of the public. The section requires that...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: While I am aware of the issues arising in relation to this scheme, you will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on developments relating to a particular pension scheme as these are a matter for the management of the company and the trustees of the pension scheme. The issue of representation is being considered in the context of access to the industrial relations...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Post Office Network (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department is a client of An Post for the delivery of cash services to welfare clients through the post office network. As part of contract governance of these client services, officials of the Department and representatives of An Post meet formally on a monthly basis to review service provision and address issues arising in respect of cash payment services. The contract also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. The Social Inclusion Monitor, the official report on progress on poverty using national and EU indicators, reports that the rate of consistent poverty for children in 2012 was 9.9 per cent or 115,000 children. This compares with an average of 8.7 per cent for the years preceding the crisis (2005-2008) or 91,000 children. Using the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Carers Strategy Status (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government fully accepts the important role played by carers in society and to acknowledge this, in 2012 the Government published a National Carers’ Strategy - signalling its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs, across a number of policy areas. The Department of Social Protection has committed to a range of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Unemployment Benefits (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The following table shows the provision for jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit in the 2015 Budget and the 2014 REV Estimate, as published on Budget Day 14thOctober 2014. Benefit/Assistance 2014 REV Estimate 2015 Budget Estimate Variance Variance €000 €000 €000 % Jobseeker’s Allowance 2,820,000 2,607,900 -212,100 -7.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Numbers (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients on State pension (non-contributory) has been falling marginally over the last few years as more people reaching pension age satisfy the insurance conditions to qualify for State pension (contributory) or widows’ / widowers’ / surviving civil partners (contributory). It is estimated that the average numbers claiming State pension (non-contributory) will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department’s activation measures continue to play a major role in consolidating Ireland’s economic recovery. Jobseekers continue in growing numbers to choose JobBridge internships as a means of increasing their skills and work experience and improving their chances of returning rapidly to employment. On 24th October, 2014, 34,636 jobseekers had commenced JobBridge...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The average appeal processing times for 2012, 2013 and 2014 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the tables below. Appeal processing times peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 the average processing time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks and the time for a summary decision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Data (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The figures requested by the Deputy, relating to the main health-related payments received and finalised during 2013 and to the end of September 2014, are provided in the table below. A total of 4,501 invalidity pension appeals were received during 2013. A total of 6,968 invalidity pension appeals were finalised during that year. 5,597 of the appeals which were finalised had a successful...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Non-Contributory) Numbers (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The number of recipients of State pension non-contributory (SPNC) is contained in the Department’s Annual Statistical Information Report which is published on the Department’s website on the following link:. Section B of the report contains statistical information in relation to pensions and Table B3 outlines the information requested by the Deputy from 2004 - ­2013. In...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The report the Deputy is referring to is entitled Scoping of need in social justice sphereand published by Philanthropy Ireland. Its purpose is to provide Philanthropy Ireland and its members with insights on possible area of need that might inform their future funding programmes. It is based on desk research and interviews with 14 informants. The report highlights the reduction in social...